Patent ID: 7522394

Claim:
A radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) having sectional electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, the RFIC comprises: analog receive section operably coupled to convert inbound radio frequency (RF) signals into inbound low intermediate frequency (IF) signals, wherein the analog receive section has an analog receive ground connection, and wherein the analog receive section includes analog receive ESD protection circuitry operably coupled to the analog receive ground connection; analog transmit section operably coupled to convert outbound low IF signals into outbound RF signals, wherein the analog transmit section has an analog transmit ground connection, wherein the analog transmit section includes analog transmit ESD protection circuitry operably coupled to the analog transmit ground connection; digital section operably coupled to convert the inbound low IF signals into inbound digital data and to convert outbound digital data into the outbound low IF signals, wherein the digital section has a digital ground connection; first inductor assembly coupling the analog receive ground connection to the digital ground connection, wherein the first inductor assembly has an inductance value that, at a frequency of the inbound RF signals, resonates with parasitic capacitance of the analog receive ESD protection circuitry to provide a low impedance connection at the frequency of the inbound RF signals; and second inductor assembly coupling the analog transmit ground connection to the digital ground connection, wherein the second inductor assembly has an inductance value that, at a frequency of the outbound RF signals, resonates with parasitic capacitance of the analog transmit ESD protection circuitry to provide a low impedance connection at the frequency of the outbound RF signals.