Emitter ballast resistor with enhanced body effect to improve the short circuit withstand capability of power devices

摘要

A power semiconductor device has an integral source/emitter ballast resistor. The gate has partial gate structures spaced apart from each other. Emitter resistors are provided beneath sidewall spacers on the ends of the gate structures. The emitter resistors have little effect on the threshold voltage under normal operating conditions, but rapidly saturate the device during short circuit conditions. This in turn increases the short circuit withstand capability o the device.