High voltage ESD power clamp

Details High voltage ESD power clamp High voltage ESD power clamp

2007-04-10

2007-04-10

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2836)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Safety and protection of systems and devices

With specific voltage responsive fault sensor

C361S056000, C361S111000

Reexamination Certificate

active

10711748

ABSTRACT:
A structure and apparatus is provided for an electrostatic discharge power clamp, for use with high voltage power supplies. The power clamp includes a network of transistor devices, for example, nFETs arranged in series between a power rail and a ground rail. The first transistor device is biased into a partially on-state, and thus, neither device sees the full voltage potential between the power rail and the ground rail. Accordingly, the power clamp can function in voltage environments higher than the native voltage of the transistor devices. Additionally, the second transistor device is controlled by an RC network functioning as a trigger which allows the second transistor device to turn on during a voltage spike such as occurs during an ESD event. The capacitor of the RC network may be small thereby requiring small real estate on the integrated circuit. The clamp may have fast turn-on times as well as conducting current for long periods of time after turning on.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4916381 (1990-04-01), Gelecinskyj et al.
patent: 5239440 (1993-08-01), Merrill
patent: 5345356 (1994-09-01), Pianka
patent: 5345357 (1994-09-01), Pianka
patent: 5400202 (1995-03-01), Metz et al.
patent: 5596474 (1997-01-01), Wada et al.
patent: 5852375 (1998-12-01), Byrne et al.
patent: 5932918 (1999-08-01), Krakauer
patent: 5946177 (1999-08-01), Miller et al.
patent: 6140682 (2000-10-01), Liu et al.
patent: 6147538 (2000-11-01), Andresen et al.
patent: 6236238 (2001-05-01), Tanji et al.
patent: 6433979 (2002-08-01), Yu
patent: 6459553 (2002-10-01), Drapkin et al.
patent: 6556398 (2003-04-01), Chen
patent: 6657835 (2003-12-01), Ker et al.
patent: 6919602 (2005-07-01), Lin et al.
Steven H. Voldman, “The State of the Art of Electrostatic Discharge Protection: Physics, Technology, Circuits, Design, Simulation, and Scaling”, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 34, No. 9, Sep. 1999, pp. 1272-1282.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

High voltage ESD power clamp does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with High voltage ESD power clamp, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High voltage ESD power clamp will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3743711