ESD clamp circuit

US9825022B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation · CN

Inventors

• Guang Chen · Tangxia, CN
• Huijuan Cheng · Shanghai, CN
• Hongwei Li · Burnaby, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 2015
• Grant date: Nov 21, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10D89/911

Abstract

An ESD clamp circuit includes a power supply, a ground supply, an ESD detection transistor, a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the power supply and a second terminal connected to a gate of the ESD detection transistor, and a first resistor connected in series with the capacitor between the power and ground supplies. The ESD clamp circuit also includes a clamp transistor having a first terminal connected to the power supply and a second terminal connected to the ground terminal, an inverter having an input connected to a first terminal of the ESD detection transistor and an output connected to the gate of the clamp transistor, a feedback transistor connected across the inverter, and a second resistor having a first terminal connected to the gate of the clamp transistor and to a second terminal to the ground supply.