# US 8,786,048 B2 · Semiconductor device

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- Number: US 8,786,048 B2
- Document ID: US8786048B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/764,306
- Filed: 2013-02-11
- Published: 2013-06-13
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-25
- Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation
- Applicants: Renesas Electronics Corporation
- Inventors: Mototsugu Okushima; Takasuke Hashimoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786048B2

## CPC

- H10W 42/60: protecting against electrostatic charges or discharges, e.g. Faraday shields (integrated devices comprising arrangements for electrical protection H10D89/60)
- H10D 89/60: Integrated devices comprising arrangements for electrical or thermal protection, e.g. protection circuits against electrostatic discharge [ESD]
- H10W 20/497: {Inductive arrangements or effects of, or between, wiring layers}
- H10W 20/498: {Resistive arrangements or effects of, or between, wiring layers}
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

## Abstract

A semiconductor device has: a signal pad; a power supply line; a ground line; an inductor section whose one end is connected to the signal pad; a terminating resistor connected between the other end of the inductor section and the power supply line or the ground line. The semiconductor device further has: a first ESD protection element connected to a first node in the inductor section; and a second ESD protection element connected to a second node whose position is different from that of the first node in the inductor section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A semiconductor device comprising:
a first interface circuit;
a second interface circuit formed adjacent to said first interface circuit; and
a substrate on which said first interface circuit and said second interface circuit are formed,
wherein said first interface circuit comprises:
a first signal pad;
a first power supply line;
a first ground line;
a first inductor section whose one end is connected to said first signal pad;
a first terminating resistor connected between the other end of said first inductor section and said first power supply line or said first ground line;
a first ESD protection element connected to a first node in said first inductor section; and
a second ESD protection element connected to a second node whose position is different from that of said first node in said first inductor section,
wherein said second interface circuit comprises:
a second signal pad;
a second power supply line;
a second ground line;
a second inductor section whose one end is connected to said second signal pad;
a second terminating resistor connected between the other end of said second inductor section and said second power supply line or said second ground line;
a third ESD protection element connected to a third node in said second inductor section; and
a fourth ESD protection element connected to a fourth node whose position is different from that of said third node in said second inductor section,
wherein a first interconnection connecting said first ESD protection element to said first ground line, which connects said third ESD protection element to said second ground line, are shared by adjacent said third ESD protection element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein an internal circuit is electrically connected to at least one of said first node and said second node.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein said first ESD protection element is connected between said first ground line and said first node.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein said second ESD protection element is connected between said first power supply line and said second node.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein
at least a part of said first ESD protection element and a part of said second ESD protection element overlap with said first inductor section,
said first node and said first ESD protection element are connected with each other through a first via, and
said second node and said second ESD protection element are connected with each other through a second via.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein said first inductor section comprises:
a first inductor connected between said first signal pad and said first node; and
a second inductor connected between said first terminating resistor and said second node.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The semiconductor device according to claim 6, wherein said first inductor section is formed in a plurality of interconnect layers,
said first inductor is formed in a first interconnect layer of said plurality of interconnect layers,
said second inductor is formed in a second interconnect layer of said plurality of interconnect layers, and
an interconnect thickness is larger in said first interconnect layer than in said second interconnect layer.

### Claim 8

A semiconductor device comprising:
a first interface circuit;
a second interface circuit formed adjacent to said first interface circuit; and
a substrate on which said first interface circuit and said second interface circuit are formed,
wherein said first interface circuit comprises:
a first signal pad;
a first power supply line;
a first ground line;
a first inductor section whose one end is connected to said first signal pad;
a first terminating resistor connected between the other end of said first inductor section and said first power supply line or said first ground line;
a first ESD protection element connected to a first node in said first inductor section: and
a second ESD protection element connected to a second node whose position is different from that of said first node in said first inductor section,
wherein said second interface circuit comprises:
a second signal pad;
a second power supply line;
a second ground line;
a second inductor section whose one end is connected to said second signal pad;
a second terminating resistor connected between the other end of said second inductor section and said second power supply line or said second ground line;
a third ESD protection element connected to a third node in said second inductor section; and
a fourth ESD protection element connected to a fourth node whose position is different from that of said third node in said second inductor section,
wherein a second interconnection connecting said second ESD protection element to said first power line, which connects said fourth ESD protection element to said second power line, are shared by adjacent said fourth ESD protection element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The semiconductor device according to claim 8,
wherein said first inductor section comprises:
a first inductor connected between said first signal pad and said first node; and
a second inductor connected between said first terminating resistor and said second node.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The semiconductor device according to claim 9, wherein said first inductor section is formed in a plurality of interconnect layers,
said first inductor is formed in a first interconnect layer of said plurality of interconnect layers,
said second inductor is formed in a second interconnect layer of said plurality of interconnect layers, and
an interconnect thickness is larger in said first interconnect layer than in said second interconnect layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein an internal circuit is electrically connected to at least one of said first node and said second node.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein said first ESD protection element is connected between said first ground line and said first node.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein said second ESD protection element is connected between said first power supply line and said second node.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein at least a part of said first ESD protection element and a part of said second ESD protection element overlap with said first inductor section,
said first node and said first ESD protection element are connected with each other through a first via, and
said second node and said second ESD protection element are connected with each other through a second via.