IMPROVED ESD DIODE STRUCTURE

摘要

An ESD diode protects a circuit against electrostatic discharge (ESD). The ESD diode has four adjacent regions. The first and third regions are formed by doping a semiconductor substrate so that it has a P-type conductivity. The second and fourth regions are formed by doping the semiconductor substrate so that it has an N-type conductivity. The first region is for connection to a signal terminal of the circuit being protected when the fourth region is connected to a positive power line of the circuit. The fourth region is for connection to the signal terminal when the first region is connected to the ground line or a negative power line of the circuit.