Patent ID: 7173316

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, which is different from the first conductivity type, formed on said first semiconductor layer; an element isolation layer that electrically isolates said second semiconductor layer and that is formed on said first semiconductor layer and around said second semiconductor layer; a first insulating film formed on said second semiconductor layer; a metal layer that is formed on said first insulating film and that becomes a wire or a bonding pad; and a voltage clamp component that clamps the potential of said second semiconductor layer, wherein: said element isolation layer is formed of a semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, and said voltage clamp component is formed of said element isolation layer and a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type which is formed between said second semiconductor layer and said first insulating film and which makes contact with said element isolation layer.