Merged Triggering Mechanism for ESD Protection Circuit Area Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ESD protection circuits occupy large areas and suffer from leakage current issues due to the need for multiple trigger circuits and the use of thin oxide layers, leading to increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A merged triggering mechanism is introduced, utilizing an ESD detection circuit with N-type and P-type SCRs and a trigger circuit that forms a conductive path to receive and transmit trigger currents, reducing the area required for trigger circuits and minimizing leakage current by integrating switches to control conductive paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate trigger circuit is provided for each ESD protection device, then the reliability of ESD protection is improved, but the circuit area occupied increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple trigger circuits into a single shared trigger circuit that controls multiple ESD protection devices. The trigger circuit receives a trigger signal and simultaneously activates multiple ESD protection devices (such as SCRs or MOSFETs) through shared control nodes, thereby reducing the overall trigger circuit area while maintaining protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger circuit is designed with universal functionality to control different types of ESD protection devices. It can simultaneously or selectively activate multiple ESD protection devices based on the detected ESD event, making the trigger circuit multi-functional and applicable to various protection scenarios without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each device.
2Device complexity
If devices with thin oxide layers are used to implement the ESD detection circuit and trigger circuit, then the manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but leakage current increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the ESD detection function from the normal operational circuit paths. The detection circuit is designed to operate independently during ESD events, using dedicated detection nodes and pathways that do not interfere with normal circuit operation. This separation allows the use of thin oxide layers for cost-effectiveness while minimizing leakage current during normal operation by keeping the detection circuit isolated from active signal paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection circuit operates in a periodic or event-driven manner rather than continuously. It remains in a high-impedance state during normal operation and only becomes active when an ESD event is detected, thereby minimizing leakage current while maintaining the ability to detect and respond to ESD threats. The circuit transitions between inactive and active states based on detected voltage thresholds.
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 solution effectively saves circuit area and decreases leakage current, improving the performance of ESD protection circuits by enabling a single trigger circuit to activate multiple ESD protection devices and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
an ESD detection circuit for detecting an ESD voltage to generate a control signal
Implementation Method 2
a first type ESD protection device for outputting a first trigger current
Implementation Method 3
a trigger circuit for constituting a conductive path according to the control signal, such that the trigger circuit can receive the first trigger current from the first type ESD protection device and outputs the second trigger current to the second type ESD protection device
Data Source
AI summary
An ESD protection circuit has a merged triggering mechanism. The ESD protection circuit comprises: an ESD detection circuit, for detecting an ESD voltage to generate a control signal; a first type ESD protection device, for outputting a first trigger current; a second type ESD protection device, for receiving a second trigger current; and a trigger circuit, for constituting a conductive path according to the control signal, such that the trigger circuit can receive the first trigger current from the first type ESD protection device and outputs the second trigger current to the second type ESD protection device.