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.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 2015

Filed:

Mar. 14, 2013
Applicant:

The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);

Inventor:

Fong Shi, Clyde Hill, WA (US);

Assignee:

The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H02H 9/00 (2006.01); G06F 17/50 (2006.01); H01L 27/02 (2006.01); H02H 9/04 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H02H 9/005 (2013.01); G06F 17/5068 (2013.01); H01L 27/0259 (2013.01); H02H 9/046 (2013.01); G06F 17/5081 (2013.01);
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to provide transient event protection for circuits are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first clamp circuit. The first power circuit provides a first reference voltage. The first clamp circuit directs energy from a signal node to the first power circuit in response to a transient resulting in a voltage at the signal node being lower than a second reference voltage. The apparatus also includes a second clamp circuit. The second clamp circuit includes a transistor. A collector terminal of the transistor is prevented from having a lower voltage than the second reference voltage. A second power circuit provides the second reference voltage, which is lower than the first reference voltage. The second clamp circuit directs energy from the signal node to the second power circuit in response to a transient resulting in the voltage at the signal node being higher than the first reference voltage.


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