ESD Protection Device With Control Circuit For Leakage Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ESD protection devices often cause current leakage when operating between devices with different working voltages, leading to reduced reliability due to misoperation during non-ESD conditions.
Innovation Solution
An ESD protection device with a control circuit that generates a control voltage based on the signal and system voltage levels to tightly control the ESD protection unit, preventing current leakage by only allowing signal transmission when the ESD protection level is reached, thereby enhancing ESD protection capability and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ESD protection devices (diodes, GGNMOS transistors, or PMOS transistors) are serially connected to protect electronic components, then ESD current can be released to avoid damaging the electronic components, but the device may mistakenly operate and cause current leakage when the ESD phenomenon is not actually occurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control circuit as an intermediary between the signal input terminal and the ESD protection unit. This control circuit generates a control signal based on the signal voltage level to accurately detect whether an ESD event is occurring, and only activates the ESD protection unit when necessary. This mediator prevents false triggering that causes current leakage while maintaining effective ESD protection when actual ESD events occur.
2Reliability
If an ESD protection device is designed between a core circuit and a signal pad to protect the internal circuit, then the internal circuit can be protected from ESD damage, but the device complexity increases due to the need for control circuits and voltage level detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage level detection function and the control signal generation function into a single integrated control circuit that works together with the ESD protection unit. The control circuit detects the signal voltage level and generates the appropriate control signal to activate or deactivate the ESD protection unit, combining multiple functions into a coordinated system that protects the core circuit while managing complexity through functional integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents current leakage and improves ESD protection reliability by ensuring the ESD protection unit only conducts when necessary, maintaining high reliability in a compact circuit layout.
Implementation Method 1
electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device... When a voltage level of a signal received by the signal input terminal reaches an ESD protection level, the ESD protection unit transmits the signal from the signal input terminal to the system voltage terminal
Data Source
AI summary
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device including an ESD protection unit and a control circuit is provided. When a voltage level of a signal received by a signal input terminal reaches an ESD protection level, the ESD protection unit transmits the signal from the signal input terminal to the system voltage terminal. The control circuit controls a conduction state between the signal input terminal and the system voltage terminal through the ESD protection unit. The control circuit generates a control voltage according to the voltage level of the signal received by the signal input terminal and a system voltage level of the system voltage terminal to control the ESD protection unit, and to prevent the ESD protection unit from transmitting the signal to the system voltage terminal when the voltage level of the signal received by the signal input terminal does not reach the ESD protection level.