Sofics has a strong expertise and IP portfolio for on-chip ESD protection. However, for some customers the requirement does not stop with ESD clamps. Together with our partners Sofics can provide vertical integrated solutions.

Sofics can custom develop solutions for low voltage, advanced CMOS as well as for high voltage CMOS, BCD technology and applications. The ESD solutions are applied for a broad set of applications like HDMI, USB 3.0, SATA, SerDes, RFID, LNA, power management, LCD/LED drivers... and enable requirements including 8kV HBM and IEC 61000-4-2.

Example
Sofics and ICsense（www.ICsense.com）have cooperated on the design of a general purpose 3.3V digital IO in TSMC 40nm for a joint customer. Sofics created customized ESD protection（power clamps and IO protection）for the 1.8V and 3.3V interface. ICsense designers created the 3.3V IO circuit based on 1.8V transistors. The result is a robust and reliable circuit where max. 1.8V is guaranteed over all transistor terminals, all process corners, over a full temperature range including at system startup