Electrostatic discharge protection of electrically-inactive components in a thermal ink jet printing system
US6361150B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/14072
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This present invention is embodied in a system and a method for protecting an electrically-inactive component of a microsystem from an ESD event. The invention includes embodiments that protect the microsystem from ESD events that directly strike an electrically-inactive component and that are external to the electrically-inactive component. The present invention includes an ESD dissipation device having a connected chain of electrically-inactive components that are electrically floating. Alternatively, the electrically-inactive components can be held at the same potential as an electrical component. Further, a sacrificial ESD breakdown device is included that provides a preferential ESD breakdown site away from the protected component. Also, capacitively coupled thin-film layers can provide shielding to electrically-inactive components.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.