Patent ID: 7230299

Claim:
A semiconductor switching device comprising: a body of semiconductor material having first and second opposing major surfaces, wherein a portion of the body of semiconductor material forms a common drain region; a plurality of source regions formed in the body semiconductor material and extending from the first major surface, wherein the device is configured as a vertical power MOSFET device; a first insulated gate structure formed in proximity to the plurality of source regions and configured to control current flow between a first portion of the plurality of source regions and the common drain region, wherein the first insulated gate structure comprises a first gate feed coupled to a first plurality of gate electrodes; and a second insulated gate structure distinct from the first insulated gate structure, the second insulated gate structure formed in proximity to the plurality of source regions and configured to control current flow between a second portion of the plurality of source regions and the common drain region, wherein the second insulated gate structure comprises a second gate feed coupled to a second plurality of gate electrodes, and wherein the first and second pluralities of gate electrodes comprise an interdigitated structure so that a current carrying load of the device is substantially distributed across the device when only one of the first and second insulated gate structures is biased to turn on the device.