ESD Suppressor With Insulating Frame And Cavity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ESD suppressors face challenges in achieving higher breakdown voltage, faster response rates, and reduced circuit board area, especially in wearable devices and touch panels where static electric signals and noise are more prevalent, making it difficult to protect integrated circuits from abnormal signals.

Innovation Solution

The ESD suppressor design involves two printed circuit boards positioned on opposite sides of an insulating frame, with interior electrodes exposed to a cavity, allowing adjustment of the breakdown voltage by varying the thickness of the insulating frame and spatial configuration of the electrodes, which are electrically insulated to prevent discharge to the exterior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the thickness of the insulating frame is increased to increase the breakdown voltage, then the breakdown voltage increases, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreakdown voltageVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a planar electrode arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration by positioning electrodes on opposite surfaces of the insulating frame. This spatial arrangement increases the breakdown voltage through the insulating frame thickness without proportionally increasing the device footprint, effectively resolving the contradiction between reliability and area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the interior electrodes are positioned closer together to reduce device area, then the device area is reduced, but the breakdown voltage decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit board areaVSAvoidbreakdown voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By moving the electrode separation distance from a planar dimension to a three-dimensional configuration across the insulating frame thickness, the patent achieves compact device area while maintaining high breakdown voltage through the vertical insulation barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating frame acts as an intermediary structure that separates the interior electrodes on opposite surfaces. This mediator provides the necessary electrical insulation to maintain high breakdown voltage while allowing the electrodes to be positioned in a compact three-dimensional arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If conventional ESD suppressor structures are used to protect integrated circuits, then the protection function is provided, but the response rate is slow and the circuit board area is large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection functionVSAvoidresponse rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the capacitor structure, including the insulating frame thickness and electrode configuration, to achieve faster response rate. By changing the physical dimensions and spatial arrangement, the ESD suppressor responds more quickly to transient signals while maintaining protection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design effectively increases the breakdown voltage and reduces parasitic capacitance, allowing for better protection of integrated circuits from high-voltage signals while minimizing the negative impact on the printed circuit boards and electrodes, and can be manufactured using a simple and cost-effective process without high-temperature requirements.

Implementation Method 1

an insulating frame positioned between the two printed circuit board... different interior electrodes are separated away each other... electrically insulated to prevent discharge to the exterior

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

the capacitance inside the ESD suppressor 101 prevent the signal from passing through the ESD suppressor 101... when the voltage of the signal from the circuit 103 does not exceed the breakdown voltage of the ESD suppressor 101

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 3

when the voltage of the signal from the circuit 103 does exceed the breakdown voltage of the ESD suppressor 101, the capacitance inside the ESD suppressor 101 can not prevent the signal from passing through the ESD suppressor 101 into the potential ground 103

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic discharge: Electrostatic Discharge

Data Source

PatentEP4110029A1ESD suppressor and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 SFI ELECTRONICS TECH
  • EP4110029A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4110029A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4110029A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

ESD suppressor and manufacturing method thereof. The ESD suppressor include at least two printed circuit boards, one insulating frame, two terminal electrodes and two or more interior electrodes. The insulating frame is positioned between the two printed circuit boards, so as to form a main structure with a cavity. For each printed circuit board, at least one interior electrode is positioned on the surface facing the cavity and separated from other interior electrode(s). Two terminal electrodes are positioned on two different surfaces of the main structure and electrically connected to different interior electrodes respectively. Optionally, the insulating frame is a hallowed out printed circuit board or a frame formed by printing insulating material. In the manufacturing method, the thickness of the insulating frame is adjusted to adjust the relative distance between different printed circuit boards, so as to further adjust the breakdown voltage of the ESD suppressor