Method and circuit arrangement for protection against electrostatic discharges
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorElmar Bach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic circuit device is provided which comprises an electronic circuit unit, an ESD protection unit connected in parallel to the electronic circuit unit and configured to clamp a supply voltage of the electronic circuit unit, at least one input clamp unit configured to clamp input voltages applied at at least one input terminal of the electronic circuit unit, and at least one ESD clamp provided at the at least one input terminal and configured to protect the electronic circuit unit against electrostatic discharges.
Claims25
An electronic circuit device, comprising
- a) an electronic circuit unit;
- b) an ESD protection unit connected in parallel to the electronic circuit unit and configured to clamp a supply voltage of the electronic circuit unit;
- c) at least one input clamp unit configured to clamp input voltages applied at at least one input terminal of the electronic circuit unit;
- and
- d) at least one ESD clamp provided at the at least one input terminal and configured to protect the electronic circuit unit against electrostatic discharges.
A mixed voltage circuit device, comprising
- a) a thin oxide circuit unit configured to be operated at a first supply voltage;
- b) a thick oxide circuit unit configured to be operated at a second supply voltage larger than the first supply voltage;
- c) an intermediate node connecting the thin oxide circuit unit and the thick oxide circuit unit in series;
- and
- d) an ESD protection unit connected to the intermediate node in parallel to the thin oxide circuit unit and configured to clamp the first supply voltage.
A method for protecting an electronic circuit device comprising an electronic circuit unit, the method comprising:
- clamping a supply voltage of the electronic circuit unit using an ESD protection unit connected in parallel to the electronic circuit unit;
- clamping input voltages applied at at least one input terminal of the electronic circuit unit using at least one input clamp unit;
- and
- protecting the electronic circuit unit against electrostatic discharges using at least one ESD clamp provided at the at least one input terminal.
A method for protecting a mixed voltage circuit device comprising a thin oxide circuit unit configured to be operated at a first supply voltage, a thick oxide circuit unit configured to be operated at a second supply voltage which is larger than the first supply voltage, and an intermediate node connecting the thin oxide circuit unit and the thick oxide circuit unit in series, the method comprising clamping the first supply voltage using an ESD protection unit connected to the intermediate node in parallel to the thin oxide circuit unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.