Integrated circuit having enhanced transient voltage protection

Details Integrated circuit having enhanced transient voltage protection Integrated circuit having enhanced transient voltage protection

1996-10-04

1998-01-13

Gaffin, Jeffrey A.

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Safety and protection of systems and devices

Load shunting by fault responsive means

361111, 361 89, H02H 322

Patent

active

057085498

ABSTRACT:
An integrated circuit includes protected circuit portions for being electrically connected to an electronic circuit via electrical conductors, and a multiple time constant transient clamping circuit for clamping a transient voltage based upon one of first and second time constants. The first time constant is preferably selected when the integrated circuit is electrically connected to the electronic circuit and is preferably relatively short to permit operation and while protecting the IC from a transient voltage, such as an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. The longer second time constant is preferably selected when the IC is removed or not electrically connected to the electronic circuit. The longer second time constant is preferably sufficiently long to protect the IC from a transient voltage when the IC is not electrically connected to the circuit board. The multiple time constant transient clamping circuit may include a first active voltage clamp and a first clamp controller, and a second active voltage clamp and second clamp controller. A time constant selecting device having a fixed impedance, such as a resistor or conductive trace, for example, may be electrically connected between two electrical conductors. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4567500 (1986-01-01), Avery
patent: 4870530 (1989-09-01), Hurst et al.
patent: 5400202 (1995-03-01), Metz et al.
patent: 5515225 (1996-05-01), Gens et al.
patent: 5526214 (1996-06-01), Takata et al.
patent: 5535084 (1996-07-01), Nakayama
patent: 5535086 (1996-07-01), Mentzer
R. Merrill, E. Issaq, "ESD Design Methodology", EOS/ESD Symposium Proceedings (1993), pp. 233-237.
G. Croft, "ESD Protection Using a Variable Voltage Supply Clamp", ESD/EOS Symposium Proceedings (1994), pp. 135-140.

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