Patent ID: 8043934

Claim:
A method for protecting a semiconductor circuit from electrostatic discharge, the comprising: receiving an electrostatic discharge at a node; directing current created by the electrostatic discharge vertically into a semiconductor body; directing the current laterally through the semiconductor and beneath a first isolation region so that the current flows in a direction parallel to an upper surface of the semiconductor body; and directing the current to a reference supply node, the reference supply node being formed in a conductive layer disposed over the upper surface of the semiconductor body, wherein the semiconductor circuit is protected by a protection device that comprises: a first doped region of a second conductivity type disposed at an upper surface of the semiconductor body, the semiconductor body having a first conductivity type that is different than the second conductivity type; a second doped region of the second conductivity type disposed at the upper surface of the semiconductor body, wherein the first isolation region is disposed within the semiconductor body between the first doped region and the second doped region; a third doped region of the first conductivity type disposed within the semiconductor body beneath the first doped region; a fourth doped region of the first conductivity type disposed at the upper surface of the semiconductor body; a second isolation region disposed within the semiconductor body between the second doped region and the fourth doped region; a fifth doped region of the first conductivity type disposed at the upper surface of the semiconductor body; and a third isolation region disposed within the semiconductor body between the first doped region and the fifth doped region, wherein the first isolation region physically abuts both the first doped region and the second doped region, wherein the second isolation region physically abuts the second doped region and the fourth doped region, and wherein the third isolation region physically abuts the first doped region and the fifth doped region.