Systems and methods for electrostatic discharge protection
US8194372B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10D89/814
Abstract
A system for protecting an integrated circuit (IC) from electrostatic discharge (ESD) events includes a sensing circuit that detects an occurrence of an ESD event on one of a plurality of power supply rails of the IC and, in response, outputs an alert signal identifying the occurrence of the ESD event. The system includes a driver circuit that, responsive to receiving the alert signal, outputs an enable signal, and a cascaded switch. The cascaded switch includes first and second gates disposed upon a channel located between a drain of the cascaded switch coupled to a first power supply rail and a source of the cascaded switch coupled to a second power supply rail. Each of the two gates receives the enable signal and, responsive to the enable signal, the cascaded switch closes to establish a coupling between the first power supply rail and the second power supply rail.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.