Patent ID: 7812368

Claim:
A high-speed diode comprising a semiconductor body, which has a front side and a rear side opposite thereto, in which a heavily n-doped zone, a weakly n-doped zone and a weakly p-doped zone are arranged successively proceeding from the rear side in a vertical direction, a pn load junction being formed between the weakly n-doped zone and the weakly p-doped zone, which has a number of heavily p-doped islands which are arranged at a distance from one another in a lateral direction running perpendicular to the vertical direction and which extend into the weakly p-doped zone proceeding from that side of the weakly p-doped zone which faces the front side, wherein at least one further zone which is arranged in the weakly p-doped zone and which is spaced apart from the rear side at least as far as that island from among the heavily p-doped islands which is spaced apart the furthest from the rear side, and the charge carrier lifetime of said at least one further zone is reduced relative to the adjoining regions.