IP Library Granted Patent US 12666724
Granted Patent B2
US 12666724 · App. 18/252,244 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Semiconductor device enabling quick and reliable screening

Inventors: Makoto Ueno (Fukuoka, JP); Kazuhiro Nishimura (Fukuoka, JP)
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
H10D89/611H03K17/08122H10D8/25H03K2217/0081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12666724
App. No.
18/252,244
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a semiconductor device that enables reliable screening to be performed in a short amount of time. The semiconductor device includes a switching element, a control circuit, a Zener diode, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The switching element, the control circuit, and the Zener diode are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The control circuit controls the state of the switching element. The Zener diode includes a cathode connected to the power supply voltage line between the input terminal where the power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is inputted and the control circuit. The first terminal is provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate as an anode of the Zener diode. The second terminal is provided on the main surface as one of the emitter and the source of the switching element, and is insulated from the first terminal within the semiconductor substrate.

Claims (72)

1 . A semiconductor device comprising:

a switching element formed in a semiconductor substrate;

a control circuit formed in the semiconductor substrate including the switching element and configured to control a state of the switching element;

a Zener diode formed in the semiconductor substrate, including a cathode connected to a power supply voltage line between the control circuit and an input terminal to which a power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is input;

a first terminal provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate as an anode of the Zener diode; and

a second terminal provided on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate as one of an emitter and a source of the switching element and insulated from the first terminal within the semiconductor substrate.

2 . The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , further comprising

external wiring connecting the first terminal and the second terminal.

3 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

preparing a semiconductor device

wherein a switching element, a control circuit configured to control a state of the switching element, and a Zener diode including a cathode connected to a power supply voltage line between the control circuit and an input terminal to which a power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is input are formed in one semiconductor substrate, and

wherein the semiconductor device includes a first terminal provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate as an anode of the Zener diode, and a second terminal provided on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate as one of an emitter and a source of the switching element and insulated from the first terminal within the semiconductor substrate; and

applying a test voltage to the control circuit via the first terminal, or applying a test voltage to the control circuit via the input terminal when the anode is in an open state, to test the control circuit.

4 . The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device according to claim 3 , further comprising

connecting the first terminal and the second terminal with external wiring.

5 . A semiconductor device comprising:

a switching element formed in a semiconductor substrate;

a control circuit formed in the semiconductor substrate including the switching element and configured to control a state of the switching element;

a Zener diode formed in the semiconductor substrate, including a cathode connected to a power supply voltage line between the control circuit and an input terminal to which a power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is input;

a first terminal provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate, separating the power supply voltage line within the semiconductor substrate between the cathode of the Zener diode and the control circuit, and connected to an input of the control circuit; and

a second terminal provided on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate as the cathode of the Zener diode, and, together with the first terminal, separating the power supply voltage line within the semiconductor substrate between the cathode of the Zener diode and the control circuit.

6 . The semiconductor device according to claim 5 , further comprising

external wiring connecting the first terminal and the second terminal to form the power supply voltage line.

7 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

preparing a semiconductor device

wherein a switching element, a control circuit configured to control a state of the switching element, and a Zener diode including a cathode connected to a power supply voltage line between the control circuit and an input terminal to which a power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is input are formed in one semiconductor substrate, and

wherein the semiconductor device includes

a first terminal provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate and separating the power supply voltage line within the semiconductor substrate between the cathode of the Zener diode and the control circuit and connected to an input of the control circuit and

a second terminal provided on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate as the cathode of the Zener diode, and, together with the first terminal, separating the power supply voltage line within the semiconductor substrate between the cathode of the Zener diode and the control circuit; and

applying a test voltage to the control circuit via the first terminal to test the control circuit.

8 . The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device according to claim 7 , further comprising

forming the power supply voltage line by connecting the first terminal and the second terminal with external wiring.

9 . A semiconductor device comprising:

a switching element formed in a semiconductor substrate;

a control circuit formed in the semiconductor substrate including the switching element and configured to control a state of the switching element;

a Zener diode formed in the semiconductor substrate, including a cathode connected to a power supply voltage line between the control circuit and an input terminal to which a power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is input;

a transistor formed in the semiconductor substrate and connected in parallel with the power supply voltage line;

a resistor formed in the semiconductor substrate and provided between a gate and a drain of the transistor;

a first terminal provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate as the gate of the transistor; and

a second terminal provided on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate as one of an emitter and a source of the switching element and insulated from the first terminal within the semiconductor substrate.

10 . The semiconductor device according to claim 9 , further comprising

external wiring connecting the first terminal and the second terminal.

11 . The semiconductor device according to claim 9 , further comprising

a resistor for voltage generation connecting the gate of the transistor and the gate of the switching element.

12 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

preparing a semiconductor device

wherein a switching element, a control circuit configured to control a state of the switching element, a Zener diode including a cathode connected to a power supply voltage line between the control circuit and an input terminal to which a power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is input, a transistor connected in parallel with the power supply voltage line, and a resistor provided between a gate and a drain of the transistor are formed in one semiconductor substrate, and

wherein the semiconductor device includes

a first terminal provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate as the gate of the transistor and

a second terminal provided on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate as one of an emitter and a source of the switching element and insulated from the first terminal within the semiconductor substrate; and

applying a test voltage to the control circuit via the first terminal, or applying a test voltage to the control circuit via a third terminal connected to the power supply voltage line between the drain of the transistor and the control circuit to test the control circuit.

13 . The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device according to claim 12 , further comprising

connecting the first terminal and the second terminal with external wiring.

14 . A semiconductor device comprising:

a switching element formed in a semiconductor substrate;

a control circuit formed in the semiconductor substrate including the switching element and configured to control a state of the switching element;

a Zener diode formed in the semiconductor substrate, including a cathode connected to a power supply voltage line between the control circuit and an input terminal to which a power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is input;

a transistor formed in the semiconductor substrate and connected in parallel with the power supply voltage line;

a resistor formed in the semiconductor substrate and provided between a gate and a drain of the transistor;

a Zener diode for short-circuiting formed in the semiconductor substrate, and including a cathode connected to the gate of the transistor and an anode connected to one of an emitter and a source of the switching element; and

a gate terminal provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate as the gate of the transistor.

15 . The semiconductor device according to claim 14 , wherein

the Zener diode for short-circuiting has been short-circuited.

16 . The semiconductor device according to claim 14 , further comprising

a resistor for voltage generation connecting the gate of the transistor and the gate of the switching element.

17 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:

preparing a semiconductor device

wherein a switching element, a control circuit configured to control a state of the switching element, a Zener diode including a cathode connected to a power supply voltage line between the control circuit and an input terminal to which a power supply voltage for driving the control circuit is input, a transistor connected in parallel with the power supply voltage line, a resistor provided between a gate and a drain of the transistor, and a Zener diode for short-circuiting including a cathode connected to the gate of the transistor and an anode connected to one of an emitter and a source of the switching element are formed in one semiconductor substrate, and

wherein the semiconductor device includes a gate terminal provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate as the gate of the transistor; and

applying a test voltage to the control circuit via the gate terminal, or applying a test voltage to the control circuit via a third terminal connected to the power supply voltage line between the drain of the transistor and the control circuit to test the control circuit.

18 . The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device according to claim 17 , further comprising

applying a voltage for short-circuiting to the Zener diode for short-circuiting.