Circuit including a combined insulated gate bipolar transistor/MOSFET

Claim 2

A circuit comprising: a semiconductor device comprised of an insulated gate bipolar transistor and an MOSFET combined and integrated in a single body of semiconductor material, said body including: a drift region of one type conductivity, a base region of opposite type conductivity forming a first PN junction with said drift region, a source/emitter region of said one type conductivity disposed within and forming a second PN junction with said base region, said base region including a channel portion disposed between aid source and drift regions, a collector region of said opposite type conductivity forming a third PN junction with said drift region and spaced from said base region, and a drain region spaced from said base region, having said one type conductivity forming an interface with said drift region and being more heavily doped than said drift region; said semiconductor device further including: an insulated gate electrode disposed adjacent said channel portion of said base region for controlling the conductivity of said channel portion of said base region for charge carriers of said one type conductivity, a first electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said base and source/emitter regions and comprising a first main terminal of said circuit a drain electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said drain region, and a collector electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said collector region; and a drain/collector circuit connected to said device, said drain/collector circuit including said drain and collector regions, said drain and collector electrodes, a non-zero resistive impedance and a second main terminal.

Claim 3

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein: said resistive impedance is incorporated within said body of semiconductor material.

Claim 4

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein: said second main terminal is connected through at least a portion of said resistive impedance to said interface between said drain and drift regions.

Claim 5

The circuit recited in claim 3 wherein: said second main electrode comprises said collector electrode.

Claim 6

The circuit recited in claim 3 wherein: said resistive impedance is external to said device; and said second main terminal is connected through a portion of said resistive impedance to said collector electrode.

Claim 7

The circuit recited in claim 2 wherein: said second main terminal is connected through at least a portion of said resistive impedance to said third PN junction.

Claim 8

The circuit recited in claim 6 wherein: said second main terminal comprises said drain electrode.

Claim 9

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein: said semiconductor device comprises a vertical insulated gate bipolar transistor and a lateral MOSFET and said body of semiconductor material has: first and second opposed major surfaces, said drift region extending to said first major surface, said base region extending into said drift region from said first major surface, said source/emitter region extending into said base region from said first major surface, said drain region extending into said drift region from said first major surface, said collector region extending from said second major surface toward said first major surface, said channel portion of said base region disposed adjacent said first major surface; and said insulated gate electrode is disposed on said first major surface.

Claim 10

The circuit recited in claim 8 wherein: said collector region spaces said drift region from said second major surface.

Claim 11

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said circuit comprises: a lateral insulated gate bipolar transistor and a vertical MOSFET and said body of semiconductor material has: first and second major surfaces with said drift region disposed therebetween, said base region extending into said drift region from said first major surface, said source/emitter region extending into said base region from said first major surface, said channel portion of said base region disposed adjacent said first major surface, said insulated gate electrode disposed on said first major surface adjacent said channel portion of said base region, said collector region extending into said drift region from said first major surface, and said drain region extending from said second major surface toward said first major surface.

Claim 12

The circuit recited in claim 10 wherein said drain region spaces said drift region from said second major surface.

Claim 13

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein said drift region includes a buffer portion disposed adjacent said second PN junction which is more heavily doped than the remainder of said drift region.

Claim 14

A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising: a body of semiconductor material having first and second opposed major surfaces; a drift region disposed within said semiconductor body between said first and second major surfaces, having one type conductivity and extending to said first major surface; a base region having an opposite type conductivity extending into said drift region from said first major surface and forming a first PN junction with said drift region; a source/emitter region having said one type conductivity disposed within said base region and forming a second PN junction therewith and extending to said first major surface; said base region including a channel portion disposed adjacent said first major surface and extending between said source and drift regions; an insulated gate electrode disposed on said first major surface adjacent said channel portion of said base region for controlling the conductivity of said channel portion of said base region for charge carriers of said one conductivity type; a collector region of said opposite type conductivity forming a third PN junction with said drift region and spaced from said base region; a drain region of said one type conductivity disposed adjacent to said drift region and more heavily doped to said one type conductivity than said drift region; a first electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said source/emitter and base regions and comprising a first main terminal; a collector electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said collector region; a drain electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said drain region; and a drain/collector circuit connected to said device, said drain/collector circuit including said drain and collector regions, said drain and collector electrodes a non-zero resistive impedance and a second main terminal.

Claim 15

A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising: a body of semiconductor material having first and second opposed major surfaces; a drift region disposed within said semiconductor body between said first and second major surfaces, having one type conductivity and extending to said first major surface; a base region having an opposite type conductivity extending into said drift region from said first major surface and forming a first PN junction with said drift region; a source/emitter region having said one type conductivity disposed within said base region and forming a second PN junction therewith and extending to said first major surface; said base region including a channel portion disposed adjacent said first major surface and extending between said source and drift regions; an insulated gate electrode disposed on said first major surface adjacent said channel portion of said base region for controlling the conductivity of said channel portion of said base region for charge carriers of said one conductivity type; a collector region of said opposite type conductivity forming a third PN junction with said drift region and spaced from said base region; a drain region of said one type conductivity disposed adjacent to said drift region and more heavily doped to said one type conductivity than said drift region; a first electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said source/emitter and base regions and comprising a first main terminal; a collector electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said collector region; a drain electrode disposed in ohmic contact with said drain region; and a drain/collector circuit connected to said device, said drain/collector circuit including said drain and collector regions, said drain and collector electrodes a non-zero resistive impedance and a second main terminal.

Claim 16

The integrated circuit recited in claim 13 wherein: said collector region extends into said drift region from said first major surface; and said drain region extends from said second major surface toward said first major surface whereby said insulated gate bipolar transistor is a lateral transistor and said MOSFET is a vertical transistor.

Claim 17

The semiconductor device recited in claim 14 wherein: said drain region spaces said drift region from said second major surface.

Claim 18

The integrated circuit recited in claim 13 wherein: said drain region extends to said first major surface; and said collector region extends from said second major surface toward said first major surface whereby said insulated gate bipolar transistor is a vertical transistor and said MOSFET is a lateral device.

Claim 19

The integrated circuit recited in claim 16 wherein: said collector region everywhere spaces said drift region from said second major surface.

Claim 20

The integrated circuit recited in claim 13 wherein: said resistive impedance is disposed within said body of semiconductor material.

Claim 21

The integrated circuit recited in claim 13 wherein: said resistive impedance is external to said device; and said second main terminal is connected through at least a portion of said resistive impedance to said drain electrode.

Claim 22

The integrated circuit recited in claim 19 wherein: said second main terminal is connected to said collector electrode through a portion of said resistive impedance.

Claim 23

The integrated circuit recited in claim 13 wherein: said second main terminal comprises said collector electrode.

Claim 24

The integrated circuit recited in claim 13 wherein: said resistive impedance is external to said device; and said second main terminal is connected to said collector electrode through at least a portion of said resistive impedance.

Claim 25

The integrated circuit recited in claim 22 wherein: said second main terminal comprises said drain electrode.

Claim 26

The integrated circuit recited in claim 13 wherein: said drain region extends into said drift region from said first major surface; and said collector region extends into said drift region from said first major surface whereby both said insulated gate transistor and said MOSFET are lateral devices.

Claim 27

The integrated circuit recited in claim 13 wherein: said drift region includes a more heavily doped buffer portion disposed adjacent to said collector region.

Claim 28

The circuit recited in claim 1 wherein: said resistive impedance is at least 5 ohms.

Claim 29

The circuit recited in claim 3 wherein: the resistance between said second main electrode and said third PN junction is minimized and said resistive impedance is at least 50 ohms.

Claim 30

The circuit recited in claim 5 wherein: the resistance between said second main electrode and said interface between said drift and drain regions is minimized and said resistive impedance is at least 5 ohms.

Claim 31

The circuit recited in claim 7 wherein: the resistance between said second main electrode and said interface between said drift and drain regions is minimized and said resistive impedance is at least 5 ohms.

Claim 32

The circuit recited in claim 19 wherein: the resistance between said second main electrode and said third PN junction is minimized and said resistive impedance is at least 50 ohms.

Claim 33

The circuit recited in claim 22 wherein: the resistance between said second main electrode and said interface between said drift and drain regions is minimized and said resistive impedance is at least 5 ohms.