Protective circuit arrangement for protecting semiconductor components

摘要

A protective circuit arrangement is described for protecting semiconductor components connected to input and output terminals (10) against overvoltages in bipolar integrated circuits. The circuit arrangement contains at least one supply voltage terminal (12) and a ground terminal (14). Between the ground terminal (14) and at least the input and output terminals (10) which are connected to components sensitive to overvoltage a thyristor-tetrode (22) having a first control electrode (28) and a second control electrode (30) is inserted, the first control electrode (28) being connected to a line (18) which in the operative state of the integrated circuit lies at a voltage above the ground potential and the second control electrode (30) being connected to the ground terminal 14.