Patent US5991135A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5991135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System including ESD protection
Assignee: NXP BV
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Filing: 1998-05-11
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Granted: 1999-11-23
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Expires: 2018-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and structure for providing ESD protection for an integrated circuit having multiple pairs of voltage supply rails, each pair including a VDD rail and a VSS rail. In one aspect, ESD devices are connected between pairs of supply rails and I/O pins of the integrated circuit, and antiparallel diodes are connected between respective VSS rails and a VSS-ESD rail.
Inventors
- 👤 Farid Saleh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:56
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W42/00; H10W42/60; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/541; H10W72/5449; H10W74/00; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
An integrated circuit comprising: an integrated circuit package including a housing and pins extending from the housing; a plurality of pairs of voltage supply rails, respective pairs including a VDD rail and a VSS rail; a plurality of circuits respectively coupled between pairs of voltage supply rails, the circuits respectively including I/O terminals; a VSS-ESD rail which does not form a part of any of the VSS rails; a plurality of ESD devices respectively coupled between pairs of VDD and VSS rails; a plurality of ESD devices respectively coupled between respective I/O terminals and respective VSS rails; and a plurality of antiparallel diodes coupling the respective VSS rails to the VSS-ESD rail, wherein the housing houses the plurality of pairs of voltage supply rails, the plurality of circuits, the VSS-ESD rail, the plurality of ESD devices coupled between pairs of VDD and VSS rails, and the plurality of ESD devices respectively coupled between respective I/O terminals and respective VSS rails, and wherein the I/O terminals, VDD rails, VSS rails, and VSS-ESD rail are coupled to pins of the integrated circuit package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
An integrated circuit comprising: an integrated circuit package including a housing and pins extending from the housing; a plurality of pairs of voltage supply rails, respective pairs including a VDD rail and a VSS rail; a plurality of circuits respectively coupled between pairs of voltage supply rails, the circuits respectively including I/O terminals; a VSS-ESD rail which does not form a part of any of the VSS rails; a plurality of ESD devices respectively coupled between pairs of VDD and VSS rails; a plurality of ESD devices respectively coupled between respective I/O terminals and respective VSS rails; and a plurality of antiparallel diodes coupling the respective VSS rails to the VSS-ESD rail, wherein the housing houses the plurality of pairs of voltage supply rails, the plurality of circuits, the VSS-ESD rail, the plurality of ESD devices coupled between pairs of VDD and VSS rails, and the plurality of ESD devices respectively coupled between respective I/O terminals and respective VSS rails, and wherein the I/O terminals, VDD rails, VSS rails, and VSS-ESD rail are coupled to pins of the integrated circuit package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An integrated circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the VSS-ESD rail is a ground rail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An integrated circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the circuits is a digital circuit and another of the circuits is an analog circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An integrated circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the circuits is configured to operate at a first voltage and another of the circuits is configured to operate at a second voltage different from the first voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An integrated circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the circuits is configured to operate in a first voltage range and another one of the circuits is configured to operate in a second voltage range different from the first voltage range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An integrated circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of the circuits interacts with another one of the circuits.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of protecting electrical circuits, in an integrated circuit, from electrical overstress conditions, the electrical circuits including I/O nodes, at least one of the circuits interacting with at least one other of the circuits, the method comprising: providing respective pairs of voltage supply rails for respective circuits, the respective pairs including a VSS supply rail and a VDD supply rail; coupling ESD protection devices between the respective pairs of voltage supply rails; for respective circuits, coupling ESD protection devices between the I/O nodes and each supply rail of the pair of supply rails for the circuit; and coupling respective VSS supply rails to a VSS-ESD rail which does not form a part of any of the VSS supply rails.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of protecting electrical circuits, in an integrated circuit, from electrical overstress conditions, the electrical circuits including I/O nodes, at least one of the circuits interacting with at least one other of the circuits, the method comprising: providing respective pairs of voltage supply rails for respective circuits, the respective pairs including a VSS supply rail and a VDD supply rail; coupling ESD protection devices between the respective pairs of voltage supply rails; for respective circuits, coupling ESD protection devices between the I/O nodes and each supply rail of the pair of supply rails for the circuit; and coupling respective VSS supply rails to a VSS-ESD rail which does not form a part of any of the VSS supply rails.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of protecting circuits in an integrated circuit from electrical overstress conditions in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising coupling the VSS-ESD rail to an electrical ground.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of protecting circuits in an integrated circuit from electrical overstress conditions in accordance with claim 7 wherein the circuits comprise both digital and analog circuits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of protecting circuits in an integrated circuit from electrical overstress conditions in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising operating different circuits in the integrated circuit at different voltages.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of protecting circuits in an integrated circuit from electrical overstress conditions in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising configuring one of the circuits in the integrated circuit to operate in a first voltage range and configuring another of the circuits in the integrated circuit to operate in a second voltage range different from the first voltage range.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of protecting circuits in an integrated circuit from electrical overstress conditions in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising coupling the respective VDD rails to respective pins of the integrated circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |