Patent ID: 8013391

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a drift region of a first conductivity type; a well region extending above the drift region and having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type; a plurality of active trenches extending through the well region and into the drift region, the plurality of active trenches defining an active area, wherein inside each of the plurality of active trenches is formed: a first conductive gate electrode disposed along and insulated from a first trench sidewall, a second conductive gate electrode disposed along and insulated from a second trench sidewall, and a conductive shield electrode disposed between the first and second conductive gate electrodes, wherein the shield electrode is insulated from and extends deeper inside the trench than the first and second conductive gate electrodes; and source regions having the first conductivity type formed inside the well region and adjacent the plurality of active trenches, wherein, electrical contact to the conductive shield electrode is made inside the active area, wherein contact to the well region is made via a body trench that is etched into a central portion of a mesa between adjacent active trenches.