Patent ID: 7985983
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a semiconductor device, the method comprising: providing a protection device at a protected node, the protected node being coupled to circuitry in a semiconductor substrate, wherein the protected node is coupled to an anode of an SCR device; and protecting the circuitry from a high voltage: wherein when the high voltage reaches a level that is greater than an operating level, the protection device will cause a current to flow from a trigger sensor device to a trigger node in the SCR device, wherein the trigger device is a BJT device, and wherein a trigger level of the BJT device is affected by a highly doped region between a collector of the BJT and an emitter of the BJT, the highly doped region having the same conductivity type as a base of the BJT; and wherein when the current from the trigger device flows into the trigger node of the SCR, the SCR latches, causing a high current to flow from an anode of the SCR device to a cathode of the SCR device.