ESD protection cell latch-up prevention

摘要

Latch-up preventing circuits and methods are provided for ESD protection cells. A method of preventing latch-up in an ESD protection cell is described which includes monitoring the ESD protection cell to detect the activation of the ESD protection cell in response to an ESD event. After detection of the activation of the ESD protection cell, the supply current to the ESD protection cell is turned off, preventing latch-up. Circuit embodiments are described in which ESD protection circuits include are provided with a detection and reset circuit. The circuit is adapted to turn off the supply current to the ESD protection cell upon the detection of the activation of the ESD cell.