ESD protection circuit between different voltage sources
First Claim
1. An ESD (electrostatic discharge) circuit for protecting a first internal circuit and a second internal circuit from an electrostatic charge, the first internal circuit coupled between two terminals VDD1 and VSS1 and the second internal circuit coupled between two terminals VDD2 and VSS2, the ESD circuit comprising:
- a first transistor set comprising at least one transistor coupled between VDD1 and VDD2;
a first detecting circuit coupled between VDD1 and VSS1 for detecting the electrostatic charge, and coupled to the first transistor set;
a second detecting circuit coupled between VDD2 and VSS2 for detecting the electrostatic charge, and coupled to the first transistor set; and
a second transistor set comprising at least one transistor coupled between VSS1 and VSS2;
wherein if the first detecting circuit or the second detecting circuit detects the electrostatic charge injected into the VDD1 or the VDD2, the first transistor set is turned on to discharge the electrostatic charge;
wherein if the first detecting circuit or the second detecting circuit detects the electrostatic charge injected into the VDD1 or the VDD2, the second transistor set is turned on to discharge the electrostatic charge.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ESD protection circuit for hybrid voltage sources includes a first bipolar transistor set and a second bipolar transistor set, a first detection circuit, and a second detection circuit. The ON/OFF states of the first bipolar transistor set and the second bipolar transistor set are determined by the first and the second detection circuit, and the ON/OFF states function to isolate terminals of the different voltage sources and discharge electrostatic charges injected into one of the terminals.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An ESD (electrostatic discharge) circuit for protecting a first internal circuit and a second internal circuit from an electrostatic charge, the first internal circuit coupled between two terminals VDD1 and VSS1 and the second internal circuit coupled between two terminals VDD2 and VSS2, the ESD circuit comprising:
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a first transistor set comprising at least one transistor coupled between VDD1 and VDD2; a first detecting circuit coupled between VDD1 and VSS1 for detecting the electrostatic charge, and coupled to the first transistor set; a second detecting circuit coupled between VDD2 and VSS2 for detecting the electrostatic charge, and coupled to the first transistor set; and a second transistor set comprising at least one transistor coupled between VSS1 and VSS2; wherein if the first detecting circuit or the second detecting circuit detects the electrostatic charge injected into the VDD1 or the VDD2, the first transistor set is turned on to discharge the electrostatic charge; wherein if the first detecting circuit or the second detecting circuit detects the electrostatic charge injected into the VDD1 or the VDD2, the second transistor set is turned on to discharge the electrostatic charge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ESD (Electrostatic Discharging) protection method for protecting a first internal circuit and a second internal circuit from an electrostatic charge, the first internal circuit coupled between two terminals VDD1 and VSS1 and the second internal circuit coupled between two terminals VDD2 and VSS2, the method comprising the following steps:
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disposing a first transistor set comprising at least one transistor coupled between the VDD1 and the VDD2; using a first detecting circuit and a second detecting circuit for detecting the electrostatic charge, wherein the first detecting circuit is coupled between the VDD1 and the VSS1, and the second detecting circuit is coupled between the VDD2 and the VSS2; and disposing a second transistor set comprising at least one transistor coupled between VSS1 and VSS2; when the first detecting circuit or the second detecting circuit detects the electrostatic charge injected into the VDD1 or the VDD2, turning on the first transistor set to discharge the electrostatic charge; when the first detecting circuit or the second detecting circuit detects the electrostatic charge injected into the VDD1 or the VDD2, turning on the second transistor set to discharge the electrostatic charge. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An ESD (electrostatic discharge) circuit for protecting a first internal circuit and a second internal circuit from an electrostatic charge, the first internal circuit coupled between two terminals VDD1 and VSS1 and the second internal circuit coupled between two terminals VDD2 and VSS2, the ESD circuit comprising:
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a first transistor set comprising at least one transistor coupled between VDD1 and VDD2, the transistor having; a first electrode coupled to the VDD1; a first insulator surrounding the first electrode; a second electrode surrounding the first insulator and coupled to the first electrode; a second insulator surrounding the second electrode; and a third electrode surrounding the second insulator and coupled to the second electrode and the VDD2; a first detecting circuit coupled between VDD1 and VSS1 for detecting the electrostatic charge, and coupled to the first transistor set; and a second detecting circuit coupled between VDD2 and VSS2 for detecting the electrostatic charge, and coupled to the first transistor set; wherein if the first detecting circuit or the second detecting circuit detects the electrostatic charge injected into the VDD1 or the VDD2, the first transistor set is turned on to discharge the electrostatic charge. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification