Electrostatic discharge power clamp circuit

US6549061B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Steven H. Voldman · South Burlington, US
• Alan B. Botula · South Burlington, US
• David Hui · Taipei, TW

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 20, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 15, 2003
• Expiry date: Dec 20, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01L2924/0002

Abstract

An ESD clamping circuit arranged in a darlington configuration and constructed from SiGe or similar type material. The ESD clamping circuit includes additional level shifting circuitry in series with either the trigger or clamping device or both, thus allowing non-native voltages that exceed the BVCEO of the trigger and/or clamp devices.