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:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 08, 1996
Wolfgang Nikutta, Munich, DE;
Werner Reczek, Ottobrunn, DE;
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, DE;
Abstract
An integrated semiconductor circuit includes a semiconductor substrate. A number of first potential buses carry a first supply potential of the semiconductor circuit during operation. A number of second potential buses carry a second supply potential of the semiconductor circuit during operation. A number of circuit portions formed on the substrate are each connected between one of the first and one of the second potential buses for being supplied with electrical voltage. Connection points are formed on the substrate and are each assigned to one of the circuit portions for receiving an input or output signal for the circuit portion during operation of the circuit portion. Protective circuits are formed on the substrate and are each assigned to one of the circuit portions for preventing overvoltage. The protective circuits each have an input side connected to one of the connection points and an output side connected to the circuit portion. A common potential bus bar carries a reference potential being common with respect to all of the connection points during operation. The protective circuits have discharge paths coupled with the potential bus bar for dissipating overvoltages.