Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor ESD protection circuit

US6125021A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
6References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 1997
Grant dateSep 26, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D89/811

Abstract

An integrated circuit (10) with ESD protection is provided. The integrated circuit (10) includes a clamping device (28) connected to an input pad (12) of the integrated circuit and to ground (22). The clamping device (28) limits the peak voltage of an ESD pulse applied to the input pad (12) by conducting it to ground (22). A protection device (16) is connected to an input pad (12) of the integrated circuit (10) and to ground. The protection device (16) discharges the energy of the ESD pulse to ground. The protection device (16) is coordinated with the clamping device (28) such that the clamping device (28) turns on before the protection device (16).

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