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:
Aug. 04, 2009
Filed:
Jun. 07, 2007
David Bernard, Aix en Provence, FR;
Antoine Riviere, Pourcieux, FR;
David Bernard, Aix en Provence, FR;
Antoine Riviere, Pourcieux, FR;
Atmel Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An ESD protection circuit incorporates an ESD shunt device triggered by an ESD trigger network. In non-powered situations, a first RC time constant in the ESD trigger network, corresponds with the time range of the onset an ESD event and controls application of the ESD shunt device in response to the ESD event. A second RC time constant in a shunt trigger network is selected to be longer than the first RC time constant and holds-off triggering of a shunt device during ESD shunt protection. When activated during powered-on operation, the shunt device shunts a resistive element in the ESD trigger network forming a third time constant. The shunt device guards against false triggering during noise on a power rail by maintaining the third time constant in the ESD trigger network. The third time constant ensures that power rail voltage buildup due to noise dissipates before a false trigger develops.