Patent ID: 7944659

Claim:
A switch operably coupled to a first signal port, a second signal port and a third signal port of an integrated circuit, the switch comprising: a first switching element and a second switching element that cooperate to switch between a first state and a second state in response to at least one control signal, wherein the first signal port is coupled to the second signal port and decoupled from the third signal port in the first state, and the first signal port is decoupled from the second signal port and coupled to the third signal port in the second state; a first string of clamping elements having a collective capacitance less than capacitance of one clamping element of the first string of clamping elements, wherein the first string of clamping elements is operably coupled to the first switching element and to conduct when a first polarity ESD voltage is applied to the high-speed signal pins; a second string of clamping elements having a collective capacitance less than capacitance of one clamping element of the second string of clamping elements, wherein the second string of clamping elements is operably coupled to the first switching element and to conduct when a second polarity ESD voltage is applied to the high-speed signal pins; a third string of clamping elements having a collective capacitance less than capacitance of one clamping element of the third string of clamping elements, wherein the third string of clamping elements is operably coupled to the second switching element and to conduct when the first polarity ESD voltage is applied to the high-speed signal pins; and a fourth string of clamping elements having a collective capacitance less than capacitance of one clamping element of the fourth string of clamping elements, wherein the fourth string of clamping elements is operably coupled to the second switching element and to conduct when the second polarity ESD voltage is applied to the high-speed signal pins.