Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Stmicroelectronics(tours) Sas

Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Sgs-thomson Microelectronics S.a.

Stmicroelectronics (grenoble 2) Sas

Jean-Michel Simonnet

Olivier Ladiray

Franck Duclos

Sophie Ngo

Eric Bernier

Laurent Gonthier

Frédéric Lanois

Simone Rascuna′

Patrick Poveda

Simone Rascuna'

Fabrice Guitton

Christian Ballon

David Jouve

André Lhorte

Simone Rascunà

Didier Magnon

Overvoltage protection circuits are provided. In some embodiments, an overvoltage protection circuit includes a first diode made of a first semiconductor material having a bandgap width greater than that of silicon. A second diode is included and is electrically cross-coupled with the first diode. The second diode is made of a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material.

Overvoltage protection device

The present disclosure relates to a transient voltage suppression device comprising a single crystal semiconductor substrate doped with a first conductivity type comprising first and second opposing surfaces, a semiconductor region doped with a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type extending into the substrate from the first surface, a first electrically conductive electrode on the first side contacting the semiconductor region and a second electrically conductive electrode on the second side contacting the substrate, a first interface between the substrate and the semiconductor region forming the junction of a TVS diode and a second interface between the first electrically conductive electrode and the semiconductor region or between the substrate and the second electrically conductive electrode forming the junction of a Schottky diode.

Unidirectional transient voltage suppression device

A structure protects a SLIC telephone line interface against overvoltages lower than a negative threshold or higher than a positive threshold. The structure includes at least one thyristor connected between each conductor of the telephone line and a reference potential. For all of the included thyristors, a metallization corresponding to the main electrode on the gate side is in contact, by its entire surface, with a corresponding semiconductor region. Furthermore, the gate of each thyristor is directly connected to a voltage source defining one of the thresholds.

Protection of a telephone line against overvoltages

A structure including at least two neighboring components, capable of operating at high frequencies, formed in a thin silicon substrate extending on a silicon support and separated therefrom by an insulating layer, the components being laterally separated by insulating regions. The silicon support has, at least in the vicinity of its portion in contact with the insulating layer, a resistivity greater than or equal to 1,000 ohms.cm.

Structure of high-frequency components with low stray capacitances

A method and a circuit for controlling a triac intended to be series-connected with a resistive element of positive temperature coefficient or a capacitive element, and a winding for starting an asynchronous motor, for supply by an A.C. voltage, the present invention including the steps of: detecting a voltage representative of the voltage across the series connection of the element and of the triac; comparing this detected voltage with respect to a threshold; and blocking a turning back on of the triac when the threshold has been exceeded.

Control of a triac for the starting of a motor

The invention concerns a bidirectional electronic switch of the pulse-controlled bistable type comprising a monolithic semiconductor circuit including a vertical bidirectional switch structure (TR; ACS) provided with a gate terminal (G), first (Th) and second (Th) thyristor structures whereof the anodes are formed on the front face side, the first thyristor anode region containing a supplementary P-type region (), and a metallization (AA) connected to the main surface of the front face of the vertical bidirectional component and to the second thyristor anode; a capacitor (C) connected to the first thyristor anode and to the second thyristor supplementary N-type region; and a switch (SW) for short-circuiting the capacitor.

Pulse-controlled bistable bidirectional electronic switch

A monolithic bidirectional switch formed in a semiconductor substrate of type N, including a first main vertical thyristor, the rear surface layer of which is of type P, a second main vertical thyristor, the rear surface layer of which is of type N, an auxiliary vertical thyristor, the rear surface layer of which is of type P and is common with that of the first main thyristor, a peripheral region of type P especially connecting the rear surface layer of the auxiliary thyristor to the layer of this thyristor located on the other side of the substrate, a first metallization on the rear surface side, a second metallization on the front surface side connecting the front surface layers of the first and second thyristors. An additional region has a function of isolating the rear surface of the auxiliary thyristor and the first metallization.

Sensitive high bidirectional static switch

A method for adjusting the gain or the sensitivity of a lateral component formed in the front surface of a semiconductor wafer, having a first conductivity type, includes not doping or overdoping, according to the first conductivity type, the back surface when it is desired to reduce the gain or sensitivity of the lateral component, and doping according to the second conductivity type, the back surface, when the gain or the sensitivity of the lateral component is to be increased.

Lateral components in power semiconductor devices

Responsive bidirectional static switch

A detector of the state (on or off) of a vertical power component formed in a lightly-doped semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having a front surface and a rear surface. The region corresponding to the power component is surrounded with an isolating wall of opposite type to that of the substrate. This state detector is formed outside of said region and is formed with a vertical detection component, the state of which is switched by parasitic charges propagating outside of the isolating wall when the power component is on.

Power component state detector

A monolithic bidirectional switch formed in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having a front surface and a rear surface, including a first main vertical thyristor, the rear surface layer of which is of the second conductivity type, a second main vertical thyristor, the rear surface layer of which is of the first conductivity type. A structure for triggering each of the first and second main thyristors is arranged to face regions mutually distant from the two main thyristors, the neighboring portions of which correspond to a region for which, for the first main thyristor, a short-circuit area between cathode and cathode gate is formed.

Bidirectional switch with increased switching breakdown voltage

A zero crossing control circuit of a bidirectional switch including two transistors of complementary types connected in parallel between the gate of the bidirectional switch and the main reference terminal of the bidirectional switch, the gate of the bidirectional switch being connected to a control source via a first resistor, and each of the control terminals of the transistors being connected to the second main terminal of the bidirectional switch via a second resistor of high value, a zener diode being interposed between the second resistor and each of the control terminals according to a biasing adapted to turning on each of the transistors when the zener threshold is exceeded.

Zero crossing control structure for a bidirectional switch with a stable threshold

A one-way switching circuit of the type including a gate tun-off thyristor biased to be normally on, further includes, between the gate and a supply line, a capacitor and a controllable switch connected in parallel.

Growing community of inventors

Veretz, France

Jean-Michel Simonnet