Device for the protection of interconnection lines in an integrated circuit
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorFrancois Tailliet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The protection device for an interconnection line of an integrated circuit includes a charge flow-off device connected between the interconnection line to be protected and the substrate of the integrated circuit. The protection device also includes a dummy interconnection line ANT to activate the flow-off device. The protection device is active throughout the manufacture of the integrated circuit.
Claims20
A device for the protection of an interconnection line of an integrated circuit, comprising a charge flow-off device connected between the interconnection line to be protected and the substrate of the integrated circuit and a dummy interconnection line to activate said flow-off device, the protection device being active throughout the manufacture of the integrated circuit.
A protection device according to one of the above claims, wherein the interconnection line or lines and the associated dummy line are made in the same manufacturing step.
A protection device according to any of the above claims, comprising a disabling circuit connected between the dummy interconnection line and the substrate, and wherein this disabling circuit is activated by the powering on of the integrated circuit.
A protection device according to any of the above claims, furthermore comprising a voltage limiter connected between the dummy interconnection line and the substrate.
A protection device according to any of the above claims, used to protect interconnection lines of a memory array.
An integrated circuit comprising a protection device or a memory array according to any of the preceding claims.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.