Temperature Compensated ESD Protection Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor integrated circuits are prone to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD) events, especially at high temperatures, due to temperature-dependent ESD protection devices triggering falsely or experiencing high leakage currents, which can lead to malfunction or destruction.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-compensated ESD protection system that includes a voltage divider circuit, a temperature compensation circuit, and a transient detection circuit, which together provide a stable trigger voltage and detect fast transient events to activate a clamp circuit between power supply nodes, ensuring accurate ESD protection without false triggering or device damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If clamp circuits are configured to be non-conducting during normal operation, then low power consumption is achieved, but protection response may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the voltage divider circuit and temperature compensation circuit to be active during normal operation, continuously monitoring voltage conditions and preparing the trigger mechanism. This preliminary preparation ensures that when an ESD event occurs, the clamp circuit can activate immediately without delay, while the clamp itself remains non-conducting to minimize power consumption during normal operation.
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 system effectively prevents ESD-induced damage by ensuring a stable trigger voltage over a wide temperature range, reducing false triggering and providing reliable protection against both fast transient and slow ESD events, while maintaining a low impedance path for safe current shunting during ESD events.
Implementation Method 1
dividing a voltage between a plurality of circuit nodes using a voltage divider circuit to form a divided voltage
Implementation Method 2
compensating a temperature dependency of the divided voltage to form a temperature compensated divided voltage
Implementation Method 3
monitoring the voltage between the plurality of circuit nodes using a transient detection circuit to form a transient detection signal
Implementation Method 4
activating a clamp circuit coupled between the plurality of circuit nodes based on the temperature compensated divided voltage and based on the transient detection signal
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an embodiment, a method for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection includes: dividing a voltage between a plurality of circuit nodes using a voltage divider circuit to form a divided voltage; compensating a temperature dependency of the divided voltage to form a temperature compensated divided voltage; monitoring the voltage between the plurality of circuit nodes using a transient detection circuit to form a transient detection signal; and activating a clamp circuit coupled between the plurality of circuit nodes based on the temperature compensated divided voltage and based on the transient detection signal.