公开(公告)号：US06710990B2

公开(公告)日：2004-03-23

申请号：US10055082

申请日：2002-01-22

Applicant: John de Q. Walker ,  Todd A. Randazzo

Inventor： John de Q. Walker ,  Todd A. Randazzo

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H01L27/0266 ,  H01L2924/0002 ,  H01L2924/00

Abstract: As technology in the semiconductor industry advances, semiconductor devices decrease in size to become faster and less expensive per function. Smaller semiconductor devices, particularly MOSFETs, are increasingly sensitive to Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). ESD can either destroy or permanently damage a semiconductor device. Embodiments of the present invention assist in preventing ESD damage to semiconductor devices. An embodiment of the present invention utilizes a diode connected to the substrate terminal of a MOSFET. Under normal operation up to the maximum operating voltage, the diode and MOS devices are open and do not conduct. The diode triggers when an ESD pulse causes the reverse breakdown voltage of the diode to be exceeded. The resultant current switches a connected MOS device, operating in bipolar mode, to dissipate the damaging ESD pulse. The ESD pulse is shunted to ground, thereby avoiding damage to the rest of the device.

Abstract translation: 随着半导体行业的技术进步，半导体器件的尺寸减小，每个功能变得更快，成本更低。 较小的半导体器件，尤其是MOSFET，对静电放电（ESD）越来越敏感。 ESD可以破坏或永久性地损坏半导体器件。 本发明的实施例有助于防止对半导体器件的ESD损伤。 本发明的实施例利用连接到MOSFET的衬底端子的二极管。 在正常工作下，最高工作电压，二极管和MOS器件都是开放的，不会导通。 当ESD脉冲导致二极管的反向击穿电压超过时，二极管触发。 所产生的电流切换连接的MOS器件，以双极模式工作，以消散有害的ESD脉冲。 ESD脉冲分流到地，从而避免损坏设备的其余部分。

公开(公告)号：US06552583B1

公开(公告)日：2003-04-22

申请号：US09682734

申请日：2001-10-11

Applicant: David Kwong

Inventor： David Kwong

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H01L27/0285

Abstract: Large output driver transistors are used to shunt electro-static-discharge (ESD) pulses. ESD pulses are capacitivly coupled to the gates of the large driver transistors by R-C networks. The capacitive coupling causes a gate-to-source voltage to exceed the transistor threshold, turning on the large driver transistor to shunt the ESD current. Transistor switches are inserted into the R-C networks. These transistor switches disconnect the R-C networks during normal operation, and ensure that the R-C networks couple the I/O pad to the gates of the output driver transistors only when power is turned off. Since ESD events normally occur when power is disconnected, such as during handling by a person or machine, the ESD protection is only needed when power is off. Thus an active ESD-protection device can be disabled during normal powered operation of the IC. A feedback circuit detects power and biases the gates of the transistor switches.

Abstract translation: 大输出驱动晶体管用于分流静电放电（ESD）脉冲。 ESD脉冲通过R-C网络电容耦合到大驱动器晶体管的栅极。 电容耦合导致栅极至源极电压超过晶体管阈值，导通大驱动晶体管以分流ESD电流。 晶体管开关插入到R-C网络中。 这些晶体管开关在正常操作期间断开R-C网络，并确保只有在电源关闭时，R-C网络将I / O焊盘耦合到输出驱动器晶体管的栅极。 由于ESD事件通常在电源断开时发生，例如在人员或机器处理过程中，ESD保护仅在电源关闭时才需要。 因此，在IC的正常供电操作期间，可以禁用有源ESD保护器件。 反馈电路检测功率并偏置晶体管开关的栅极。

公开(公告)号：US06654221B2

公开(公告)日：2003-11-25

申请号：US09923987

申请日：2001-08-07

Applicant: Takashi Noma ,  Yasuyuki Morishima

Inventor： Takashi Noma ,  Yasuyuki Morishima

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H05B41/2855

Abstract: Current flowing through a cold cathode tube is detected and converted to a voltage with a resistor, and is fed to a tube current control circuit. The tube current control circuit drives a drive circuit to control a voltage applied to a piezoelectric transformer. Current from a constant-current source is used to charge a fault protection capacitor. A transistor is allowed to conduct while current flows through the cold cathode tube so that a voltage is developed in a resistor, and thereby, an electric charge is prevented from being stored in the fault protection capacitor, thereby stopping the operation of a fault protection circuit.

Abstract translation: 检测流过冷阴极管的电流并将其转换成具有电阻的电压，并将其馈送到管电流控制电路。 管电流控制电路驱动驱动电路来控制施加到压电变压器的电压。 来自恒流源的电流用于对故障保护电容器充电。 允许晶体管导通，同时电流流过冷阴极管，使得在电阻器中产生电压，从而防止电荷存储在故障保护电容器中，从而停止故障保护电路的操作 。

公开(公告)号：US06646840B1

公开(公告)日：2003-11-11

申请号：US09630946

申请日：2000-08-03

Applicant: Alvin Sugerman ,  Raymond Roberts ,  Michael Harley-Stead

Inventor： Alvin Sugerman ,  Raymond Roberts ,  Michael Harley-Stead

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H01L27/0251

Abstract: An ESD protection device including a compound transistor structure having a trigger transistor and an ESD protection transistor. The trigger transistor includes a breakdown potential between the standoff voltage of a circuit to be protected and the breakdown potential of the ESD protection transistor. When activated, the trigger transistor operates to turn on the ESD protection transistor that is designed to carry the bulk of the conduction current associated with an ESD event. The trigger transistor is designed with an internal gain mechanism to ensure that it will not be turned off when a modified snapback voltage is reached during the ESD protection transistor operation. The trigger transistor is a minor contributor to the conducting current with the ESD protection transistor after such time as protection circuit operation acts. A process for fabricating a suitable compound transistor structure is disclosed.

Abstract translation: 一种ESD保护装置，包括具有触发晶体管和ESD保护晶体管的复合晶体管结构。 触发晶体管包括待保护电路的隔离电压与ESD保护晶体管的击穿电位之间的击穿电位。 当激活时，触发晶体管操作以接通被设计为承载与ESD事件相关联的大部分传导电流的ESD保护晶体管。 触发晶体管设计有内部增益机制，以确保在ESD保护晶体管操作期间达到修改的快速恢复电压时不会关闭触发晶体管。 在保护电路操作时间之后，触发晶体管对ESD保护晶体管的导通电流的影响很小。 公开了制造合适的化合物晶体管结构的工艺。

公开(公告)号：US06266223B1

公开(公告)日：2001-07-24

申请号：US09345060

申请日：1999-06-30

Applicant: William J. Curry

Inventor： William J. Curry

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H04M3/18 ,  H02H9/042 ,  H02H9/06

Abstract: A line protector is provided which includes positive temperature coefficient resistors in the circuit which are thermally coupled to voltage clamping devices which require protection from failures caused by overheating from conducting excessive amounts of current for a time sufficient to cause device breakdown. This may compensate for the performance variability of the positive temperature coefficient resistors so as to improve the likelihood that they will experience a sufficient temperature increase to switch before the voltage clamping device reaches a breakdown temperature. Furthermore, a line protector which may provide protection against current flow to the communications circuit from overvoltage conditions on the circuit side of the line protector or by a ground potential difference between the line protector and the communications circuit is also provided including positive temperature coefficient resistors positioned between the overvoltage line protector circuits and the communications circuit.

Abstract translation: 提供了线路保护器，其包括电路中的正温度系数电阻器，其与电压钳位装置热耦合，其需要防止由过热导致的过度导致过量的电流足以导致器件击穿的时间。 这可以补偿正温度系数电阻器的性能可变性，从而提高在电压钳位装置达到击穿温度之前它们将经历足够的温度升高以切换的可能性。 此外，还提供了线路保护器，其可以提供防止来自线路保护器的电路侧上的过压状态的通信电流的阻力或线路保护器和通信电路之间的地电位差的保护，包括正温度系数电阻器 过电压保护电路和通信电路之间。

公开(公告)号：US06580592B2

公开(公告)日：2003-06-17

申请号：US09834882

申请日：2001-04-16

Applicant: Katsuhiro Kato

Inventor： Katsuhiro Kato

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H01L27/0266 ,  H01L27/0288

Abstract: A semiconductor device having an input circuit for effectively preventing breakdown caused by an electrostatic surge is provided. A first NMOS transistor is connected between an input terminal and an internal node, and a gate electrode of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a power supply line via a PMOS transistor that is always in an ON state. Therefore, the first NMOS transistor is also always in the ON state. Further, a second NMOS transistor, which is always in an OFF state, is connected between the internal node and a ground line. Even when an electrostatic surge voltage is applied to the input terminal, the electrostatic surge voltage is not directly applied to the gate electrode of the first NMOS transistor. Thus, breakdown of a gate oxide film of the gate is prevented.

公开(公告)号：US06545520B2

公开(公告)日：2003-04-08

申请号：US09820111

申请日：2001-03-28

Applicant: Timothy J. Maloney ,  Alper Ilkbahar

Inventor： Timothy J. Maloney ,  Alper Ilkbahar

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H01L27/0285 ,  Y10S977/70 ,  Y10S977/94

Abstract: A circuit includes an output driver, where the output driver includes a pull-up device and a pull-down device. The pull-up device has a first control terminal that is responsive to an RC-timer so as to bias the pull-up device on in response to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event that activates a device coupled to an output of the RC-timer. The pull-down device has a second control terminal that, for one aspect, is in a substantially indeterminate state (i.e. the second control terminal may be a “1”, “0” or some other voltage, which may or may not be within the voltage range between “1” and “0”) during the ESD event.

Abstract translation: 电路包括输出驱动器，其中输出驱动器包括上拉装置和下拉装置。 上拉装置具有响应于RC定时器的第一控制端子，以便响应于激活耦合到RC-输出端的输出的装置的静电放电（ESD）事件而使上拉装置偏置， 定时器 下拉装置具有第二控制端子，一方面，该控制端子处于基本上不确定的状态（即，第二控制端子可以是“1”，“0”或一些其它可能在或不在其内的电压 在ESD事件期间的“1”和“0”之间的电压范围。

公开(公告)号：US06501634B1

公开(公告)日：2002-12-31

申请号：US09335802

申请日：1999-06-17

Applicant: Douglas P. Hubbell

Inventor： Douglas P. Hubbell

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H01H85/44 ,  H01H2085/0275 ,  H02H9/042 ,  H05K1/0254 ,  H05K1/18

Abstract: A high voltage transient surge suppression system which provides an improved fusing to greatly reduce or eliminate the chance of secondary combustion during an excess power situation. The invention discloses a fuse link system which places one or more fuse links between a first electrical potential and a second electrical potential, and which uses air to insulate or isolate electrical potentials so that products of combustion from an excess power surge do not form a conductive path between electrical potentials on a printed circuit board.

Abstract translation: 一种高压瞬态浪涌抑制系统，其提供改进的熔断，以在多余功率情况下大大减少或消除二次燃烧的机会。 本发明公开了一种熔断器系统，其将一个或多个熔断体置于第一电位和第二电位之间，并且使用空气绝缘或隔离电势，使得来自过剩电力浪涌的燃烧产物不形成导电 印刷电路板上的电位之间的路径。

公开(公告)号：US06836396B1

公开(公告)日：2004-12-28

申请号：US09660876

申请日：2000-09-13

Applicant: Michael S. Tignor ,  Patrick Salas ,  Craig B. Williams ,  Michael B. Bradley ,  David Fletcher

Inventor： Michael S. Tignor ,  Patrick Salas ,  Craig B. Williams ,  Michael B. Bradley ,  David Fletcher

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H02H3/006 ,  H01H71/7409 ,  H01H2009/188 ,  H02H1/0061

Abstract: Improvements to a rating plug for an electronic trip unit of a circuit breaker are disclosed. The rating plug includes a non-volatile memory which has access to current and frame rating information. A microcomputer in the electronic trip unit may receive new current rating information over the World Wide Web from a vendor system to update the current rating information of the rating plug. A program within the circuit breaker may detect errors in the new current rating information and may reject such and revert to a safe mode of operation. A billing system may be connected to the vendor system for calculating charges based on the transmission of the new current rating information. Preferably, the non-volatile memory of the rating plug is programmed at the factory site and a label adhered to the outer case of the rating plug for indicating the current rating. The rating plug may then be inserted within the electronic circuit breaker at the field and the current rating altered as necessary using the remote altering system.

Abstract translation: 公开了一种用于断路器的电子跳闸单元的额定插头的改进。 额定值插头包括可以访问当前和帧评级信息的非易失性存储器。 电子跳闸单元中的微计算机可以从供应商系统通过万维网接收新的额定电流信息，以更新额定值插头的当前额定值信息。 断路器内的程序可以检测新的额定电流信息中的错误，并且可以拒绝这种错误并且恢复到安全的操作模式。 计费系统可以连接到供应商系统，用于基于新的当前评级信息的传输来计算费用。 优选地，额定值插头的非易失性存储器在工厂现场被编程，并且附着在额定插头的外壳上的标签用于指示电流额定值。 然后，额定插头可以在现场插入电子断路器内，并且根据需要使用远程改变系统改变电流额定值。

公开(公告)号：US06356428B1

公开(公告)日：2002-03-12

申请号：US09623512

申请日：2000-12-29

Applicant: Sven Akervall ,  Roger Siljeholm

Inventor： Sven Akervall ,  Roger Siljeholm

IPC: H02H904

CPC classification number: H02B5/02 ,  H02B3/00

Abstract: A suspension device for a line arrester in an air-insulated transmission line including two suspension parts which support the line arrester such that its longitudinal axis deviates from the vertical line. One of the suspension parts includes a disconnecting device which, when releasing, permits the line arrester a swinging motion under the influence of a force of gravity caused by the weight of the line arrester itself. And, one of the suspension parts includes a damping member which influences the line arrester with a force directed against the swinging motion during at least part of the swinging motion. The damping member may include a damping plate, one or more friction linings, or a flexible wire.

Abstract translation: 一种用于空气绝缘传输线中的线路避雷器的悬挂装置，包括两个支撑线路避雷器的悬挂部分，使其纵向轴线偏离垂直线。 悬挂部件之一包括断开装置，当释放时，线路避雷器在由线路避雷器本身的重量引起的重力的影响下允许线路避雷器摆动。 并且，其中一个悬挂部件包括阻尼件，该阻尼件在至少部分摆动运动期间以一定力抵抗摆动运动来影响线路避雷器。 阻尼构件可包括阻尼板，一个或多个摩擦衬垫或柔性线。