Patent ID: 9293912
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: H02H

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus comprising: a detection circuit configured to generate a detection signal based at least on a transient electrical stress event at a first node; first and second driver circuits of an integrated circuit, the first and second driver circuits configured to receive the detection signal, each of the first and second driver circuits comprising one or more bipolar junction transistors configured to activate based at least on the detection signal, wherein the first and second driver circuits are configured to generate activation signals at least while the one or more bipolar junction transistors of the respective driver circuits are activated, the one or more bipolar junction transistors of the first and second driver circuits are configured to conduct current substantially laterally across respective base regions, wherein the first driver circuit is configured to receive at least a portion of the detection signal and is configured to generate a first activation signal, wherein the second driver is configured to receive at least a portion of the first activation signal and is configured to generate a second activation signal; and a discharge circuit configured to receive the activation signals of the first and second driver circuits, the discharge circuit comprising: