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. 25, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2004
Sanjay Rekhi, Fremont, CA (US);
Nagendra Cherukupalli, Cupertino, CA (US);
Paul D. Keswick, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Sanjay Rekhi, Fremont, CA (US);
Nagendra Cherukupalli, Cupertino, CA (US);
Paul D. Keswick, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment, a first transistor is configured to switch ON to discharge accumulated charges on an interconnect line during a metallization process. This advantageously protects a second transistor, which is coupled to the interconnect line, from charge buildup. The gate of the first transistor may be coupled to the interconnect line by way of a coupling capacitor. The gate of the first transistor may remain floating during the metallization process, and subsequently coupled to ground at a topmost metal level. The metallization process may be physical vapor deposition, for example.