Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Stmicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Limited

Lorenzo Cerati

Yannick Guedon

Paola Galbiati

Sze-Kwang Tan

Antonio Andreini

Alessandra Merlini

Mariano Dissegna

Meiliana Leow

Paola Galbiata

An integrated circuit includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) detection circuit which detects an ESD event and generates an event signal. In response to that event signal, a control circuit controls the operation of a buffer circuit to function in an additional mode wherein the normal differential operation of the buffer circuit is disabled and the buffer circuit is instead configured to form a conduction path between supply rails to discharge the ESD event. Preferably, a plurality of buffer circuits are driven in parallel by the control circuit to function in the additional mode to form parallel discharge paths for the ESD event. Multiple ESD detection circuits may be provided, and any one of those detection circuits can trigger the control circuitry to place all of the buffer circuits in the additional mode.

Electrostatic discharge protection circuit

A semiconductor electronic device is described comprising a die of semiconductor material having a plurality of contact pads electrically connected to a support for example through interposition of contact wires, said plurality of contact pads comprising signal pads and power pads, the device being characterized in that said signal pads are implemented on the die of semiconductor material with a mutual pitch lower than the pitch between said power pads.

Semiconductor electronic device and method of manufacturing thereof

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Cinisello Balsamo, Italy

Lorenzo Cerati