Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Laurent Micheli

Philippe Galy

Ghislain Troussier

Mickael Rien

Jean-Francois Veniant

Jean-Francois Venient

Circuit nodes are identified which, in unpowered mode, can be charged with positive or negative charges but cannot be discharged. Then protective elements are added to allow the discharge of these nodes. These elements do not affect the operation of the circuit in powered mode. Discharges of the two polarities are handled, positive and negative. The circuit is thus more resistant to ESD and passes CDM tests.

Protection of integrated electronic circuits from electrostatic discharge

A regulating device for receiving a variable voltage and delivering a constant voltage includes a regulating element that includes a circuit for comparing the variable voltage with a reference voltage, a circuit for dividing the variable voltage by a factor, and a switching circuit for supplying the regulating element with a voltage equal either to the variable voltage or to the divided variable voltage. The switching circuit may be controlled by the comparison circuit in such a way that the regulating element is supplied with the variable voltage if a voltage condition is not satisfied and with the divided variable voltage if the voltage condition is satisfied.

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Vif, France

Laurent Micheli