Patent ID: 7709279

Claim:
A method for protecting a separate semiconductor device from at least one electrostatic discharge event during testing of the separate semiconductor device, the method comprising: electrically connecting testing circuitry to an insert of configured to establish electrical communication with the separate semiconductor device, the insert consisting of: a bulk semiconductor substrate comprising a full or partial wafer; contact structures carried by the bulk semiconductor substrate; at least one conductor carried by the bulk semiconductor substrate and in communication with a pair of the contact structures; and at least one electrostatic discharge structure in communication with the at least one conductor, the at least one electrostatic discharge structure including: a first resistive element located between a contact pad of the insert and a node; and a second resistive element located between the node and at least one test contact of the insert; assembling the separate semiconductor device in superimposed relation over the insert with at least one bond pad of the separate semiconductor device aligned with a corresponding contact structure of the insert and electrically connecting the at least one bond pad of the separate semiconductor device to the corresponding contact structure of the insert; applying at least one test signal through the insert, including through an electrostatic discharge structure carried by the insert, to the separate semiconductor device; and shunting at least one electrostatic discharge event: through the first resistive element, which limits a peak current; and from the first resistive element into a first diode that communicates with a V DD voltage if a magnitude of a voltage of the at least one electrostatic discharge event exceeds a predetermined maximum positive voltage threshold or into a second diode that communicates with a V SS voltage if a magnitude of the at least one electrostatic discharge event exceeds a predetermined maximum negative voltage threshold; and conveying current within a range defined by the predetermined maximum positive voltage threshold and the predetermined maximum negative voltage threshold through the first resistive element, to the second resistive element, and through the second resistive element for application to a circuit of the separate semiconductor device.