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. 03, 2012
Filed:
May. 23, 2008
Steven M Broome, Apex, NC (US);
Jason a Thurston, Raleigh, NC (US);
Steven M Broome, Apex, NC (US);
Jason A Thurston, Raleigh, NC (US);
Integrated Device Technology, inc, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An integrated circuitis provided with a clamp transistorfor providing electrostatic discharge event protection. A detector circuitproduces a clamp control signal for switching the clamp transistorto a conductive state so as to provide the electrostatic discharge protection. The detector circuitalso generates an electrostatic discharge event signalwhich is distributed elsewhere within the integrated circuitand controls a protection circuit elementto force a processing control signalof a signal processing transistorinto a state in which the signal processing transistoris more resistant to electrostatic discharge damage. The signal processing transistorsmay be P-type field effect transistors associated with a receiveror a transmitterconnected to an external signal communication line. The use of this active protection controlled by the electrostatic discharge event signalpermits smaller protection diodesto be use with such communication signal lines and/or provide for increased electrostatic discharge protection.