Bidirectional semiconductor switch with passive discharge circuit

A semiconductor device, comprising:

• a semiconductor body comprising an active region and a substrate region beneath the active region;
• a bidirectional switch comprising first and second gate structures configured to control a conductive state of a channel in the active region, and first and second input-output terminals electrically connected to the channel;
• a first passive cascode circuit configured to block a voltage between the first input-output terminal and the substrate region and activate a discharge path between the substrate region and the second input-output terminal, when the bidirectional switch is in an off-state and the first input-output terminal is at a higher potential than the second input-output terminal;
• and
• a second passive cascode circuit configured to block a voltage between the second input-output terminal and the substrate region and activate a discharge path between the substrate region and the first input-output terminal, when the bidirectional switch is in the off-state and the second input-output terminal is at a higher potential than the first input-output terminal.