Patent ID: 8610169
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit, comprising: a P-type substrate; an N-well formed on the P-type substrate; at least one P-doped region formed in the N-well, wherein the at least one P-doped region is electrically connected to an input/output terminal of a circuit under protection, and further comprises a first P-doped region and a second P-doped region; a first N-doped region formed in the P-type substrate, wherein the first N-doped region is electrically connected to a first node, wherein the second P-doped region is adjacent to the first N-doped region, and wherein the second P-doped region, the N-well, the P-type substrate, and the first N-doped region constitute a silicon controlled rectifier; a second N-doped region formed in the N-well and electrically connected to a second node, wherein the first P-doped region is adjacent to the second N-doped region, and wherein the first P-doped region and the second N-doped region constitute a discharging path; and a third P-doped region formed in the N-well and disposed between the first and the second P-doped regions, wherein the third P-doped region is electrically connected to the first node; wherein the first P-doped region, the N-well, and the second P-doped region constitute a first parasitic BJT, and the second P-doped region, the N-well, and the third P-doped region constitute a second parasitic BJT, and wherein when an ESD event occurs at the input/output terminal, the silicon controlled rectifier, the first BJT, and the second BJT bypass electrostatic charges to the first node, and the discharging path bypasses electrostatic charges to the second node.