Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation

Chang-Min Lin

Jian-Hsing Lee

Chih-Hsuan Lin

Yeh-Ning Jou

Hwa-Chyi Chiou

Shao-Chang Huang

Chieh-Yao Chuang

Ching-Ho Li

Hsien-Feng Liao

Yu-Kai Wang

Ting-Yu Chang

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure including a P-type substrate, a P-type structure, an N-type buried layer, an element active region, a P-type guard ring, and an N-type structure is provided. The P-type structure is formed in the P-type substrate and serves as an electrical contact of the P-type substrate. The N-type buried layer is formed in the P-type substrate. The element active region is formed on the N-type buried layer. The P-type guard ring is formed on the N-type buried layer and surrounds the element active region. The N-type structure is formed on the N-type buried layer and disposed between the P-type guard ring and the P-type structure.

Electrostatic discharge protection structure

A power detection circuit is provided. The protection circuit is coupled to a pad and includes a trigger circuit and a discharge circuit. The trigger circuit includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor, also of the first conductivity type, which are coupled in series between the pad and a ground terminal. The trigger circuit detects whether a transient even occurs on the pad. The discharge circuit is coupled between the bonding pad and the ground terminal and controlled by the trigger circuit. In response to the transient event occurring on the bonding pad, the trigger circuit generates a trigger voltage to trigger the discharge circuit to provide a discharge path between the pad and the ground terminal.

Protection circuit

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit including a detection circuit, a voltage-divider element, and a discharge element is provided. The detection circuit is coupled between a first power line and a second power line. In response to an ESD event, the detection circuit enables a turn-on signal. The voltage-divider element is coupled between the first power line and a third power line and receives the turn-on signal. The discharge element is coupled between the second and third power lines. In response to the turn-on signal being enabled, the first discharge element discharges an ESD current.

Electrostatic discharge protection circuit

An electrostatic discharge protection (ESD) circuit is provided for a semiconductor element. The semiconductor element includes first and second drain/source electrodes and is surrounded by a deep well region. The ESD circuit includes a first control circuit and a first discharge circuit. The first control circuit is electrically connected between the first drain/source electrode and a power terminal and includes a first control terminal electrically connected to the deep well region and generates a first control signal. The first discharge circuit is controlled by the first control signal. When an electrostatic discharge event occurs on the first drain/source electrode, the first control circuit generates the first control signal according to potential states of the deep well region and the first drain/source electrode, and the first discharge circuit provides a first discharge path between the first drain/source electrode and the power terminal according to the first control signal.

Electrostatic discharge protection circuits and semiconductor circuits

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Taichung, Taiwan

Chang-Min Lin