The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 28, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:
Stephen T English, Groveland, MA (US);
Edward L Wolfe, North Andover, MA (US);
Assignee:
Analog Devices, Inc., Norwood, MA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02H / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
361 56 ; 361111 ;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for protecting semiconductor switching devices from damage due to electrostatic discharge is provided. The apparatus detects the occurrence of an ESD event, and turns the switching circuit to an operating state in which electrostatic charge is dissipated through the switching circuit. In embodiments of the invention, the switching circuit is a CMOS inverter circuit and the apparatus includes a PMOS transistor that upon occurrence of an ESD event couples an output of the inverter circuit to ground to discharge the electrostatic charge.