Semiconductor device providing overvoltage protection against el

Details Semiconductor device providing overvoltage protection against el Semiconductor device providing overvoltage protection against el

1997-03-21

1998-09-29

Gaffin, Jeffrey A.

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Safety and protection of systems and devices

Transient responsive

361 91, 361126, 338 22SD, 257173, H02H 100, H02H 322

Patent

active

058153594

ABSTRACT:
An overvoltage protection device, particularly for protecting equipment against electrical surges caused by lightning, wherein the protective device includes a first protection element for protecting the equipment from an electrical surge of positive polarity and a second protection element for protecting the equipment from an electrical surge of negative polarity, the first and second protection elements having substantially asymmetric surge capabilities. More specifically, the overvoltage protection device comprises a semiconductor substrate of one conductivity type having first and second pluralities of dopant regions of the opposite conductivity type disposed therein and respectively opening onto upper and lower major surfaces of the semiconductor substrate. A buried dopant region of the opposite conductivity type is also disposed in the substrate between the first and second pluralities of dopant regions, the buried dopant region of the opposite conductivity type being arranged at varying depths within the substrate. This arrangement defines first and second thyristor structures in asymmetrical relation to each other, with the first thyristor structure being effective for overvoltage protection against an electrical surge of negative polarity, and the second thyristor structure being effective for overvoltage protection against an electrical surge of positive polarity.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3919010 (1975-11-01), Borchert et al.
patent: 4325074 (1982-04-01), Osada et al.
patent: 5352905 (1994-10-01), Ohta
patent: 5473170 (1995-12-01), Bernier

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