Circuit for esd protection including dynamically terminated diode strings comprised of bipolar devices

Abstract

An integrated circuit includes a plurality of terminals, an unterminated diode string formed from a plurality of P-N junction devices arranged in series and coupled to the plurality of terminals, and a plurality of switches. Each of the plurality of switches includes a first terminal coupled to an anode of one of the plurality of P-N junction devices and a second terminal coupled to a power supply terminal, and is controllable to selectively couple the anode to the power supply terminal in response to an ESD event. The plurality of switches configured to dissipate an ESD current associated with the ESD event and dynamically terminate the unterminated diode string at a node where the ESD current falls below a turn-on threshold of a next P-N junction device in the unterminated diode string.