Circuit and method for an integrated charged device model clamp

US6784496B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED · US

Inventors

• Jonathan Brodsky · Fort Lauderdale, US
• Robert Steinhoff · Dallas, US
• Thomas A. Vrotsos · Richardson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 25, 2000
• Grant date: Aug 31, 2004
• Expiry date: Aug 11, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10D89/811

Abstract

A CDM clamp circuit integrated into the interface circuit it is protecting on an integrated circuit. Generally, the integrated CDM clamp circuit and interface circuit are adjacent to each other and share a common device element or component, thus eliminating the need for a metal interconnect. Because there is no interconnect, the parasitic resistance and inductance are also minimized or eliminated from the circuit, thus reducing or eliminating excessive voltage drop. Preferably, the CDM clamp circuit is integrated into the circuit that it is protecting by having the two circuits share the same silicon source region. In a preferred embodiment input circuit, the same diffusion region is the source of both the input transistor and its associated CDM clamp transistor.