Device and method for electrostatic discharge protection of a circuit device
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsAaron M. Schoenfeld, Alan J. Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An circuit device includes a stack of electrostatic discharge protection devices shared between a plurality of contact pads on the device. In addition, each contact pad is coupled to its own individual protection device. Together, the individual protection devices and the stack establish a trip point for shunting a charge from the contact pads in the event that any of the pads reach a voltage potential greater then the trip point. In doing so, the stack protects internal operations circuits from damage. At the same time, the shared stack conserves die space.
Claims5
A semiconductor device having a plurality of contact points, comprising:
- a current diverting apparatus, further comprising:
- a first ESD event circuit comprising:
- a first plurality of ESD protection devices coupled to said plurality of contact points, and
- a first ESD stack coupled to said first plurality of ESD protection devices, the first ESD stack including a first number of additional series-coupled ESD protection devices, the first number being greater than one;
- and
- a second ESD event circuit comprising:
- a second plurality of ESD protection devices coupled to said plurality of contact points, and
- a second ESD stack coupled to said second plurality of ESD protection devices, the second ESD stack including a second number of additional series-coupled ESD protection devices;
- wherein said first ESD stack is configured to divert current to a positive potential and second ESD stack is configured to divert current to a single non-positive potential.
A method of forming a device having a plurality of contact pads that require a plurality of ESD protection devices, comprising:
- coupling a first set of said plurality of ESD protection devices to said plurality of contact pads;
- isolating said first set from a voltage supply pad;
- stacking a second set of said plurality of ESD protection devices;
- isolating said second set from a voltage supply pad;
- and
- connecting said second set to said first set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.