Patent · US Expired

Structure and method for preventing latch-up in integrated circuits

US5159204A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
8References
24Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 1987
Grant dateOct 27, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 18, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit and method for avoiding latch up in an integrated circuit in which the base-emitter junction of a parasitic bipolar transistor forming part of a parasitic SCR structure is monitored. If the forward bias of the monitored base-emitter junction approaches a predetermined value, the operation of the circuit is altered to prevent activation of the SCR.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.