Electronic device and method for maintaining functionality of an integrated circuit during electrical aggressions

摘要

An electronic device for generating an error signal in response to an electrostatic discharge perturbation is described. The device may comprise: a detection unit for generating a detection signal in response to said electrostatic discharge perturbation, said detection signal correlating in time with said electrostatic discharge perturbation; a clock for generating a clock signal having a clock period; and a protection unit for generating an error signal in response to said detection signal only when a duration of said detection signal exceeds a predefined multiple of said clock period. A method of generating an error signal in response to an electrostatic discharge perturbation, for protecting electronic circuitry, is also disclosed.

主权项

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a band gap circuit configured to receive a supply voltage and to output a reference voltage having a voltage relative to a ground voltage; a reference current circuit coupled to the band gap circuit to receive the reference voltage and configured to generate a reference current; a first filter connected between the band gap circuit and the reference current circuit and configured to filter out variations of the reference voltage; a voltage regulator coupled to the band gap circuit to receive the reference voltage and configured to generate a supply voltage; a second filter connected between the band gap circuit and the voltage regulator; a detection circuit configured to generate a detection signal in response to an electrostatic discharge perturbation, the detection signal correlating in time with the electrostatic discharge perturbation; a clock coupled to the reference current circuit to receive the reference current and coupled to the voltage regulator to receive the supply voltage, and configured to generate a clock signal having a clock period; a deglitcher circuit; and a protection circuit including the deglitcher circuit and coupled to the clock to receive the clock signal, and configured to generate an error signal in response to the detection signal only when a duration of the detection signal exceeds a predefined multiple of the clock period, wherein the deglitcher circuit filters said detection signal and wherein the multiple is less than 1.