Current-controlled high voltage discharge scheme
US6552595B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/177
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a programmable integrated circuit, a discharge circuit for discharging high voltage nodes provides a current path whose current is limited by a control voltage. In one embodiment, the current path is implemented by a transistor coupled to the high voltage nodes, with the control voltage provided by a current mirror coupled to the current path. The control voltage is applied across the gate and source terminals of the transistor. In one embodiment, the source terminal of the transistor is precharged to a supply voltage less a threshold voltage of a transistor. With the current in the current path thus limited, threshold voltage shifts and other damages to the functional circuit of the integrated circuit due to the discharge current of high voltage nodes are avoided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.