Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor device having input protection circuit

US5949109A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
7References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 30, 1997
Grant dateSep 7, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 30, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D89/601

Abstract

According to this invention, a well region is formed on a semiconductor substrate. An n.sup.+ -type first semiconductor region is formed in the well region, and an input pad for receiving an external signal is connected near the first semiconductor region. This input pad is connected to an input circuit of an integrated circuit constituted by an inverter circuit and to an external terminal for receiving an external signal. N.sup.+ -type second semiconductor regions are formed in the well region located on both sides of the first semiconductor region. A ground potential Vss is applied to these second semiconductor regions. A p.sup.+ -type third semiconductor region is formed around these second semiconductor regions in the well region. The ground potential is applied to the third semiconductor region. Therefore, a parallel circuit formed by a parasitic transistor and a parasitic diode is formed between the input pad and the ground potential. The parasitic transistor is turned on upon electrostatic discharge, and the parasitic diode is turned on when a negative potential for test is applied to the input pad, thereby preventing an erroneous operation of a transistor arranged on the se…

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