公开(公告)号：US20140334048A1

公开(公告)日：2014-11-13

申请号：US14271899

申请日：2014-05-07

Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.

Inventor： Kathleen Muhonen

IPC: H02H9/04

CPC classification number: H02H9/046

Abstract: Embodiments of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuits are disclosed along with methods of providing ESD protection. In one embodiment, an ESD protection circuit includes a first ESD protection clamp and a second ESD protection clamp operably associated in a dual-polarity ESD protection configuration. The first ESD protection clamp includes a trigger path and a clamped ESD protection path. The first ESD protection clamp is configured to trigger the clamped ESD protection path in response to an input voltage reaching a trigger voltage level. The second ESD protection clamp breaks down in response to the input voltage reaching a clamp breakdown voltage level that has a magnitude equal to or greater than the trigger voltage level. Since the clamp breakdown voltage level is equal to or greater than the trigger voltage level provided by the first ESD protection clamp, the ESD protection circuit can provide better ESD protection performance ratings.

Abstract translation: 公开了静电放电（ESD）保护电路的实施例以及提供ESD保护的方法。 在一个实施例中，ESD保护电路包括可操作地与双极性ESD保护配置相关联的第一ESD保护钳和第二ESD保护钳。 第一个ESD保护钳包括一个触发路径和一个钳位的ESD保护路径。 第一个ESD保护钳位配置为触发钳位的ESD保护路径，以响应输入电压达到触发电压电平。 响应于输入电压达到钳位击穿电压电平，第二ESD保护钳位中断，该钳位击穿电压电平的幅度等于或大于触发电压电平。 由于钳位击穿电压电平等于或大于由第一ESD保护钳提供的触发电压电平，ESD保护电路可以提供更好的ESD保护性能等级。