Patent ID: 6140682
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
An integrated circuit with a circuit acting as a signal source, and having ESD protected driver circuit for signal provided by the signal source, comprising:a substrate;a contact pad on the substrate;a doped region having a first conductivity type in the substrate;a plurality of sets of cascode connected transistors having channels in the doped region, sets of cascode connected transistors in the plurality of sets including:a first diffusion region in the doped region having a second conductivity type;a second diffusion region in the doped region having the second conductivity type, on a first side of and separated from the first diffusion region by a channel of a first transistor;a third diffusion region in the doped region having the second conductivity type, on a second side of and separated from the first diffusion region by a channel of a second transistor;a fourth diffusion region in the doped region having the second conductivity type on a first side of and separated from the second diffusion region by a channel of a third transistor; anda fifth diffusion region in the doped region having the second conductivity type on a second side of and separated from the third diffusion region by a channel of a fourth transistor;gate structures over the channels of the first, second, third and fourth transistors, andan interconnect structure coupling the first diffusion region to the contact pad, the fourth and fifth diffusion regions to the second supply terminal, the gate structures of the first and second transistors to the first supply terminal, the gate structure of the third transistor to a selected one of the second supply terminal and the signal source, and the gate structure of the fourth transistor to a selected one of the signal source and the second supply terminal.