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:
Jun. 04, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2000
Stephen Jonathan Brett, Hailsham, GB;
Analog Devices, Inc., Norwood, MA (US);
Abstract
A circuit protects differential inputs of circuitry, such as RF circuitry, against electrostatic discharge. The circuit includes first and second diodes connected in opposite directions between a first differential input pin and a virtual ground node, third and fourth diodes connected in opposite directions between a second differential input pin and the virtual ground node, a first protection device connected between the virtual ground node and a first external pin, such as a positive supply pin, and a second protection device connected between the virtual ground node and a second external pin, such as a negative supply pin. The first and second protection devices may be fifth and sixth diodes, respectively. Because no signal appears at the virtual ground node, the fifth and sixth diodes can be relatively large.