Patent ID: 6770938
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A system for protecting an integrated circuit from electrostatic discharge, the system comprising:a core region; a pad electrically coupled to the core region through an input device, the input device having at least one CMOS device with a gate oxide layer; and at least one protection diode openable to provide a discharge path for electrostatic discharge due to a high voltage being applied to the pad wherein the at least one protection diode has a reverse breakdown voltage less than the breakdown voltage of the gate oxide layer and greater than an applied supply voltage, the reverse breakdown voltage of the at least one diode is determined by the equation VCC+CVRCC is the supply voltage, C is a predetermined voltage of 2 volts or more and matches VCC in sign, Bvox is the breakdown voltage of the gate oxide layer and BVR is the reverse breakdown voltage of the at least one diode.