Latch-up Immune on-chip ESD protection for High Voltage processes and applications
While high voltage interfaces are broadly used in many IC applications like motor control, power management and conversion, LCD panel drivers and automotive systems, many IC designers still lack a low leakage, costeffective and latch-up immune ESD protection clamp that can be applied across various applications.
The behavior of many of the traditional on-chip ESD clamps is tied to the process conditions, which limits the possibilities to adapt to changing specifications. Moreover, severe reliability requirements that were long requested only for industrial and automotive applications are now being transferred to consumer electronics too.
This white paper introduces a new family of ESD/EOS/IEC protection devices, called hebistor clamps that provide competitive advantage through improved yield, reduced silicon footprint and low leakage operation. The hebistor devices are developed to protect a broad set of high voltage interfaces in BCD and high voltage CMOS and are branded under the Sofics PowerQubic portfolio. Based on measurements on TSMC 0.35um 15V and TSMC 0.25um BCD 12V, 24V, 40V and 60V technology the flexibility of the novel device is demonstrated.
