Patent ID: 7944655
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: H01H,H02H

Abstract:
1. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit operative to protect a host circuit coupled to a signal pad from an ESD event occurring at the signal pad, the ESD protection circuit comprising; at least one micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switch coupled to the signal pad during the ESD event; wherein the at least one MEMS switch comprises first and second contact structures, the first contact structure being adapted for connection to the signal pad, the second contact structure being adapted for connection to a voltage supply source, the first and second contact structures being electrically coupled together during the ESD event for shunting a current generated during the ESD event from the signal pad to the voltage supply source, the first and second contact structures being electrically isolated from one another in the absence of the ESD event, wherein at least one of the first and second contact structures comprises a passivation layer for reducing contact adhesion between the first and second contact structures, current generated during the ESD event being shunted between the first and second contact structures through the passivation layer.