Power supply clamp

US10177556B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Arm Limited · GB

Inventors

• Abdellah Bakhali · Grenoble, FR
• Mikael Rien · Grenoble, FR
• Fabrice Blanc · Vinay, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 15, 2016
• Grant date: Jan 8, 2019
• Expiry date: Nov 18, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R31/002
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A power supply clamp connectable between power rails of an electronic circuit comprises a switching component which is switchable to provide a connection path between the power rails of the electronic circuit; a first detector configured to detect an electrostatic discharge event having a first characteristic time period and to generate a detector output signal in response to the detection; a series of one or more successive intermediate amplification stages between the first detector and the switching component, the series of amplification stages providing a control signal path for a control signal to control switching of the switching component in response to the detector output signal; and a second detector configured to detect an electrostatic discharge event having a second characteristic time period, shorter than the first characteristic time period, the second detector being provided at a node in the control signal path subsequent to the first detector (for example, at a second or subsequent one of the series of intermediate amplification stages) so that a detection by the second detector causes the control signal to control switching of the switching component.