Transient-Triggered DC Voltage-Sustained ESD Clamp Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ESD protection designs for integrated circuit chips face challenges in quickly turning on the discharge device during ESD events while avoiding erroneous triggering and latching-up issues, particularly due to sensitivity to quick power-up and high-frequency noise.

Innovation Solution

A transient-triggered DC voltage-sustained power-rail ESD clamp circuit is introduced, combining a transient-triggered module and a DC voltage-triggered module to quickly turn on the discharge device based on rise time and amplitude conditions, respectively, ensuring the discharge device remains on during ESD events and preventing latching-up.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a pure transient trigger mechanism is used to quickly turn on the discharge device during ESD events, then the turn-on time is very short and discharge capacity is high, but the circuit becomes very sensitive to quick power-up and high-frequency noise, causing erroneous triggering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturn-on time of discharge deviceVSAvoiderroneous triggering during normal operation

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger mechanism is segmented into two independent modules: a transient-triggered module that detects fast rising edges and a DC voltage-triggered module that detects sustained voltage levels. Each module independently controls parts of the discharge device, allowing the system to benefit from both fast response and noise immunity without the drawbacks of either approach alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The DC voltage-triggered module acts as an intermediary that filters out transient noise by requiring sustained voltage conditions before triggering. This intermediary layer prevents high-frequency noise from directly activating the discharge device, while still allowing genuine ESD events to pass through both trigger paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a pure DC trigger mechanism is used to turn on the discharge device, then the design is simple with no additional trigger circuit, but the turn-on is not quick enough and discharge capacity is not high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrigger circuit structureVSAvoidturn-on time of discharge device

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the simplicity of the DC trigger mechanism with the fast response of the transient trigger mechanism. The transient-triggered module provides rapid response to ESD events while the DC voltage-triggered module maintains design simplicity by using a straightforward voltage threshold detection approach, combining the advantages of both mechanisms in a unified circuit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If an auxiliary transient identification circuit is added to quickly turn on the discharge device, then discharge capacity increases, but the circuit becomes more complex and additional transistors are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturn-on time of discharge deviceVSAvoidtrigger circuit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The DC voltage-triggered module serves multiple functions: it filters transient noise, provides a simple voltage threshold detection mechanism, and works in parallel with the transient trigger module to enhance overall discharge capacity. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional specialized components while achieving fast response and high discharge capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If positive feedback is added to maintain discharge device turn-on state during ESD event, then discharge reliability improves, but latching-up problem occurs after erroneous triggering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge protection reliabilityVSAvoidlatching-up phenomenon

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful positive feedback mechanism that causes latching-up is extracted and replaced with independent parallel trigger modules. The transient-triggered module and DC voltage-triggered module operate independently without feedback loops, eliminating the latching-up problem while maintaining reliable discharge protection through the coordinated action of both modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10096994B2Transient-triggered DC voltage-sustained power-rail ESD clamp circuit

Publication Date: 2018.10.09 PEKING UNIV

AI summary

A transient-triggered DC voltage-sustained power-rail ESD clamp circuit comprises: a transient-triggered module, a DC voltage-triggered module and a discharge device, wherein the transient-triggered module is connected with the DC voltage-triggered module and the discharge device respectively. When an ESD event is approaching, the ESD protection circuit can be turned on well and quickly, and can effectively avoid the problems of erroneous triggering and latching-up caused by quick power-on and high-frequency noise at the same time.