Electrostatic discharge suppression circuit employing trench cap

Details Electrostatic discharge suppression circuit employing trench cap Electrostatic discharge suppression circuit employing trench cap

1995-09-08

1998-03-24

Gaffin, Jeffrey A.

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Safety and protection of systems and devices

Load shunting by fault responsive means

361111, 361118, H02H 900

Patent

active

057319413

ABSTRACT:
An enhanced electrostatic discharge suppression circuit is disclosed for protecting integrated circuit chips from electrostatic discharges or other potentially damaging voltage transients on an input/output pad. The suppression circuit includes a discharge circuit, electrically coupled to the input/output pad, having a diode comprising a diffusion in a substrate well formed in a substrate. The diffusion is connected to the input/output pad of the integrated circuit. A capacitor is locally provided to couple the substrate well to the substrate. The capacitor is sized to maintain the diode in a forward-bias mode during the electrostatic discharge event, thereby facilitating dissipating of the electrostatic discharge. The capacitor comprises a trench capacitor, which depending upon the configuration, may function as a guard ring for the discharge circuit. Certain beneficial parasitic effects are also discussed in association with integration of a trench capacitor into the suppression circuit.

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