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:
Dec. 11, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1998
Arnaud Yves Lepert, Lafayette, CA (US);
Danielle A. Thomas, Dallas, TX (US);
Antonio A. Do-Bento-Vieira, Coppell, TX (US);
STMicroelectronics, Inc., Carrollton, TX (US);
Abstract
A structure and method is disclosed for grounding an electrostatic discharge device of an integrated circuit to dissipate electrostatic charges comprising an underlying dielectric layer disposed over capacitor plates of sensor circuitry and a conductive layer disposed over the underlying dielectric layer, wherein the conductive layer diffuses electrostatic charges at the surface of the integrated circuit to ground. The conductive material not only dissipates electrostatic charges to the ground, but may also protect at least a portion of the edge of the sensor chip from mechanical stress.