US5889308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semiconductor device having an electrostatic discharging protection circuit using a non-ohmic material
Assignee: MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-08-08
•
Granted: 1999-03-30
•
Expires: 2017-08-08
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a semiconductor device capable of protecting an internal circuit from an ESD impact, damage and a mistaken working caused by an electrostatic discharge, a surge pulse and a noise, and more particularly to a semiconductor device capable of protecting an internal circuit from an external abnormal input without a protection circuit. The semiconductor device includes a varistor coupled to a conductor for discharging an abnormal input signal input to a ground voltage level. The varistor acts as a conductor when an input signal is an abnormal input signal and acts as an insulator when the input signal is a normal input signal. The use of the varistor may provide an improved ESD protection circuit and then promote the reliability of the semiconductor device.
Inventors
- 👤 Ki Won Hong
- 👤 Nam Ho Kim
- 👤 Dae Hyung Cho
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:25
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D89/00; H10D89/60; H10W; H10W42/00; H10W42/60; H10W44/00; H10W44/401; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/541; H10W72/547; H10W72/5473; H10W74/00; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A semiconductor device including an internal circuit comprising: an input pin for inputting an input signal to the internal circuit; a power supply pin and a ground pin for providing a power supply voltage and a ground voltage to the internal circuit, respectively; and a discharging member commonly coupled to said input pin, said power supply pin and said ground pin, and in a form of a varistor under the internal circuit, so as to discharge an abnormal input signal selectively to the power supply pin or the ground pin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A semiconductor device including an internal circuit comprising: an input pin for inputting an input signal to the internal circuit; a power supply pin and a ground pin for providing a power supply voltage and a ground voltage to the internal circuit, respectively; and a discharging member commonly coupled to said input pin, said power supply pin and said ground pin, and in a form of a varistor under the internal circuit, so as to discharge an abnormal input signal selectively to the power supply pin or the ground pin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of bonding wires each being coupled between one of said input pin, said power supply pin and said ground pin, and the internal circuit, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the varistor has a tunneling voltage corresponding to the potential supply voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ohmic metal layers, each being formed between one of said input pin, said power supply pin and said ground pin, and said discharging member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said ohmic metal layer is any one of Pt, Au and Ag layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said varistor has a thickness of approximately 1 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said varistor is a SiC varistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said varistor is a ZnO varistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A semiconductor device including an internal circuit, comprising: a plurality of signal pins each for transferring to and from the internal circuit; at least one power supply pin and at least one ground pin for providing a power supply voltage and a ground voltage to the internal circuit, respectively; and a plurality of varistance material layers each formed between any two neighboring pins of said signal pins, said power supply pin and said ground pin, so as to discharge an abnormal signal provided to one of said signal pins selectively to the power supply pin or to the ground pin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
A semiconductor device including an internal circuit, comprising: a plurality of signal pins each for transferring to and from the internal circuit; at least one power supply pin and at least one ground pin for providing a power supply voltage and a ground voltage to the internal circuit, respectively; and a plurality of varistance material layers each formed between any two neighboring pins of said signal pins, said power supply pin and said ground pin, so as to discharge an abnormal signal provided to one of said signal pins selectively to the power supply pin or to the ground pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
A semiconductor device, including an internal circuit, comprising: an input pin for inputting an input signal to the internal circuit; a power supply pin and a ground pin for providing a power supply voltage and a ground voltage to the internal circuit, respectively; a discharging member commonly coupled to said input pin, said power supply pin and said ground pin, and formed of a varistor under the internal circuit, so as to discharge an abnormal input signal selectively to the power supply pin or to the ground pin; a plurality of ohmic metal layers each formed on said discharging member; a plurality of first bonding wires, each electrically connecting one of said input pin, and said power supply pin and said ground pin to one of said ohmic metal layers, respectively, and a plurality of second bonding wire, each electrically connecting one of said ohmic metal layers to a corresponding portion of said internal circuit, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
A semiconductor device, including an internal circuit, comprising: an input pin for inputting an input signal to the internal circuit; a power supply pin and a ground pin for providing a power supply voltage and a ground voltage to the internal circuit, respectively; a discharging member commonly coupled to said input pin, said power supply pin and said ground pin, and formed of a varistor under the internal circuit, so as to discharge an abnormal input signal selectively to the power supply pin or to the ground pin; a plurality of ohmic metal layers each formed on said discharging member; a plurality of first bonding wires, each electrically connecting one of said input pin, and said power supply pin and said ground pin to one of said ohmic metal layers, respectively, and a plurality of second bonding wire, each electrically connecting one of said ohmic metal layers to a corresponding portion of said internal circuit, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said discharging member is used as a molding compound.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
A semiconductor device including an internal circuit, comprising: a power supply pin and a ground pin for inputting a power supply voltage and a ground voltage, respectively; a plurality of signal pins each for transferring signals to and from the internal circuit; a plurality of first metal lines each coupled to a corresponding one of said signal pins, respectively, and extended in a first direction; two varistance material lines each commonly connected to the first metal lines and formed over the first metal lines, extending in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the fist direction; and two second metal lines each coupled to the power supply pin and the ground pin, respectively, and formed over the two varistance material lines, extending in the second direction, whereby an abnormal signal of one of the signal pins are discharged selectively to the power supply pin or to the ground pin, through one of the first metal lines, one of the varistance material lines, and one of the second metal lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
170 words
A semiconductor device including an internal circuit, comprising: a power supply pin and a ground pin for inputting a power supply voltage and a ground voltage, respectively; a plurality of signal pins each for transferring signals to and from the internal circuit; a plurality of first metal lines each coupled to a corresponding one of said signal pins, respectively, and extended in a first direction; two varistance material lines each commonly connected to the first metal lines and formed over the first metal lines, extending in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the fist direction; and two second metal lines each coupled to the power supply pin and the ground pin, respectively, and formed over the two varistance material lines, extending in the second direction, whereby an abnormal signal of one of the signal pins are discharged selectively to the power supply pin or to the ground pin, through one of the first metal lines, one of the varistance material lines, and one of the second metal lines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A semiconductor device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said varistance material lines are formed using a molding compound.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3745505A
Cited
US3906425A
Cited
US4559579A
Cited
US4506285A
Cited
US5143651A
Cited
US5089929A
Cited
US5686697A
Cited
US5796570A
Cited
US5773876A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-29 | 2002-09-28 | 2003-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-09-28 | 2007-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-29 | 2010-09-28 | 2011-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |