High-voltage bipolar mode JFET with normally off characteristics

The first realization of a power vertical JFET operated in the bipolar mode (BJFET) with normally off behavior is reported. The structure combines minority carrier injection from the gate region in the on-state, and lateral pinch-off of the channel, due to the built-in voltage, in the off-state. The realized devices show high blocking voltages, up to 900 V, with zero gate bias, and have extremely low on-resistance. Fast switching speeds with forced gate turn-off times as low as 100 ns for devices of 600-V blocking voltages have been obtained.