Patents Assigned to Sofics BVBA
  • Patent number: 11515876
    Abstract: A driver for a shared bus, such as a LIN bus, having a supply node (Vbat), a bus node (LIN), a transmit data input node (TX) and a receive data output node (RX), said driver comprising: a pull-up circuitry between the supply node and the bus node, driver circuitry (100) having a control input connected to the transmit data input node, feedback circuitry (200) configured to provide feedback from the shared bus to the control input of the driver circuitry; said feedback circuitry comprising copy circuitry (210) configured to obtain at least one copy signal representative for a signal on the bus node, filter circuitry (220) configured to low-pass filter the at least one copy signal, derivative circuitry (230) configured to obtain at least one derivative signal representative for the speed at which the signal on the bus node varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventors: Koen Jan Decock, Olivier Eugene A Gesquiere, Henk Roel Motte, Wouter Faelens
  • Publication number: 20220085810
    Abstract: A driver for a shared bus, such as a LIN bus, having a supply node (Vbat), a bus node (LIN), a transmit data input node (TX) and a receive data output node (RX), said driver comprising: a pull-up circuitry between the supply node and the bus node, driver circuitry (100) having a control input connected to the transmit data input node, feedback circuitry (200) configured to provide feedback from the shared bus to the control input of the driver circuitry; said feedback circuitry comprising copy circuitry (210) configured to obtain at least one copy signal representative for a signal on the bus node, filter circuitry (220) configured to low-pass filter the at least one copy signal, derivative circuitry (230) configured to obtain at least one derivative signal representative for the speed at which the signal on the bus node varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventors: Koen Jan DECOCK, Olivier Eugene A GESQUIERE, Henk Roel MOTTE, Wouter FAELENS
  • Patent number: 11211791
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device including a stack of ESD clamps, a trigger circuit, and a transistor. The trigger circuit may respond to an ESD event by conducting current, which may cause the transistor to turn on. A combination of the trigger circuit conducting current and the transistor turning on may trigger the ESD clamps into a conducting state to shunt current from a first node to a second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventors: Sven Van Wijmeersch, Stefaan Verleye, Benjamin Ernest Henri Virginie Van Camp
  • Patent number: 10447033
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device with a high holding voltage is disclosed including at least an ESD clamp coupled to a holding voltage tuning circuit. The ESD clamp may be coupled to the holding voltage tuning circuit through a connection circuit such as a diode. The ESD clamp may be implemented by a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and the holding voltage tuning circuit may be implemented as a second SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventor: Sven Van Wijmeersch
  • Patent number: 10181464
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit may include a silicon controller rectifier (SCR) which may be triggered via at least one of its first trigger gate or second trigger gate. The ESD protection circuit may further include a highly doped region coupled to either the anode or cathode of the SCR, wherein the highly doped region may provide additional carriers to facilitate triggering of the SCR during an ESD event, whereby the SCR may be triggered more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Olivier Marichal
  • Publication number: 20180166876
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device with a high holding voltage is disclosed including at least an ESD clamp coupled to a holding voltage tuning circuit. The ESD clamp may be coupled to the holding voltage tuning circuit through a connection circuit such as a diode. The ESD clamp may be implemented by a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and the holding voltage tuning circuit may be implemented as a second SCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Sofics BVBA
    Inventor: Sven Van Wijmeersch
  • Patent number: 9881914
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed including at least an NPN transistor and a PNP transistor coupled between a first node and a second node, wherein the ESD protection device may be configured to sink current from the first node to the second node in response to an ESD event. The transistors may be coupled such that a collector of the NPN may be coupled to the first node. A collector of the PNP may be coupled to the second node. A base of the NPN may be coupled to the emitter of the PNP. An emitter of the NPN may be coupled to a base of the PNP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Sven Van Wijmeersch, Wim Vanhouteghem
  • Patent number: 9882375
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device with a high holding voltage is disclosed including at least an ESD clamp coupled to a holding voltage tuning circuit. The ESD clamp may be coupled to the holding voltage tuning circuit through a connection circuit such as a diode. The ESD clamp may be implemented by a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and the holding voltage tuning circuit may be implemented as a second SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventor: Sven Van Wijmeersch
  • Publication number: 20180006016
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit may include a silicon controller rectifier (SCR) which may be triggered via at least one of its first trigger gate or second trigger gate. The ESD protection circuit may further include a highly doped region coupled to either the anode or cathode of the SCR, wherein the highly doped region may provide additional carriers to facilitate triggering of the SCR during an ESD event, whereby the SCR may be triggered more quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Olivier Marichal
  • Publication number: 20170243864
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed including at least an NPN transistor and a PNP transistor coupled between a first node and a second node, wherein the ESD protection device may be configured to sink current from the first node to the second node in response to an ESD event. The transistors may be coupled such that a collector of the NPN may be coupled to the first node. A collector of the PNP may be coupled to the second node. A base of the NPN may be coupled to the emitter of the PNP. An emitter of the NPN may be coupled to a base of the PNP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Sven Van Wijmeersch, Wim Vanhouteghem
  • Patent number: 9685431
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit may include a silicon controller rectifier (SCR) which may be triggered via at least one of its first trigger gate or second trigger gate. The ESD protection circuit may further include a highly doped region coupled to either the anode or cathode of the SCR, wherein the highly doped region may provide additional carriers to facilitate triggering of the SCR during an ESD event, whereby the SCR may be triggered more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Olivier Marichal
  • Patent number: 9653453
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed including at least an NPN transistor and a PNP transistor coupled between a first node and a second node, wherein the ESD protection device may be configured to sink current from the first node to the second node in response to an ESD event. The transistors may be coupled such that a collector of the NPN may be coupled to the first node. A collector of the PNP may be coupled to the second node. A base of the NPN may be coupled to the emitter of the PNP. An emitter of the NPN may be coupled to a base of the PNP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Sven Van Wijmeersch, Wim Vanhouteghem
  • Publication number: 20160268250
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed including at least an NPN transistor and a PNP transistor coupled between a first node and a second node, wherein the ESD protection device may be configured to sink current from the first node to the second node in response to an ESD event. The transistors may be coupled such that a collector of the NPN may be coupled to the first node. A collector of the PNP may be coupled to the second node. A base of the NPN may be coupled to the emitter of the PNP. An emitter of the NPN may be coupled to a base of the PNP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Sven Van Wijmeersch, Wim Vanhouteghem
  • Patent number: 9349716
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed including at least an NPN transistor and a PNP transistor coupled between a first node and a second node, wherein the ESD protection device may be configured to sink current from the first node to the second node in response to an ESD event. The transistors may be coupled such that a collector of the NPN may be coupled to the first node. A collector of the PNP may be coupled to the second node. A base of the NPN may be coupled to the emitter of the PNP. An emitter of the NPN may be coupled to a base of the PNP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Sven Van Wijmeersch, Wim Vanhouteghem
  • Patent number: 9041054
    Abstract: A high holding voltage (HV) electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit comprises a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) device and compensation regions located within the length between the anode and cathode (LAC) of the SCR device which increase the holding voltage of the SCR device. The compensation regions may introduce negative feedback mechanisms into the SCR device which may influence the loop gain of the SCR and cause it to reach regenerative feedback at a higher holding voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Sven Van Wijmeersch, Olivier Marichal
  • Patent number: 9042065
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is disclosed including at least a clamping device, a switching device, and a voltage limiter. The ESD protection circuit may include devices of different voltage domains. The switching device may be in series with the clamping device to block at least a portion of a voltage from dropping across the clamping device. The switching device may sustain higher maximum operating voltages than the clamping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Sven Van Wijmeersch, Benjamin Van Camp, Olivier Marichal, Johan Van der Borght
  • Publication number: 20150091056
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit may include a silicon controller rectifier (SCR) which may be triggered via at least one of its first trigger gate or second trigger gate. The ESD protection circuit may further include a highly doped region coupled to either the anode or cathode of the SCR, wherein the highly doped region may provide additional carriers to facilitate triggering of the SCR during an ESD event, whereby the SCR may be triggered more quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp, Olivier Marichal
  • Patent number: 8922960
    Abstract: An improved ESD protection circuit having an ESD device and a triggering device to provide a continuously adjustable trigger voltage. This can be accomplished by various techniques such as placing a selected number of triggering elements in series, modifying the gate control circuitry and varying the size of the triggering elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventor: Sven Van Wijmeersch
  • Publication number: 20140268451
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device with a high holding voltage is disclosed including at least an ESD clamp coupled to a holding voltage tuning circuit. The ESD clamp may be coupled to the holding voltage tuning circuit through a connection circuit such as a diode. The ESD clamp may be implemented by a first silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and the holding voltage tuning circuit may be implemented as a second SCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SOFICS BVBA
    Inventor: Sven Van Wijmeersch
  • Patent number: 8830641
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed. The ESD protection circuit is configured to operate in high voltage domains. The ESD protection device may further include stacked NMOS or PMOS devices. The gates of the MOS devices may be driven by respective inverters. The inverters may be coupled to a voltage divider and may be triggered by respective trigger circuits. Power nodes of the inverters may be connected such that devices in the ESD protection circuit are exposed to voltages that are within their maximum voltage rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Johan Van Der Borght, Sven Van Wijmeersch, Benjamin Van Camp, Bart Sorgeloos