IP Library Granted Patent US 9,543,294
Granted Patent B2
US 9,543,294 · App. 15/007,823 · Granted Jan 10, 2017

Semiconductor device

Inventor: Takaya Shimono (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
H01L27/0664H01L29/7397H01L23/36
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,543,294
App. No.
15/007,823
Granted
Jan 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; and a temperature sense diode fixed on the semiconductor substrate. The temperature sense diode includes: an anode electrode; a p-type semiconductor layer being in contact with the anode electrode; an n-type semiconductor layer being in contact with the p-type semiconductor layer; and a cathode electrode being in contact with the n-type semiconductor layer; and the anode electrode. The p-type semiconductor layer, the n-type semiconductor layer, and the cathode electrode are stacked along a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate. An electric resistivity of the anode electrode or the cathode electrode whichever is located closer to the semiconductor substrate is lower than an electric resistivity of the n-type semiconductor layer and an electric resistivity of the p-type semiconductor layer.

Claims (21)

1. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate; and

a temperature sense diode fixed on the semiconductor substrate,

wherein

the temperature sense diode comprises:

an anode electrode;

a p-type semiconductor layer being in contact with the anode electrode;

an n-type semiconductor layer being in contact with the p-type semiconductor layer; and

a cathode electrode being in contact with the n-type semiconductor layer; and

the anode electrode, the p-type semiconductor layer, the n-type semiconductor layer, and the cathode electrode are stacked along a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate, and

an electric resistivity of the anode electrode or the cathode electrode whichever is located closer to the semiconductor substrate is lower than an electric resistivity of the n-type semiconductor layer and an electric resistivity of the p-type semiconductor layer.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising a heatsink connected to the semiconductor substrate at positions located on both sides of the temperature sense diode.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein

the semiconductor substrate comprises a switching element,

the semiconductor device further comprises:

a power source configured to supply a reference current to the temperature sense diode in a forward direction, and

a controller circuit configured to, when a forward voltage drop of the temperature sense diode during flow of the reference current through the temperature sense diode is lower than a threshold value, control a current flowing through the switching element to be smaller than the current flowing through the switching element when the forward voltage drop is equal to or higher than the threshold value.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein

the cathode electrode is configured of an n-type semiconductor having a density of n-type impurities ten or more times higher than a density of n-type impurities in the n-type semiconductor layer,

the cathode electrode includes a stacked portion and an extension portion, the stacked portion being a portion on which the n-type semiconductor layer, the p-type semiconductor layer and the anode electrode are stacked, and the extension portion being a portion extending outward from the stacked portion, and

the semiconductor device further comprises a wiring layer located on the extension portion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2020
From: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA (AKA TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION)
To: DENSO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052280/0207 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2016
From: SHIMONO, TAKAYA
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 037599/0120 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-023206 · Feb 9, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160233214A1 · Aug 11, 2016