Patent · US Active

Semiconductor switch arrangement and an electronic device

US7916439B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 2005
Grant dateMar 29, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/0822
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor switch arrangement comprises a bipolar transistor and a semiconductor power switch having an input node, an output node and a control node for allowing a current path to be formed between the input node and the output node. The bipolar transistor is coupled between the input node and the control node such that upon receiving an electro-static discharge pulse the bipolar transistor allows a current to flow from the input node to the control node upon a predetermined voltage being exceeded at the input node to allow the control node to cause a current to flow from the input node to the output node. Thus, the bipolar transistor device protects the semiconductor switch device, such as an LDMOS device, against ESD, namely protection against power surges of, say, several amperes in less than 1 usec.

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