Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Hsiang-Hui Cheng

Chia-Jung Chang

Jam-Wem Lee

Yu-Ti Su

Li-Wei Chu

Chia-Wei Hsu

Ming-Fu Tsai

Po-Lin Peng

Shu-Yu Su

A voltage tracking circuit includes a first, second, third and fourth transistor. The first transistor is in a first well, the first transistor including a first source terminal and a first body terminal that are coupled to a first voltage supply. The second transistor includes a second source terminal being coupled to the first drain terminal, a second gate terminal being coupled to a pad voltage terminal and configured to receive a pad voltage. The third transistor is in a second well, and includes a third gate terminal coupled to the first voltage supply, and a third body terminal coupled to a first node. The fourth transistor includes a fourth drain terminal coupled to the third source terminal, a fourth gate terminal coupled to the third gate terminal and the first voltage supply, and a fourth source terminal coupled to the pad voltage terminal.

Voltage tracking circuit and method of operating the same

A device is disclosed herein. The device includes a bias generator, an ESD driver, and a logic circuit. The bias generator includes a first transistor. The ESD driver includes a second transistor and a third transistor coupled to each other in series. The logic circuit is configured to generate a logic control signal. When the first transistor is turned on by a detection signal, the first transistor is turned off.

Device and method for operating the same

A voltage tracking circuit includes first, second, third and fourth transistors. The first transistor is in a first well, and includes a first gate, a first drain and a first source coupled to a first voltage supply. The second transistor includes a second gate, a second drain and a second source. The second source is coupled to the first drain. The second gate is coupled to the first gate and a pad voltage terminal. The second body terminal is coupled to a first node. The third transistor includes a third gate, a third drain and a third source. The fourth transistor includes a fourth gate, a fourth drain and a fourth source. The fourth drain is coupled to the third source. The fourth source is coupled to the pad voltage terminal. The second transistor is in a second well different from the first well, and is separated from the first well in a first direction.

A device is disclosed herein. The device includes a bias generator, an ESD driver, and a logic circuit. The bias generator includes a first transistor. The ESD driver includes a second transistor and a third transistor coupled to each other in series. The logic circuit is configured to generate a logic control signal. A first terminal of the first transistor is configured to receive a reference voltage signal, a control terminal of the first transistor is configured to receive a detection signal in response to an ESD event being detected, a second terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a control terminal of the third transistor, and a control terminal of the second transistor is configured to receive the logic control signal.

A voltage tracking circuit includes first, second, third and fourth transistors. The first transistor is in a first well, and includes a first gate, a first drain and a first source coupled to a first voltage supply. The second transistor includes a second gate, a second drain and a second source. The second source is coupled to the first drain. The second gate is coupled to the first gate and the pad voltage terminal. The third transistor includes a third gate, a third drain and a third source. The fourth transistor includes a fourth gate, a fourth drain and a fourth source. The fourth drain is coupled to the third source. The fourth source is coupled to the pad voltage terminal. The fourth transistor is in a second well different from the first well, and is separated from the first well in a first direction.

A voltage tracking circuit includes a first, second, third and fourth transistor. The first transistor is in a first well, and includes a first gate, a first drain and a first source coupled to a first voltage supply. The second transistor includes a second gate, a second drain and a second source. The second source is coupled to the first drain. The second gate is coupled to the first gate and the pad voltage terminal. The third transistor includes a third gate, a third drain and a third source. The fourth transistor includes a fourth gate, a fourth drain and a fourth source. The fourth drain is coupled to the third source. The fourth source is coupled to the pad voltage terminal. At least the third transistor is in a second well different from the first well, and is separated from the first well in a first direction.

A device is disclosed herein. The device includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) detector, a bias generator, and an ESD driver including at least two transistors coupled to each other in series. The ESD detector is configured to detect an input signal and generate a detection signal in response to an ESD event being detected. The bias generator is configured to generate a bias signal according to the detection signal. The at least two transistors are controlled according to the bias signal and a logic control signal, and the input signal is applied across the at least two transistors.

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Hsiang-Hui Cheng