Patent ID: 7817389
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device for coupling an electrostatic discharge (ESD) transient voltage from an input node of a high speed data transmission line to a reference node, the device comprising: a) a bipolar transistor adapted to have its emitter collector circuit coupled between the input node and the reference node, the transistor operable to conduct a current from the input node to the reference node; and b) a light emitting diode (LED) adapted to be coupled directly between only the collector terminal and the base terminal of the transistor for maintaining the transistor in an off state when an operating voltage of 5 v or less is applied to the input node and, without breakdown, being responsive to an ESD transient voltage at the input node to turn on the transistor to shunt the transient voltage to the reference node, the voltage at which the transistor turns on corresponding to the driver forward voltage and the emitter-base voltage of the transistor.