Patent ID: 6985340

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a first input terminal receiving a first positive voltage externally in an inspection of said semiconductor device and a normal operation of said semiconductor device; an internal circuit connected to said first input terminal and performing a prescribed operation; at least a portion of said internal circuit is formed with a thin film transistor; and a first protection circuit protecting said internal circuit from static electricity generated at said first input terminal, said first protection circuit including a plurality of first diode elements connected in series between said first input terminal and a line of a reference potential and conducting in response to a voltage of said first input terminal exceeding a second positive voltage higher than said first positive voltage, and a second diode element connected between the line of said reference potential and said first input terminal and conducting in response to the voltage of said first input terminal going lower than a first negative voltage; wherein each of said plurality of first diode elements and said second diode element is formed with a thin film transistor having its gate and drain connected together.