Electrostatic discharge suppression circuit employing low-voltage triggering silicon-controlled rectifier

摘要

A resistance capacitance (RC) coupled low-voltage triggering silicon-controlled rectifier (LVTSCR) suppression circuit is presented for protecting an integrated circuit from electrostatic discharges or other potentially damaging voltage transients occurring at an input and/or output node of the integrated circuit or integrated circuit chip. The suppression circuit includes a discharge circuit and a trigger circuit. The discharge circuit is electrically coupled to the input and/or output node for dissipating the electrostatic discharge, while the trigger circuit is electrically connected to the input and/or output node and to the discharge circuit. The trigger circuit provides direct low-voltage turn-on of the discharge circuit as the electrostatic discharge builds at the input and/or output node of the integrated circuit. The trigger circuit includes a transistor having a control gate, and an RC circuit connected to the control gate and to the input and/or output node such that the control gate is electrically coupled to the input and/or output node across a capacitance and to ground across a resistance.