Nanotube ESD protective devices and corresponding nonvolatile and volatile nanotube switches
US7567414B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49204
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Nanotube ESD protective devices and corresponding nonvolatile and volatile nanotube switches. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit is coupled to an input pad. The ESD circuit includes a nanotube switch electrically having a control. The switch is coupled to the protected circuit and to a discharge path. The nanotube switch is controllable, in response to electrical stimulation of the control, between a de-activated state and an activated state. The activated state creates a current path so that a signal on the input pad flows to the discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit. The nanotube switch, the input pad, and the protected circuit may be on a semiconductor chip. The nanotube switch may be on a chip carrier. The deactivated and activated states may be volatile or non-volatile depending on the embodiment. The ESD circuit may be repeatedly programmed between the activated and deactivated states so as to repeatedly activate and deactivate ESD protection of the protected circuit. The nanotube switch provides protection based on the magnitude of the sign…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.