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:
Feb. 03, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 16, 2006
Applicants:
Charles Chu, Diamond Bar, CA (US);
Marcel Ter Beek, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Inventors:
Charles Chu, Diamond Bar, CA (US);
Marcel ter Beek, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Assignee:
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02H 5/04 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A chip which utilizes a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) for ESD protection prevents a latchup condition from occurring when the SCR misfires and turns on during normal operation by utilizing a fuse in series with the SCR. The fuse allows the SCR to perform normally during an ESD event, but blows if the SCR misfires and attempts to pull a pin voltage down to the holding voltage.