Protection systems for integrated circuits and methods of forming the same

An apparatus comprising:

• a pad;
• an internal circuit electrically connected to the pad;
• and
• a protection system configured to protect the internal circuit from transient electrical events, the protection system comprising:
• a means for providing primary bi-directional blocking voltage protection electrically connected to the pad and configured to have a first holding voltage;
• and
• a means for providing secondary bi-directional blocking voltage protection electrically connected to the pad and configured to have a second holding voltage, wherein the primary protection means has a current handling capability greater than a current handling capability of the secondary protection means, and wherein the secondary protection means has a turn-on speed that is faster than a turn-on speed of the primary protection means, and wherein a magnitude of the first holding voltage is less than a magnitude of the second holding voltage such that when the primary bi-directional blocking voltage protection means has been activated the activated primary protection means clamps a voltage of the pad so as to decrease a flow of current through the secondary protection means.

An apparatus comprising:

• a substrate;
• a pad;
• a primary protection device electrically connected to the pad and configured to have a first holding voltage, wherein the primary protection device includes a first bi-directional bipolar transistor disposed in the substrate;
• and
• a secondary protection device electrically connected to the pad and configured to have a second holding voltage, wherein the secondary protection device includes a second bi-directional bipolar transistor disposed in the substrate,
• wherein the primary protection device has a current handling capability greater than a current handling capability of the secondary protection device, and wherein the secondary protection device has a turn-on speed that is faster than a turn-on speed of the primary protection device, and wherein a magnitude of the first holding voltage is less than a magnitude of the second holding voltage such that when the primary protection device has been activated the activated primary protection device clamps a voltage of the pad so as to decrease a flow of current through the secondary protection device.