Patent ID: 9042065
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: H01L,H02H

Abstract:
1. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit configured to operate in a normal operation mode and an ESD operation mode, for protecting circuitry coupled between a first node and a second node, the ESD protection circuit comprising: at least one clamping device coupled to the first node, wherein each of the at least one clamping device is a low voltage device, wherein each of the at least one clamping device has a first maximum voltage rating during the normal operation mode, and wherein each of the at least one clamping device is configured to trigger during the ESD mode and is configured to be off during the normal operation mode; a switching device coupled in series with the at least one clamping device and coupled to the second node, wherein the switching device is a high voltage device, wherein the switching device has a second maximum voltage rating during the normal operation mode that is higher than the first maximum voltage rating during the normal operation mode, and wherein the switching device is configured to trigger during the ESD mode and is configured to be off during the normal operation mode; and a voltage limiter coupled to the at least one clamping device and configured to limit a voltage over the at least one clamping device during the normal operation mode.