Active solid-state devices (e.g. – transistors – solid-state diode – Field effect device – Having insulated electrode
Patent
1994-10-19
1997-08-05
Meier, Stephen
Active solid-state devices (e.g., transistors, solid-state diode
Field effect device
Having insulated electrode
257354, 257360, H01L 2362, H01L 2701, H01L 2712
Patent
active
056545711
ABSTRACT:
A semiconductor device, such as a MOS integrated circuit, provides an internal circuit whose primary stage is configured by an inverter circuit consisting of p-channel and n-channel MOS transistors. The sources of the MOS transistors are connected with a first pair of power-supply terminals respectively, while the gates of the MOS transistors are connected together to form a common gate terminal to which a voltage input applied to an input is terminal. The MOS integrated circuit provides first and second input protection circuits which are connected together between the input terminal and common gate terminal. The first input protection circuit is connected with a second pair of power-supply terminals which is provided independently of the first pair of power-supply terminals. When an abnormal voltage input is applied to the input terminal, the first input protection circuit is activated to perform a voltage clamping by releasing an electric current. If the abnormal voltage input is a sharp surge-pulse input, the second input protection circuit is activated as well so that a potential variation at the common gate terminal, which is caused by the abnormal voltage input, is followed by a potential variation at the first pair of power-supply terminals. Hence, a difference in voltage between the potential at the common gate terminal and the source of the MOS transistor in the internal circuit is reduced. Therefore, destruction or deterioration of the gate of the MOS transistor in the internal circuit is avoided.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4930037 (1990-05-01), Woo
patent: 4989057 (1991-01-01), Lu
patent: 5285095 (1994-02-01), Toyoda
patent: 5440162 (1995-08-01), Worley et al.
Meier Stephen
Yamaha Corporation
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