Patent ID: 7071537

Claim:
A diode configured to provide a vertical current flow, the power device comprising: a substrate assembly including an upper surface and a lower surface, the substrate assembly including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer overlying the second layer and having different conductivity than the second layer; a first electrode provided proximate the upper surface; a second electrode provided proximate the upper surface, the second electrode being spaced apart from the first electrode; a trench proximate the upper surface and extending into the first layer and at least a portion of the second layer, the second electrode being formed on the trench and contacting the second layer, the trench extending at least about 5 microns into the second layer; and a metal layer formed on the lower surface of the substrate assembly to provide a conductive path between the first and second electrodes, wherein the second layer is configured to provide a current path between the first and second electrodes, so that current flows vertically downward from one of the first and second electrodes to the second layer and then to the other of first and second electrodes from the second layer, wherein the current is 1 ampere or more.