Electrostatc discharge protection network
First Claim
1. An electrostatic discharge protection network for protecting a circuit internal to an IC from ESD damage, comprising:
- a conducting line;
a plurality of IC contact pads for electrical coupling to the internal circuit;
a plurality of protection circuits, each of the protection circuits being electrically coupled between a corresponding one of the contact pads and the conducting line, each of the protection circuits comprising;
a thick-oxide device having a bulk terminal, a drain terminal coupled to the corresponding contact pad, a source terminal coupled to the conducting line, and a gate terminal coupled to the drain terminal;
a resistor coupled between the bulk terminal and the conducting line;
a capacitor coupled between the corresponding contact pad and the bulk terminal; and
a diode having an anode coupled to the conducting line and a cathode coupled to the corresponding contact pad.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrostatic discharge protection network which diverts ESD stress arising between any two contact pads of an IC device, in order to prevent damage to the internal circuitry of the IC device. An ESD discharge bus is arranged around the periphery of an IC chip. Between each IC pad and the discharge bus, there is a protection circuit to directly bypass an ESD stress arising at any two IC pads. Each ESD protection circuit includes a diode, a thick-oxide device, a resistor, and a capacitor. The protection circuit is operated in snapback mode without causing breakdown. Therefore, the triggering voltage of the ESD protection circuit is lowered to the level of the snapback voltage but not to the level of the breakdown voltage.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An electrostatic discharge protection network for protecting a circuit internal to an IC from ESD damage, comprising:
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a conducting line; a plurality of IC contact pads for electrical coupling to the internal circuit; a plurality of protection circuits, each of the protection circuits being electrically coupled between a corresponding one of the contact pads and the conducting line, each of the protection circuits comprising; a thick-oxide device having a bulk terminal, a drain terminal coupled to the corresponding contact pad, a source terminal coupled to the conducting line, and a gate terminal coupled to the drain terminal; a resistor coupled between the bulk terminal and the conducting line; a capacitor coupled between the corresponding contact pad and the bulk terminal; and a diode having an anode coupled to the conducting line and a cathode coupled to the corresponding contact pad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification