Invention Grant
- Patent Title: ESD clamp circuit for low leakage applications
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Application No.: US17577951Application Date: 2022-01-18
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Publication No.: US12009657B2Publication Date: 2024-06-11
- Inventor: Tao Yi Hung , Wun-Jie Lin , Jam-Wen Lee , Kuo-Ji Chen
- Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
- Applicant Address: TW Hsinchu
- Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
- Current Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
- Current Assignee Address: TW Hsinchu
- Agency: MERCHANT & GOULD P.C.
- Main IPC: H02H9/04
- IPC: H02H9/04 ; H02H1/00

Abstract:
An ESD clamp circuit has an ESD detection circuit connected between a first terminal and a second terminal, with a first output node and a second output node. The ESD detection circuit is configured to output respective first and second control signals at the first and second output nodes in response to an ESD event. A discharge circuit includes a p-type transistor having a source, a drain and a gate, with the gate connected to the first output node. An n-type transistor has a source, a drain and a gate, with the gate connected to the second output node. The drain is connected to the drain of the p-type transistor. The discharge circuit is configured to establish a first ESD discharge path from the first terminal, through the p-type transistor and the n-type transistor, to the second terminal, and to further establish a second ESD discharge path in parallel with the first ESD discharge path. The second ESD discharge path includes a parasitic silicon controlled rectifier (SCR).
Public/Granted literature
- US20230009740A1 ESD Clamp Circuit For Low Leakage Applications Public/Granted day:2023-01-12
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