Trigger circuit for controlling an ESD protection switch

1 . A trigger circuit for controlling an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection switch; the trigger circuit comprising:

an input terminal arranged to be connected with a first conduction terminal of the ESD protection switch;

an output terminal arranged to control a control terminal of the ESD protection switch;

a first diode function biased from the output terminal to the input terminal;

a second diode function biased from the input terminal to the output terminal and connected in series with the first diode function;

a first transistor having two conduction terminals and a control terminal, wherein the two conduction terminals of the first transistor are arranged in parallel with the first diode function, and wherein the control terminal of the first transistor is configured to control a conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor;

a first timer circuit comprising a first resistor connected in series between the control terminal of the first transistor and the output terminal; and

a first capacitor connected in series between the control terminal of the first transistor and the input terminal;

wherein the second diode function is connected in series between the input terminal and one of the two conduction terminals of the first transistor;

wherein the second diode function is implemented using a separate second diode, and wherein the first capacitor is connected to a cathode of the separate second diode;

wherein the control terminal of the first transistor is coupled via the first capacitor to the input terminal, so that a rising voltage at the input terminal due to an ESD event triggers the control terminal of the first transistor to activate the conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor; and

wherein the first capacitor is arranged to be discharged through the first resistor to the output terminal so that, when the first capacitor is discharged below a first threshold of the first transistor, the control terminal of the first transistor deactivates the conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor.

2 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor has a charge capacity and a relationship between the charge capacity and the first threshold of the first transistor, and wherein the first transistor has a gate capacitance that is configured to keep the first transistor activated for at least a duration of the ESD.

3 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first transistor is a laterally-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) or an extended drain field-effect transistor (EDFET).

4 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , wherein the ESD protection switch comprises a transistor having a maximum drain-to-source voltage rating of substantially 18 V and/or a maximum gate-to-source voltage rating of substantially 5.5 V.

5 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor has a charge capacity of at least 18 V.

6 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , wherein the output terminal is configured to float when the conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor is deactivated.

7 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second diode function is implemented using a separate second diode, and wherein the first capacitor is connected to an anode of the separate second diode.

8 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a second transistor having two conduction terminals and a control terminal, wherein the two conduction terminals of the second transistor are arranged in parallel with the second diode function, and wherein the control terminal of the second transistor is configured to control a conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the second transistor; and

a second timer circuit;

wherein the second timer circuit comprises:

a second resistor connected in series between the control terminal of the second transistor and the input terminal; and

a second capacitor connected in series between the control terminal of the second transistor and the input terminal, and connected in parallel with the second resistor;

wherein the control terminal of the second transistor is connected via the first capacitor to the control terminal of the first transistor;

wherein the control terminal of the second transistor is coupled via the second capacitor to the input terminal, so that a rising voltage at the input terminal due to an ESD event triggers the control terminal of the second transistor to activate the conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor; and

wherein the second capacitor is arranged to be discharged through the second resistor to the input terminal so that, when the second capacitor is discharged below a second threshold of the second transistor, the control terminal of the second transistor deactivates the conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the second transistor.

9 . The trigger circuit of claim 8 , wherein the second diode function is implemented using a parasitic diode of the second transistor.

10 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , wherein the ESD protection switch comprises a transistor having a maximum drain-to-source voltage rating of substantially 18 V and/or a maximum gate-to-source voltage rating of substantially 5.5 V.

11 . The trigger circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor has a charge capacity of at least 18 V.

12 . A trigger circuit for controlling an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection switch; the trigger circuit comprising:

an input terminal arranged to be connected with a first conduction terminal of the ESD protection switch;

an output terminal arranged to control a control terminal of the ESD protection switch;

a first diode function biased from the output terminal to the input terminal;

a second diode function biased from the input terminal to the output terminal and connected in series with the first diode function;

a first transistor having two conduction terminals and a control terminal; wherein the two conduction terminals of the first transistor are arranged in parallel with the first diode function, and wherein the control terminal of the first transistor is configured to control a conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor;

a first timer circuit comprising a first resistor connected in series between the control terminal of the first transistor and the output terminal; and

a first capacitor connected in series between the control terminal of the first transistor and the input terminal;

wherein the second diode function is connected in series between the input terminal and one of the two conduction terminals of the first transistor;

wherein the control terminal of the first transistor is coupled via the first capacitor to the input terminal, so that a rising voltage at the input terminal due to an ESD event triggers the control terminal of the first transistor to activate the conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor; and

wherein the first capacitor is arranged to be discharged through the first resistor to the output terminal so that, when the first capacitor is discharged below a first threshold of the first transistor, the control terminal of the first transistor deactivates the conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor;

a second transistor having another two conduction terminals and another control terminal, wherein the other two conduction terminals of the second transistor are arranged in parallel with the second diode function, and wherein the other control terminal of the second transistor is configured to control a conduction path between the two other conduction terminals of the second transistor; and

a second timer circuit;

wherein the second timer circuit comprises;

a second resistor connected in series between the control terminal of the second transistor and the input terminal; and

a second capacitor connected in series between the control terminal of the second transistor and the input terminal and connected in parallel with the second resistor;

wherein the other control terminal of the second transistor is connected via the first capacitor to the control terminal of the first transistor;

wherein the other control terminal of the second transistor is coupled via the second capacitor to the input terminal, so that a rising voltage at the input terminal due to an ESD event triggers the other control terminal of the second transistor to activate the conduction path between the two conduction terminals of the first transistor; and

wherein the second capacitor is arranged to be discharged through the second resistor to the input terminal so that, when the second capacitor is discharged below a second threshold of the second transistor, the other control terminal of the second transistor deactivates the conduction path between the other two conduction terminals of the second transistor.

13 . The trigger circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second capacitor has a charge capacity and a relationship between the charge capacity and the second threshold of the second transistor is configured to keep the first transistor activated for at least a duration of the ESD.

14 . The trigger circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second transistor is a laterally-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) or an extended drain field-effect transistor (EDFET).

15 . The trigger circuit of claim 12 , wherein the first diode function is implemented using a parasitic diode of the first transistor.

16 . The trigger circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second transistor is a laterally-diffused n-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (LDnMOS) or an extended drain field-effect transistor (EDFET).

17 . The trigger circuit of claim 12 , wherein the first transistor is a laterally-diffused n-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (LDnMOS) or an extended drain field-effect transistor (EDFET).

18 . The trigger circuit of claim 12 , wherein the first transistor is a laterally-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) or an extended drain field-effect transistor (EDFET).

19 . The trigger circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second diode function is implemented using a parasitic diode of the second transistor.