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US5430602A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Input protection circuit for protecting an internal circuit of a semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge

Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1993-03-31
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Granted: 1995-07-04
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Expires: 2013-03-31
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Abstract

Abstract A circuit is provided for protecting the internal circuit of a semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge (ESD). This circuit includes an input pad for applying an input signal to the internal circuit, a metal line for electrically connecting the input pad and internal circuit. This metal line has at least one RC delay stage caused by inherent parasitic resistances and capacitances. Also, a punch-through element is provided to connect the metal line to a ground voltage terminal disposed between the input pad and a delay stage. Finally, a resistor is used to connect the at least one delay stage to the internal circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dae-Je Chin
  • 👤 Jong-Hyeon Choi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 07:57
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D89/00; H10D89/60; H10D89/601; H10D89/811; H10D89/819; H10D89/911

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 102 words
A circuit for protecting an internal circuit of a semiconductor memory device from electrostatic discharge, comprising: an input pad for applying an input signal to said internal circuit; a conduction line for electrically connecting said input pad to said internal circuit, said conduction line having an RC delay stage comprised of inherent parasitic resistance and capacitance parameters; a punch-through element, coupled between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground; and a first resistor connected between said RC delay stage and said internal circuit for reducing an RC delay time of said RC delay stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 102 words
A circuit for protecting an internal circuit of a semiconductor memory device from electrostatic discharge, comprising: an input pad for applying an input signal to said internal circuit; a conduction line for electrically connecting said input pad to said internal circuit, said conduction line having an RC delay stage comprised of inherent parasitic resistance and capacitance parameters; a punch-through element, coupled between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground; and a first resistor connected between said RC delay stage and said internal circuit for reducing an RC delay time of said RC delay stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
A circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first resistor is connected to a gate of a MOS transistor provided in said internal circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein said first resistor is a diffusion region comprised of a conductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
A circuit as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second resistor connected in series with a clamping circuit, cascadedly connected between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 118 words
A circuit for protecting an internal circuit of a semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge, comprising: an input pad for applying an input signal to said internal circuit; a conduction line for electrically connecting said input pad to said internal circuit, said conduction line having an RC delay stage comprised of inherent parasitic resistance and capacitance parameters; a punch-through element, coupled between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground; a first resistor for connecting said RC delay stage to said internal circuit; and a second resistor connected in series with a clamping circuit, cascadedly connected between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 118 words
A circuit for protecting an internal circuit of a semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge, comprising: an input pad for applying an input signal to said internal circuit; a conduction line for electrically connecting said input pad to said internal circuit, said conduction line having an RC delay stage comprised of inherent parasitic resistance and capacitance parameters; a punch-through element, coupled between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground; a first resistor for connecting said RC delay stage to said internal circuit; and a second resistor connected in series with a clamping circuit, cascadedly connected between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A circuit as defined in claim 5, wherein said first resistor is connected to a gate of a MOS transistor provided in said internal circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
A circuit as defined in claim 6, wherein said first resistor is a diffusion region comprised of a conductive material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 112 words
A semiconductor device comprising: an input pad; an internal circuit; a conduction line for electrically connecting said input pad to said internal circuit, said conduction line having an RC delay stage comprised of inherent parasitic resistance and capacitance parameters; a punch-through element, coupled between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground; a first resistor connected between said RC delay stage and said internal circuit for reducing an RC delay time of said RC delay stage; and a second resistor connected in series with a clamping circuit, cascadedly connected between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 112 words
A semiconductor device comprising: an input pad; an internal circuit; a conduction line for electrically connecting said input pad to said internal circuit, said conduction line having an RC delay stage comprised of inherent parasitic resistance and capacitance parameters; a punch-through element, coupled between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground; a first resistor connected between said RC delay stage and said internal circuit for reducing an RC delay time of said RC delay stage; and a second resistor connected in series with a clamping circuit, cascadedly connected between said input pad and said RC delay stage, for connecting said conduction line to ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A semiconductor device as defined in claim 8, wherein said first resistor is connected to a gate of a MOS transistor provided in said internal circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
A semiconductor device as defined in claim 9, wherein said first resistor is a diffusion region comprised of a conductive material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4745450A Cited
US4937700A Cited
US5027252A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-07-03 1999-01-02 1999-07-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-07-03 2003-01-02 2003-07-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-07-03 2007-01-02 2007-07-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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