Patent ID: 7935620

Claim:
A method for forming a semiconductor device with a Schottky contact, comprising: providing a semiconductor having a semiconductor surface; forming a mesa in the semiconductor, wherein the mesa is defined by an upper portion of the semiconductor that is thicker than a lower portion of the semiconductor; covering the mesa with a passivation layer, the passivation layer having a passivation layer top surface; providing a mask overlying the passivation layer with a first mask opening located above the mesa and having a first width; etching through a portion of the passivation layer exposed by the first mask opening to expose a part of the semiconductor surface, and to define an opening in the passivation layer having the first width, and to define passivation layer sidewalls adjacent to the part of the semiconductor surface that is exposed; depositing through the first mask opening a Schottky contact on the exposed part of the semiconductor surface, the Schottky contact having a contact top surface and contact sidewalls along an extent from the semiconductor surface to the contact top surface, wherein the contact sidewalls are in direct contact with the passivation layer sidewalls, and a width of the Schottky contact equals the first width; providing another mask on the passivation layer top surface and having another mask opening encompassing the Schottky contact and portions of the passivation layer on either side of the Schottky contact; and forming a further conductor through the another mask opening on the contact top surface of the Schottky contact and extending over portions of the passivation layer top surface on either side of the Schottky contact, the further conductor having a second width greater than the first width.