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US 9,882,553 B2Granted
Semiconductor device and circuit protecting method
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorsMan-Ho Kwan, Fu-Wei Yao, Ru-Yi Su, King-Yuen Wong
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Abstract
A semiconductor device includes a first transistor and a clamping circuit. The first transistor is arranged to generate an output signal according to a control signal. The clamping circuit is arranged to generate the control signal according to an input signal, and to clamp the control signal to a predetermined signal level when the input signal exceeds the predetermined signal level.
Claims20
A semiconductor device, comprising:
- a first transistor, arranged to generate an output signal according to a control signal;
- and
- a clamping circuit including a second transistor and a resistive element, wherein the clamping circuit is arranged to generate the control signal according to an input signal, and to clamp the control signal to a predetermined signal level when the input signal exceeds the predetermined signal level, and wherein the resistive element is coupled between a gate terminal of the second transistor and a source terminal of the first transistor.
A semiconductor device, comprising:
- a first transistor, arranged to generate an output signal according to a control signal;
- and
- a second transistor, arranged to clamp the control signal to a predetermined signal level;
- wherein the predetermined signal level is based on a threshold voltage of the second transistor;
- and
- wherein a first connecting terminal of the second transistor is arranged to receive an input signal;
- a second connecting terminal of the second transistor is arranged to couple to a gate terminal of the first transistor to output the control signal;
- a first connecting terminal of the first transistor is arranged to output the output signal;
- and
- a second connecting terminal of the first transistor is arranged to couple to a gate terminal of the second transistor.
7 more elements
A circuit protecting method, comprising:
- providing a first transistor to generate an output signal according to a control signal;
- providing a second transistor to generate the control signal according to an input signal;
- providing a resistive element coupled between a gate terminal of the second transistor and a source terminal of the first transistor for adjusting the predetermined signal level;
- and
- using the second transistor to clamp the control signal to a predetermined signal level when the input signal exceeds the predetermined signal level.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.