Device for protecting semiconductor ic

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a device for protecting a semiconductor IC device from an electrostatic discharge (ESD). According to embodiments, the device may have a rapid response speed and a stable operation against an ESD and may efficiently protect an internal circuit of a semiconductor IC from an ESD voltage lower than a junction breakdown voltage. According to embodiments, the device for protecting the semiconductor IC may include a pad, an internal circuit electrically connected to the pad, and a protection circuit which forms a discharge path between the pad and the internal circuit and disconnects the pad and the internal circuit, when an overvoltage due to an electrostatic discharge is applied to the pad.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.