Patent ID: 7851312

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor component, comprising: providing a semiconductor material having first and second major surfaces and having a body region; forming a first trench in the semiconductor material, the first trench having at least one sidewall; forming a gate structure in a portion of the first trench; forming a source region adjacent the first trench; forming a second trench in the semiconductor material, the second trench extending through a portion of the source region and having a sidewall; forming a first layer of dielectric material in the second trench; forming an electrically conductive material in a portion of the second trench, the electrically conductive material over the first layer of dielectric material in the second trench; forming a gap between the semiconductor material and the electrically conductive material in the portion of the second trench by removing a portion of the layer of dielectric material in the second trench; forming an electrically conductive structure in the gap; and forming a self-aligned electrical connection that contacts the source region, the semiconductor material, the electrically conductive structure in the gap, and the electrically conductive material in the portion of the second trench to electrically connect the electrically conductive material in the second trench with the source region and the body region.