Patent · US Expired

ESD clamp with “trailing pulse” suppression

US7274545B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
2References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 2005
Grant dateSep 25, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02H9/046
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a method and system for protecting a semiconductor device from an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event, an ESD tester generates an ESD event by providing an ESD test signal having a leading pulse and a trailing pulse. An ESD input of the device under test (DUT) receives the ESD test signal. An ESD protection circuit embedded in the DUT detects the ESD signal and asserts a trigger in response to the detection. The ESD protection circuit provides a leading discharge path to the leading pulse in response to detecting the ESD signal, thereby protecting the DUT during the leading pulse. In addition, the ESD protection circuit also provides a trailing discharge path to the trailing pulse in response to the trigger, thereby protecting the DUT during the trailing pulse.

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