Electrostatic discharge protection circuit arrangement, electronic circuit and ESD protection method
US9438031B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 29, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10D89/811
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrostatic discharge, ESD, protection circuit arrangement is connectable to a first pin and a second pin of an electronic circuit and arranged to at least partly absorb an ESD current entering the electronic circuit through at least one of the first pin or the second pin during an ESD stress event. The protection circuit arrangement comprises a first ESD protection circuit arranged to absorb a first portion of the ESD current during a first part of the ESD stress event during which first part a level of the ESD current exceeds a predetermined current threshold; and a second ESD protection circuit arranged to absorb a second portion of the ESD current, the second portion having a current level below the current threshold, at least during a second part of the ESD stress event. The second ESD protection circuit comprises a current limiting circuit arranged to limit a current through at least a portion of the second ESD protection circuit to the current threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.