Patent ID: 8879221

Claim:
A device having an ESD module, the ESD module comprising: an ESD circuit coupled between first and second rails; a control circuit coupled between the rails and to the ESD circuit, the control circuit comprising an output stage, the output stage further comprises first, second, third and fourth transistors and first and second control output terminals, wherein the control circuit, when it senses an ESD event, causes the ESD circuit to create a current path between the rails to dissipate ESD current, and when no ESD event is sensed, ensures that no current path is created between the rails to prevent latch-up, and wherein the first transistor is coupled to the first rail and the second transistor is coupled to the second rail, the fourth transistor is coupled in series with the first and second transistors, the fourth transistor is disposed between the first and second transistors, and the third transistor having a first terminal directly coupled to the first rail, a second terminal coupled to the second control output terminal and a gate terminal coupled to a first control output stage node; the first control output stage node disposed between the first and fourth transistors; and the first rail is coupled to a fourth gate terminal of the fourth transistor.