Patent ID: 10141300

Abstract:
A transient voltage suppressor (TVS) circuit includes a P-N junction diode and a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) formed integrated in a lateral device structure of a semiconductor layer. The lateral device structure includes multiple fingers of semiconductor regions arranged laterally along a first direction on a major surface of the semiconductor layer, defining current conducting regions between the fingers. The current paths for the SCR and the P-N junction diode are formed in each current conducting region but the current path for the SCR is predominantly separated from the current path for the P-N junction diode in each current conducting region in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction on the major surface of the semiconductor layer. The TVS device of the present invention realizes low capacitance at the protected node. The TVS device is suitable for protecting data pins of an integrated circuit, especially when the data pins are used in high speed applications.