Patent ID: 8044485

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a first semiconductor layer made of a wide band gap material in which electrons are majority carriers; an anode portion including a plurality of unit anode portions and a single metal layer, said plurality of unit anode portions each being joined to a main surface of said first semiconductor layer, wherein a part of each of said plurality of unit anode portions joined to said first semiconductor layer is a second semiconductor layer made of a predetermined semiconductor material in which holes are majority carriers, and only a P-N junction is created at a junction between said first and second semiconductor layers; a cathode portion including a plurality of unit cathodes, said plurality of unit cathodes each being joined to said main surface and being electrically connected to each other; and an insulation layer for insulating said anode portion and said cathode portion, wherein electrode rows including each of said plurality of unit anode portions and each of said plurality of unit cathodes arranged alternately are formed on said main surface, said insulation layer is provided so as to cover at least said plurality of unit cathodes, and the entirety of said single metal layer is formed on said insulation layer and makes a conductive connection with said plurality of unit anode portions whereby said plurality of unit anode portions are electrically connected to each other.