Patent ID: 7777998
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit comprising: a pad for communicating external to the integrated circuit; a first ESD protection element which couples the pad to a first power supply node in response to an ESD event; a second ESD protection element which couples the first power supply node to a second power supply node in response to the ESD event; a resistive element having a first terminal coupled to the pad and having a second terminal; a first diode having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the resistive element and having a second terminal coupled to a third power supply node; and a third ESD protection element which couples the third power supply node to the second power supply node in response to the ESD event, wherein the first power supply node, the second power supply node, and the third power supply node are different nodes.