Nanotube ESD protective devices and corresponding nonvolatile and volatile nanotube switches
First Claim
1. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit coupled to an input pad from an ESD-induced voltage of positive or negative polarity, comprising:
- a nanotube switch having at least two terminals coupled to the protected circuit and to a single discharge path;
wherein the nanotube switch, in response to the ESD-induced voltage, switches between a de-activated state and an activated state;
wherein the activated state creates a current path in either direction between the at least two terminals, so that a signal on the input pad flows to or from the single discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit,wherein the nanotube switch returns to the de-activated state after the duration of the ESD-induced voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Nanotube ESD protective devices and corresponding nonvolatile and volatile nanotube switches. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit is coupled to an input pad. The ESD circuit includes a nanotube switch electrically having a control. The switch is coupled to the protected circuit and to a discharge path. The nanotube switch is controllable, in response to electrical stimulation of the control, between a de-activated state and an activated state. The activated state creates a current path so that a signal on the input pad flows to the discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit. The nanotube switch, the input pad, and the protected circuit may be on a semiconductor chip. The nanotube switch may be on a chip carrier. The deactivated and activated states may be volatile or non-volatile depending on the embodiment. The ESD circuit may be repeatedly programmed between the activated and deactivated states so as to repeatedly activate and deactivate ESD protection of the protected circuit. The nanotube switch provides protection based on the magnitude of the signal on the input pad.
134 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit coupled to an input pad from an ESD-induced voltage of positive or negative polarity, comprising:
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a nanotube switch having at least two terminals coupled to the protected circuit and to a single discharge path; wherein the nanotube switch, in response to the ESD-induced voltage, switches between a de-activated state and an activated state; wherein the activated state creates a current path in either direction between the at least two terminals, so that a signal on the input pad flows to or from the single discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit, wherein the nanotube switch returns to the de-activated state after the duration of the ESD-induced voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit coupled to an input pad for protecting from an ESD-induced voltage of positive or negative polarity a protected circuit also coupled to the input pad, said ESD protection circuit comprising:
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a nanotube switch having at least two terminals and an electrical control, a first of the at least two terminals being electrically coupled to the input pad and protected circuit and a second of the at least two terminals being coupled to a single discharge path; wherein the nanotube switch is controllable, in response to electrical stimulation of the control, between a de-activated state and an activated state; wherein the de-activated state presents a relatively high impedance between the first and second terminals of the nanotube switch so that a signal on the input pad passes to the protected circuit substantially unaltered; wherein the activated state presents a relatively low impedance between the first and second terminals of the nanotube switch creating a current path in either direction between the at least two terminals, so that a signal on the input pad flows to or from the single discharge path coupled to the second terminal; wherein the nanotube switch includes a nanotube element having a plurality of nanotubes, wherein the nanotube element is sized to produce the relatively low impedance of the nanotube switch in the activated state, said relatively low impedance being sufficient to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit coupled to an input pad for protecting from an ESD-induced voltage of positive or negative polarity a protected circuit also coupled to the input pad, said ESD protection circuit comprising:
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a nanotube switch having a nanotube element and a control electrode, the nanotube element being electrically coupled to a single discharge path and the control electrode being electrically coupled to the input pad and protected circuit; wherein the nanotube switch is controllable, in response to electrical stimulation of the control electrode, between a de-activated state and an activated state; wherein the nanotube switch, in response to the ESD-induced voltage, switches between a de-activated state and an activated state and returns to the dc-activated state after the duration of the ESD-induced voltage; wherein the activated state creates a current path in either direction between the input pad and the single discharge path, so that a signal on the input pad flows to or from the single discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification