ESD Protection Circuit
OwnerMaurizio Galvano, Giovanni Galliinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit arrangement includes an ESD protection circuit for protecting a circuit node of the circuit arrangement against electrostatic discharge. The circuit arrangement includes a control circuit configured to deactivate the ESD protection circuit in response to a state signal representing a state of operation of the circuit arrangement.
Claims23
An integrated circuit comprising:
- integrated circuitry coupled to a circuit node;
- an ESD protection circuit for protecting the circuit node against electrostatic discharge;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the ESD protection circuit to deactivate the ESD protection circuit in response to a state signal representing a state of operation of the integrated circuitry.
An ESD protection circuit for protecting a circuit node of a circuit arrangement against electrostatic discharge, the ESD protection circuit comprising:
- a field effect transistor with a first load terminal, a second load terminal, and a gate terminal, where the first load terminal is coupled to the circuit node and the second load terminal receives a reference potential node;
- a capacitive element coupled between the first load terminal and the gate terminal;
- a resistive element coupled between the second load terminal and the gate terminal;
- a semiconductor switch coupled between the second load terminal and the gate terminal;
- and
- a control unit coupled to the semiconductor switch, the control unit configured to close the semiconductor switch a delay time after a state signal has been received, wherein the state signal indicates normal operation of the circuit arrangement.
A method for protecting a circuit node of a circuit arrangement against electrostatic discharge, the method comprising:
- determining whether the circuit arrangement is in a first state of operation or a second state of operation;
- activating an ESD protection circuit when the circuit arrangement is in the first state of operation;
- and
- deactivating the ESD protection circuit when the circuit arrangement is in the second state of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.