Nicholas J Howorth

US Patent:

59993863, Dec 7, 1999

Filed:

Dec 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/203417

Inventors:

Warren Robert Anderson - Westborough MA
Nicholas John Howorth - Northborough MA

Assignee:

Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

H02H 900

US Classification:

361 56

Abstract:

An electrostatic discharge protection system provides electrostatic discharge protection for an integrated circuit having a package and a semiconductor device installed within the package. The package includes a first pin, a second pin and a reference pin. The semiconductor device includes a first conductor that connects with the first pin, a second conductor that connects with the second pin, and a reference conductor that connects with the reference pin. The integrated circuit operates within one of a normal operating mode and a power conservation mode when the first and second pins receive a power supply signal. The electrostatic discharge protection system includes a first protection device that detects and couples electrostatic discharge events from the first conductor to the reference conductor by reference to a voltage potential difference between the second conductor and the reference conductor. The electrostatic discharge protection system further includes a second protection device that detects and couples electrostatic discharge events from the second conductor to the reference conductor by reference to a voltage potential difference between the first conductor and the reference conductor. The first and second protection devices are disabled from detecting and coupling electrostatic discharge events when the first and second pins receive the power supply signal regardless of whether the integrated circuit is operating in the normal operating mode or the power conservation mode.

US Patent:

58868623, Mar 23, 1999

Filed:

Nov 26, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/979376

Inventors:

Warren Robert Anderson - Westborough MA
Nicholas John Howorth - Northborough MA

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

H02N 900

US Classification:

361 56

Abstract:

An electrostatic discharge protection system provides electrostatic discharge protection for an integrated circuit having a package and a semiconductor device installed within the package. The package includes a first pin, a second pin and a reference pin. The semiconductor device includes a first conductor that connects with the first pin, a second conductor that connects with the second pin, and a reference conductor that connects with the reference pin. The integrated circuit operates within one of a normal operating mode and a power conservation mode when the first and second pins receive a power supply signal. The electrostatic discharge protection system includes a first protection device that detects and couples electrostatic discharge events from the first conductor to the reference conductor by reference to a voltage potential difference between the second conductor and the reference conductor. The electrostatic discharge protection system further includes a second protection device that detects and couples electrostatic discharge events from the second conductor to the reference conductor by reference to a voltage potential difference between the first conductor and the reference conductor. The first and second protection devices are disabled from detecting and coupling electrostatic discharge events when the first and second pins receive the power supply signal regardless of whether the integrated circuit is operating in the normal operating mode or the power conservation mode.