Semiconductor device with integrated channel stop and body contact

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a body region of a first conductivity type;

at least a first active region in the body region, the first active region being of a second conductivity type;

a channel stop of the first conductivity type in the body region with a higher doping concentration than the body region, the channel stop being configured to surround the first active region of only the semiconductor device to laterally isolate the semiconductor device from other semiconductor devices, and to abut the first active region at a periphery of the semiconductor device; and

an electrical contact electrically connecting the first active region and the channel stop.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second active region of the second conductivity type; and

a gate region of the first conductivity type;

wherein the channel stop surrounds the second active region and the gate region.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , further comprising a dielectric layer over the first active region, the second active region, the gate region, the body region, and the channel stop.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness of 0.5 to 2.0 microns.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 3 , further comprising a metal layer over a portion of the dielectric layer.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact is composed of metal silicide.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the channel stop is spaced from the second active region by 0.5 to 4.0 microns.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the channel stop is spaced from the gate region by 0.2 to 1.0 microns.