# US 2013/0155554 A1 · Electrostatic discharge protection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155554 A1 - Document ID: US20130155554A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/328,755 - Filed: 2011-12-16 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Macronix International Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shih-Yu Wang; Chieh-Wei He; Yao-Wen Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155554A1 ## CPC - H02H 9/046: {responsive to excess voltage appearing at terminals of integrated circuits} - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) ## Abstract An electrostatic discharge protection device is provided. The electrostatic discharge protection device includes a clamp unit and a control circuit. The clamp unit provides a discharging path from a first power line to a first ground line. The control circuit receives a first power voltage from the first power line and a second power voltage from a second power line. Wherein, when the first power voltage and the second power voltage are applied, the control circuit generates an isolation signal to disconnect the discharging path. When the first power voltage and the second power voltage are not applied, the control circuit generates a trigger signal according to an electrostatic signal from the first power line to turn on the discharging path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrostatic discharge protection device, comprising: a clamp unit, providing a discharging path from a first power line to a first ground line; and a control circuit, receiving a first power voltage from the first power line and a second power voltage from a second power line, wherein when the first power voltage and the second power voltage are applied, the control circuit generates an isolation signal to disconnect the discharging path, and when the first power voltage and the second power voltage are not applied, the control circuit generates a trigger signal according to an electrostatic signal from the first power line to turn on the discharging path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises: a trigger unit, electrically connected to the first power line, the second power line and the first ground line, wherein the trigger unit generates a first control signal according to the first power voltage and the second power voltage, and generates a second control signal according to the electrostatic signal; and a latching unit, electrically connected to the first power line and the first ground line wherein the latching unit generates the isolation signal according to the first control signal, and the latching unit generates the trigger signal according to the second control signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the trigger unit comprises: a first p-type transistor, comprising a source electrically connected to the first power line, and a gate electrically connected to the second power line; a resistor, comprising a first end electrically connected to the drain of the p-type transistor, and a second end electrically connected to the first ground line; and a first inverter, comprising an input terminal electrically connected to the first end of the resistor, and an output terminal for outputting the first control signal or the second control signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the latching unit comprises: a second p-type transistor, comprising a source electrically connected to the first power line, and a drain for generating the isolation signal or the trigger signal; a second inverter, comprising an input terminal electrically connected to the drain of the second p-type transistor, and an output terminal electrically connected to a gate of the second p-type transistor; and a first n-type transistor, comprising a source electrically connected to the first ground line, a drain of electrically connected to the drain of the second p-type transistor, and a gate for receiving the first control signal or the second control signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamp unit comprises a second n-type transistor, wherein a source of the second n-type transistor is electrically connected to the first ground line, a drain of the second n-type transistor is electrically connected to the first power line, and a gate of the second n-type transistor receives the isolation signal or the trigger signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first diode, comprising an anode electrically connected to the first power line, and a cathode electrically connected to the second power line; a second diode, comprising an anode electrically connected to the second power line, and a cathode electrically connected to the first power line; and a third n-type transistor, comprising a drain electrically connected to the second power line, a gate receiving the isolation signal or the trigger signal, and a source electrically connected to the first ground line or a second ground line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the source of the third n-type transistor is electrically connected to the second ground line, and the electrostatic discharge protection device further comprises: a third diode, comprising an anode electrically connected to the first ground line, and a cathode electrically connected to the second ground line; and a fourth diode, comprising an anode electrically connected to the second ground line, and a cathode electrically connected to the first ground line. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first power voltage is equal to the second power voltage. ### Claim 9 An electrostatic discharge protection device, comprising: a control circuit, electrically connected to a first power line, a second power line, and a first ground line; and a clamp unit, providing a discharging path from the first power line to the first ground line, wherein when a first power voltage and a second power voltage are respectively applied to the first power line and the second power line, the control circuit generates an isolation signal to disconnect the discharging path, and when the first voltage and the second voltage are not provided, the control unit generates a trigger signal according to an electrostatic signal from the first power line to turn on the discharging path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control circuit comprises: a trigger unit, electrically connected to the first power line, the second power line and the first ground line, wherein the trigger unit generates a first control signal according to the first power voltage and the second power voltage, and generates a second control signal according to the electrostatic signal; and a latching unit, electrically connected to the first power line and the first ground line wherein the latching unit generates the isolation signal according to the first control signal, and the latching unit generates the trigger signal according to the second control signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the trigger unit comprises: a first p-type transistor, comprising a source electrically connected to the first power line, and a gate electrically connected to the second power line; a resistor, comprising a first end electrically connected to the drain of the p-type transistor, and a second end electrically connected to the first ground line; and a first inverter, comprising an input terminal of the first inverter electrically connected to the first end of the resistor, and an output terminal for outputting the first control signal or the second control signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the latching unit comprises: a second p-type transistor, comprising a source of electrically connected to the first power line, and a drain for generating the isolation signal or the trigger signal; a second inverter, comprising an input terminal of the second inverter electrically connected to the drain of the second p-type transistor, and an output terminal electrically connected to the gate of the second p-type transistor; and a first n-type transistor, comprising a source electrically connected to the first ground line, a drain electrically connected to the drain of the second p-type transistor, and a gate for receiving the first control signal or the second control signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the clamp unit comprises a second n-type transistor, wherein a source of the second n-type transistor is electrically connected to the first ground line, a drain of the second n-type transistor is electrically connected to the first power line, and a gate of the second n-type transistor receives the isolation signal or the trigger signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a first diode, comprising an anode electrically connected to the first power line, and a cathode electrically connected to the second power line; a second diode, comprising an anode electrically connected to the second power line, and a cathode electrically connected to the first power line; and a third n-type transistor, comprising a drain electrically connected to the second power line, a gate receiving the isolation signal or the trigger signal, and a source electrically connected to the first ground line or a second ground line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the source of the third n-type transistor is electrically connected to the second ground line, and the electrostatic discharge protection device further comprises: a third diode, comprising an anode electrically connected to the first ground line, a cathode electrically connected to the second ground line; and a fourth diode, comprising an anode electrically connected to the second ground line, and a cathode electrically connected to the first ground line. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The electrostatic discharge protection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first power voltage is equal to the second power voltage.