Synopsys, Inc.

Peter C De Jong

Robert Beverly Lefferts

Roland G De Jonge

Jeffrey Ellis Byrd

Herman Luijmes

Some aspects of this disclosure are directed to an automated method to check electrostatic discharge (ESD) effect on a victim device. For example, some aspects of this disclosure relate to a method, including determining a probe point, in a circuit design, for determining effective resistance between the probe point and ground, where the probe point is on an ESD path of in the circuit design. The method includes determining voltage between the probe point and the ground. The method further includes comparing, by a processing device, a resistance value of the ESD path determined based a predefined electric current value at a source point and the measured voltage with a target resistance value range. The method further includes reporting a violation upon determining that the determined resistance value of the ESD path is outside the target resistance value range.

Automated method to check electrostatic discharge effect on a victim device

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device implemented within a power domain to mitigate ESD events imparted from another power domain for reducing integrated circuit (IC) failures. A first power domain includes an interface where ESD events are received and an output that can impart ESD event voltages on other components. A second power domain includes an ESD device coupled to the output of the first power domain and a protected IC. In one embodiment, the ESD device includes a floating device with an input terminal coupled to the interface output. By floating the device receiving the ESD event in the second power domain, damaging ESD induced voltages are reduced. Embodiments of the ESD device can be implemented using standard cell libraries to simplify integration.

Preventing electrostatic discharge (ESD) failures across voltage domains

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device is implemented within a power domain to mitigate imparting ESD induced voltages on other power domains for reducing integrated circuit (IC) failures. A first power domain includes an interface with a first terminal where an ESD event is received. The interface includes a second terminal coupled to a component within a second power domain. The ESD device is disposed between the first terminal and second terminal to intercept the ESD event. In one embodiment, the ESD device includes a blocking device. The blocking device operatively decouples the first terminal and second terminal in response to a trigger signal received during an ESD event. By operatively decoupling the terminals, transmission of the ESD induced voltages is substantially mitigated. Embodiments of the ESD device can be implemented using standard cell libraries to simplify integration.

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Oosterbeek, Netherlands

Peter C De Jong