Input output circuit and electrostatic discharge protection circuit
AssigneeMacronix International Co., Ltd.
InventorsShih-Yu Wang, Wen-Tsung Huang, Chih-Wei Hsu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An input output circuit and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit are provided. The ESD protection circuit is adapted to a charged-device model (CDM). The ESD protection circuit includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT). The BJT has a first end coupled to an input end of an input buffer and an output end of an output buffer. A second end of the BJT is coupled to a first ground rail. A control end of the BJT is coupled to one of a first power rail, a second power rail, the first ground rail and a second ground rail.
Claims18
An electrostatic discharge protection circuit, comprising:
- a bipolar junction transistor, having:
- a first end coupled to an input end of an input buffer and an output end of an output buffer, a second end coupled to a first ground rail, and a control end coupled to one of a first power rail, a second power rail, the first ground rail and a second ground rail,
- wherein the input buffer receives a first operating power and a first ground voltage respectively through the first power rail and the first ground rail, and the output buffer receives a second operating power and a second ground voltage respectively through the second power rail and the second ground rail;
- wherein a forward-biased diode is formed between the second end and the first end of the bipolar junction transistor to provide a reverse current drain path.
An input output circuit, comprising:
- an input buffer, receiving a first operating power and a first ground voltage respectively through a first power rail and a first ground rail;
- an output buffer, receiving a second operating power and a second ground voltage respectively through a second power rail and a second ground rail;
- and
- an electrostatic discharge protection circuit, comprising:
- a bipolar junction transistor, having:
- a first end coupled to an input end of the input buffer and an output end of the output buffer, a second end coupled to the first ground rail, and a control end coupled to one of the first power rail, the second power rail, the first ground rail and the second ground rail,
- wherein a forward-biased diode is formed between the second end and the first end of the bipolar junction transistor to provide a reverse current drain path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.