Pad cell with multiple signal paths
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorDennis A. Dempsey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated circuit is described including internal circuitry and having at least one external connection. A pad cell is electrically interposed between the external connection and the internal circuitry, the pad cell comprising a first group of components adapted to protect the internal circuitry from transients at the external connection and providing, during normal operating conditions of the integrated circuit, a first signal path to the internal circuitry, and a second group of components providing a second signal path from the external connection to the internal circuitry. The second signal path is non-operable during the normal operating conditions but on application of a predefined voltage at the external connection becomes operable.
Claims44
An integrated circuit comprising, on a single die, at least one external connection pin, the pin being coupled to a pad cell adapted to provide a signal path from circuitry external to the integrated circuit via the pin to components of the integrated circuit, and wherein the pad cell includes a first signal path which is operational under a first set of normal operating conditions and a second signal path, the second signal path being non-operable under the first set of normal operating conditions and operable on application of a pre-defined signal to the pin, the operation of the second signal path being parallel to and simultaneous with the operation of the first signal path.
An integrated circuit comprising, on a single die:
- (a) internal circuitry,
- (b) at least one external connection, and
- (c) a pad cell electrically interposed between an external connection and the internal circuitry, the pad cell comprising
- (1) a first group of components adapted to protect the internal circuitry from transients at the external connection and providing, during normal operating conditions of the integrated circuit, a first signal path to the internal circuitry, and
- (2) a second group of components providing a second signal path from the external connection to the internal circuitry and wherein the second signal path is non-operable during the normal operating conditions but on application of a predefined voltage at the external connection becomes operable, the first and second signal paths being simultaneously operable.
An integrated circuit comprising, on a single die:
- (a) internal circuitry,
- (b) at least one external connection, and
- (c) a pad cell electrically interposed between a said external connection and the internal circuitry, the pad cell comprising
- (1) a first group of components providing, during normal operating conditions of the integrated circuit, a first signal path to the internal circuitry, and
- (2) a second group of components providing a second signal path from the external connection to the internal circuitry and wherein the second signal path is non-operable during the normal operating conditions but on application of a predefined voltage at the external connection becomes operable, the second group of components including a MOS device having the source and well coupled together, the application of the predefined voltage turning the MOS device on and enabling the second signal path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.