IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,786,651
Granted Patent B2
US 9,786,651 · App. 15/045,414 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Electrostatic discharge device

Inventors: Ying-Chieh Tsai (Chiayi, TW); Wing-Chor Chan (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
H01L27/0255H01L27/0259H01L27/0292H01L29/0603H01L29/866
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,786,651
App. No.
15/045,414
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrostatic discharge device includes a power clamping circuit and an isolation circuit. The power clamping circuit includes a first Zener diode and a second Zener diode. A cathode of the first Zener diode is coupled to a first power supply line. An anode of the first Zener diode is coupled to an anode of the second Zener diode. A cathode of the second Zener diode is coupled to a second power supply line. The isolation circuit includes a first isolation diode and a second isolation diode. A cathode of the first isolation diode is coupled to the first power supply line. An anode of the first isolation diode is coupled to a cathode of the second isolation diode and a circuit being protected. An anode of the second isolation diode is coupled to the second power supply line.

Claims (21)

1. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device, comprising:

a power clamping circuit including a first Zener diode and a second Zener diode, a cathode of the first Zener diode being coupled to a first power supply line, an anode of the first Zener diode being coupled to an anode of the second Zener diode, and a cathode of the second Zener diode being coupled to a second power supply line; and

an isolation circuit including a first isolation diode and a second isolation diode, a cathode of the first isolation diode being coupled to the first power supply line, an anode of the first isolation diode being coupled to a cathode of the second isolation diode and a circuit being protected, and an anode of the second isolation diode being coupled to the second power supply line,

wherein at least one of first or second isolation diode includes

a P-type well formed in a substrate;

an N-type well formed in the P-type well; and

an N-type well formed in the P-type well in contact with a partial portion of the bottom of the first N-type region, having a, higher doping concentration than the first N-type well.

2. The ESD device of claim 1 , wherein the power clamping circuit includes:

a P-type well formed in a semiconductor substrate;

a first N-type region and a second N-type region formed in the P-type well, the first and second N-type regions sandwiching a portion of the P-type well, the first Zener diode including the first N-type region and the portion of the P-type well, and the second Zener diode including the second N-type region and the portion of the P-type well.

3. The ESD device of claim 2 , wherein the power clamping circuit further includes:

a first P-type region formed in the P-type well and below the first N-type region; and

a second P-type region formed in the P-type well and below the second N-type region,

the first and second N-type regions, the first and second P-type regions, and the P-type well forming a parasitic NPN bipolar-junction transistor structure.

4. The ESD protection device of claim 1 , wherein the N-type well is a first N-type well, at least one of the first or second isolation diode further including:

a second N-type well formed in the P-type well, the first and second N-type wells sandwiching a common P region in the P-type well; and

a heavily-doped P-type (P + ) region formed over the first N-type well and a heavily-doped N-type (N + ) region formed over the second N-type well.

5. The ESD protection device of claim 4 , wherein a distance between the first N-type well and the second N-type well is about 0.2 μm to about 5 μm.

6. The ESD protection device of claim 4 , wherein:

the N + region is a first N + region, and

the at least one of the first or second isolation diode further includes a second N + region formed in the P + region, the second N + region and the P + region being coupled to each other by a wiring.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2016
From: TSAI, YING-CHIEH; CHAN, WING-CHOR
To: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037749/0839 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170236816A1 · Aug 17, 2017