Abstract: A manufacturing method of an electronic device includes: forming a drift layer of an N type; forming a trench in the drift layer; forming an edge-termination structure alongside the trench by implanting dopant species of a P type; and forming a depression region between the trench and the edge-termination structure by digging the drift layer. The steps of forming the depression region and the trench are carried out at the same time. The step of forming the depression region comprises patterning the drift layer to form a structural connection with the edge-termination structure having a first slope, and the step of forming the trench comprises etching the drift layer to define side walls of the trench, which have a second slope steeper than the first slope.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a source region and a drain region located in the substrate; a gate structure located in the substrate between the source region and the drain region; an insulating layer located between the gate structure and the drain region; a plurality of field plates located on the insulating layer, wherein the field plate closest to the gate structure is electrically connected to the source region; a first well region located in the substrate; a body contact region located in the first well region, wherein the body contact region is electrically connected to the source region and the field plate closest to the gate structure; and a first doped drift region located in the substrate, wherein the gate structure is located between the first well region and the first doped drift region, and the drain region is located in the first doped drift region.

Abstract: Capacitor cells are provided. A first PMOS transistor is coupled between a power supply and a first node, and has a gate connected to a second node. A first NMOS transistor is coupled between a ground and the second node, and has a gate connected to the first node. A second PMOS transistor is coupled between the second node and the power supply, and has a gate connected to the second node. A second NMOS transistor is coupled between the first node and the ground, a gate connected to the first node, and has a gate connected to the first node. Sources of the first and second PMOS transistors share a P+ doped region in N-type well region, and the first PMOS transistor is disposed between the second PMOS transistor and the first and second NMOS transistors.

Abstract: Embedded antennas in integrated circuits, and methods of making and using the same, are provided herein. An integrated circuit within a semiconductor die may include a control circuit; an antenna configured to wirelessly receive a control signal at a predefined frequency; and an interconnect configured to provide the received control signal from the antenna to the control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control a function of the integrated circuit responsive to the received control signal.

Abstract: A capacitor cell is provided. A first PMOS transistor is coupled between a power supply and a first node, and has a gate connected to a second node. A first NMOS transistor is coupled between a ground and the second node, and has a gate connected to the first node. A second PMOS transistor is coupled between the second node and the first node, and has a gate connected to the second node. A second NMOS transistor has a drain connected to the first node, a gate connected to the first node, and a source connected to the ground or the second node. The first and second PMOS transistors and the first and second NMOS transistors are arranged in the same row. The second PMOS transistor is disposed between the first PMOS transistor and the first and second NMOS transistors.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first lower wiring line on the substrate, a first insulation layer on the first lower wiring line, a first dielectric barrier layer and a first etch stop layer sequentially stacked on the first insulation layer, a second insulation layer on the first etch stop layer, a first upper wiring line extending through the second insulation layer, the first etch stop layer, and the first dielectric barrier layer, and a first conductive via in the first insulation layer and electrically connecting the first lower wiring line and the first upper wiring line. An upper surface of the first conductive via protrudes above a lower surface of the first upper wiring line.

Abstract: Various implementations enable management of parasitic capacitance and voltage handling of stacked integrated electronic devices. Some implementations include a radio frequency switch arrangement having a ground plane, a stack and a first solder bump. The stack is arranged in relation to the ground plane, and includes switching elements coupled in series with one another, and a first end of the stack includes a respective terminal of a first one of the plurality of switching elements. The first solder bump is coupled to the respective terminal of the first one of the plurality of switching elements such that at least a portion of the first solder bump overlaps with one or more of the plurality of switching elements, an overlap dimension set in relation to a first threshold value in order to set a respective contribution to a parasitic capacitance of the radio frequency switch arrangement.

Abstract: In some examples, an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device includes a substrate layer, a transition layer positioned on the substrate layer, a plurality of superlattice layers on the transition layer and including at least two doped superlattice layers. The ESD device further includes a plurality of doped contact structures extending from the transition layer to a surface of an outermost layer of the plurality of superlattice layers, where a first of the plurality of doped contact structures comprises an anode and a second of the plurality of doped contact structures comprises a cathode, where the plurality of doped contact structures are to generate a zero capacitance ESD device.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for transmitting die state information between a plurality of dies are described. An example apparatus includes: a plurality of dies, wherein each die of the plurality of dies includes a first through electrode and a second through electrode; a first path including the first electrodes of the plurality of dies in series; and a second path including the first electrodes of the plurality of dies in series. The first path transmits first internal state information related to a first state of at least one die of the plurality of dies. The second path transmits second internal state information related to a second state of at least one die of the plurality of dies.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first diode having a cathode connected to a first terminal, a second diode having a cathode connected to a second terminal and an anode connected to an anode of the first diode, a third diode having an anode connected to the first terminal and the cathode of the first diode, a fourth diode having an anode connected to the second terminal and the anode of the second diode and a cathode connected to a cathode of the third diode, and a fifth diode having an anode connected to the anode of the first diode and the anode of the second diode and a cathode connected to the cathode of the third diode and the fourth diode. A breakdown voltage of the fifth diode is lower than the breakdown voltages of the first diode, the second diode, the third diode, and the fourth diode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device configured with one or more integrated breakdown protection diodes in non-isolated power transistor devices and electronic apparatus, and methods for fabricating the devices.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for transmitting die state information between a plurality of dies are described. An example apparatus includes: a plurality of dies, wherein each die of the plurality of dies includes a first through electrode and a second through electrode; a first path including the first electrodes of the plurality of dies in series; and a second path including the first electrodes of the plurality of dies in series. The first path transmits first internal state information related to a first state of at least one die of the plurality of dies. The second path transmits second internal state information related to a second state of at least one die of the plurality of dies.

Abstract: A high-voltage MOS transistor includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate, a gate on the gate oxide layer, a spacer covering a sidewall of the gate, a source on one side of the gate, and a drain on the other side of the gate. The gate includes at least a first discrete segment and a second discrete segment. The first discrete segment is not in direct contact with the second discrete segment. The spacer fills into a gap between the first discrete segment and the second discrete segment.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a LDMOS device in a well region of a semiconductor substrate, including: forming a body region and a source layer in the well region through a window of a polysilicon layer above the well region, wherein the body region has a deeper junction depth than the source layer; forming spacers at side walls of the polysilicon layer; and etching through the source layer through a window shaped by the spacers, wherein the source layer under the spacers is protected from etching, and is defined as source regions of the LDMOS device.

Abstract: A display panel is provided. The display panel has an active area and a border area out of the active area. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels, a first gate driver portion, a plurality of scan lines and a multiplexer portion. The pixels are located in the active area. The first gate driver portion is located in the border area. The scan lines are located in the active area, and connected to the first gate driver portion. The multiplexer portion is located in the border area. The multiplexer portion and the first gate driver portion at least partially overlap along a direction parallel to one of the plurality of scan lines.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass substrate to control the fragmentation characteristics by etching and filling trenches in the glass substrate is disclosed. An etching pattern may be determined. The etching pattern may outline where trenches will be etched into a surface of the glass substrate. The etching pattern may be configured so that the glass substrate, when fractured, has a smaller fragmentation size than chemically strengthened glass that has not been etched. A mask may be created in accordance with the etching pattern, and the mask may be applied to a surface of the glass substrate. The surface of the glass substrate may then be etched to create trenches. A filler material may be deposited into the trenches.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device comprising: a first conductivity type base layer having a MOS gate structure formed on its front surface side; a second conductivity type first collector layer formed on a rear surface side of the base layer; a second conductivity type second collector layer formed on a rear surface side of the first collector layer with a material the same with that of the base layer, the second collector layer formed to be thinner than the first collector layer and having a higher impurity concentration than that of the first collector layer; a collector electrode formed on a rear surface side of the second collector layer; and a second conductivity type separation layer surrounding the MOS gate structure on a front surface side of the base layer and formed from a front surface of the base layer to a front surface of the first collector layer.

Abstract: In order to reduce the cost and the like of a power control device including a semiconductor device such as a driver IC, as well as an electronic system, the driver IC includes a high side driver, a level shift circuit, first and second transistors, and a comparator circuit. The first transistor is formed in a termination area. The second transistor is formed in the termination region and is driven by a first power supply voltage. The comparator circuit is formed in a first region to drive the first transistor to be ON when the voltage of a sense node is lower than the first power supply voltage, while driving the first transistor to be OFF when the voltage of the sense node is higher than the first power supply voltage. The second transistor is a depression type transistor.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods thereof are provided. The semiconductor devices include: a substrate, the substrate including a p-type well adjoining an n-type well; a first p-type region and a first n-type region disposed within the n-type well of the substrate, where the first p-type region at least partially encircles the first n-type region; and a second p-type region and a second n-type region disposed in the p-type well of the substrate, where the second n-type region at least partially encircles the second p-type region. In one embodiment, the first p-type region fully encircles the first n-type region and the second n-type region fully encircles the second p-type region. In another embodiment, the semiconductor device may be a bipolar junction transistor or a rectifier.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a gate structure formed in the interlayer insulating layer, an isolation layer formed in the semiconductor substrate, a through-silicon via formed to penetrate the semiconductor substrate, the interlayer insulating layer, and the isolation layer, and a first conduction type first impurity region coming in contact with the isolation layer and formed to surround only a portion of a sidewall of the through-silicon via in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An MV-PMOS and MV-NMOS configuring a high side drive circuit are formed in an n-type isolation region formed on a p-type semiconductor substrate. The MV-NMOS is connected to a p-type isolation region of an intermediate potential in the interior of the n-type isolation region. An n-type epitaxial region is provided in a surface layer of the p-type semiconductor substrate on the outer side of the n-type isolation region, and a p-type GND region of a ground potential (GND) is provided on the outer side of the n-type epitaxial region. A cavity is provided between the p-type semiconductor substrate and n-type epitaxial region between the high side drive circuit and p-type GND region, and a p-type diffusion region is provided penetrating the n-type epitaxial region and reaching the cavity. The intermediate potential is applied to the p-type isolation region.

Abstract: Provided are an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device having a high-resistance region and a method of forming the same. The device includes a well on a substrate. A first impurity region is formed on the well and connected to an input/output pad. A second impurity region is formed on the well, spaced apart from the first impurity region, and connected to a ground (Vss). A third impurity region is formed on the well, spaced apart from the first impurity region, and connected to the ground (Vss). An isolation layer is formed between the first impurity region and the second impurity region. A high-resistance region, which directly contacts the first impurity region and the well and has a resistance higher than the first impurity region, is formed between the first impurity region and the isolation layer. The well and the third impurity region include first conductive type impurities.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming multiple active components, such as bipolar transistors, MOSFETs, diodes, etc., on a semiconductor substrate so that active components with higher operation voltage may be formed on a common substrate with a lower operation voltage device and incorporating the existing proven process flow of making the lower operation voltage active components. The present invention is further directed to a method for forming a device of increasing operation voltage over an existing device of same functionality by adding a few steps in the early manufacturing process of the existing device therefore without drastically affecting the device performance.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a miniature passive structure for electrostatic discharge protection and input/output matching for a high frequency integrated circuit may be provided. The structure may include: either a transmission line or an inductor for providing at least one electrostatic discharge path; and a capacitor with a first end connected to the transmission line or inductor and a second end connected to ground.

Abstract: The present invention is a finFET type semiconductor device using LDMOS features. The device includes a first portion of a substrate doped with a second doping type and has a first trench, second trench, and first fin. The second portion of the substrate with a first doping type includes a third trench and second fin. The second fin between the second and third trench covers a part the first portion and a part of the second portion of the substrate. A first segment of the second fin is between the second segment and second trench. A second segment covers a part of the second portion of the substrate and is between the first segment and third trench. A gate covering at least a part of the first segment and a part of the first portion and a part of the second portion of the substrate.

Abstract: Described herein is a protective structure. The protective structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first diode disposed at least one of in or on the semiconductor substrate and a diode arrangement disposed at least one of in or on the semiconductor substrate. The diode arrangement includes a stack of a second diode and a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diode connected in series with the second diode. The diode arrangement is in parallel with the first diode.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device which increases a concentration around an emitter by arranging a lightly doped region (HNMLDD). When the semiconductor device is operated in a forward bias, a maximum common-emitter current gain is obtained in a forward-active region, such that signals are amplified and an unnecessary noise is decreased at the same time. Further, the semiconductor device of the invention further includes a field plate disposed on a substrate between the emitter and a base or/and the collector and the base, and configured to change a potential distribution of junctions between each of doped regions and raise a breakdown voltage of the junctions.

Abstract: An avalance diode including, between two heavily-doped regions of opposite conductivity types arranged at the surface of a semiconductor region, a lightly-doped region, with length L of the lightly-doped region between the heavily-doped regions approximately ranging between 50 and 200 nm.

Abstract: A trench MOSFET is disclosed that includes a semiconductor substrate having a vertically oriented trench containing a gate. The trench MOSFET further includes a source, a drain, and a conductive element. The conductive element, like the gate is contained in the trench, and extends between the gate and a bottom of the trench. The conductive element is electrically isolated from the source, the gate, and the drain. When employed in a device such as a DC-DC converter, the trench MOSFET may reduce power losses and electrical and electromagnetic noise.

Abstract: A semiconductor includes an N-type impurity region provided in a substrate. A P-type RESURF layer is provided at a top face of the substrate in the N-type impurity region. A P-well has an impurity concentration higher than that of the P-type RESURF layer, and makes contact with the P-type RESURF layer at the top face of the substrate in the N-type impurity region. A first high-voltage-side plate is electrically connected to the N-type impurity region, and a low-voltage-side plate is electrically connected to a P-type impurity region. A lower field plate is capable of generating a lower capacitive coupling with the substrate. An upper field plate is located at a position farther from the substrate than the lower field plate, and is capable of generating an upper capacitive coupling with the lower field plate whose capacitance is greater than the capacitance of the lower capacitive coupling.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ESD structures. A semiconductor device includes a first active area containing an ESD cell coupled to a first terminal and disposed in a well; a second active area in the semiconductor substrate, the second active area comprising a first diffusion of the first conductivity type for making a bulk contact to the well; and a third active area in the semiconductor substrate, separated from the first and second active areas by another isolation region, a portion of the third active area comprising an implant diffusion of the first conductivity type within a first diffusion of the second conductivity type and adjacent a boundary with the well of the first conductivity type; wherein the third active area comprises a diode coupled to the terminal and reverse biased with respect to the well of the first conductivity type.

Abstract: A block power switch may be embedded with electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuitry. A transistor portion of the block power switch may be allocated to act as part of ESD protection circuitry and may be combined with an RC clamp to provide ESD protection. Adaptive body biasing (ABB) may be applied to the block power switch to reduce on-chip area and decrease leakage current of the block power switch.

Abstract: To prevent damage on an element even when a voltage high enough to break the element is input. A semiconductor device of the invention operates with a first voltage and includes a protection circuit which changes the value of the first voltage when the absolute value of the first voltage is higher than a reference value. The protection circuit includes: a control signal generation circuit generating a second voltage based on the first voltage and outputting the generated second voltage; and a voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit includes a transistor which has a source, a drain, and a gate, and which is turned on or off depending on the second voltage input to the gate and thus controls whether the value of the first voltage is changed based on the amount of current flowing between the source and the drain. The transistor also includes an oxide semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with buried word line structures and methods of forming the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of insulating line patterns extending in a direction in a substrate, a plurality of word lines alternately with ones of the plurality of insulating line patterns, the plurality of word lines extending in the direction and comprising a metal, a plurality of first doped regions on respective ones of the plurality of the word lines and between two adjacent ones of the plurality of insulating line patterns, an interlayer insulating film on the plurality of insulating line patterns and the plurality of first doped regions, the interlayer insulating film including a plurality of openings exposing upper surfaces of ones of the plurality of first doped regions and a plurality of second doped regions contacting respective ones of the plurality of first doped regions within the openings.

Abstract: Transistors having a dielectric over a semiconductor, a control gate over the dielectric at a particular level, and one or more conductive structures over the dielectric at the particular level facilitate control of device characteristics of the transistor. The one or more conductive structures are between the control gate and at least one source/drain region of the transistor. The one or more conductive structures are electrically isolated from the control gate.

Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a body layer of a first conductivity type; an active layer of a second conductivity type, contacting an upper portion of the body layer; and a field limiting ring of a first conductivity type, formed in an upper portion of the active layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are guard ring structures with an electrically insulated gap in a substrate to reduce or eliminate device coupling of integrated circuit chips, methods of manufacture and design structures. The method includes forming a guard ring structure comprising a plurality of metal layers within dielectric layers. The method further includes forming diffusion regions to electrically insulate a gap in a substrate formed by segmented portions of the guard ring structure.

Abstract: Superjunction semiconductor devices having narrow surface layout of terminal structures and methods of manufacturing the devices are provided. The narrow surface layout of terminal structures is achieved, in part, by connecting a source electrode to a body contact region within a semiconductor substrate at a body contact interface comprising at least a first side of the body contact region other than a portion of a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor cell array in the semiconductor body of a first conductivity type. The semiconductor device further includes a first trench in the transistor cell array between transistor cells. The first trench extends into the semiconductor body from a first side and includes a pn junction diode electrically coupled to the semiconductor body at a sidewall.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer includes circuit integration regions each incorporating an integrated circuit and guard rings disposed to surround the circuit integration regions, respectively. A scribe region disposed between every adjacent two of the guard rings. An element and a pad electrically connected to the element are disposed in the scribe region. A groove is disposed along a corresponding guard ring on a front surface of the semiconductor wafer between the pad and the corresponding guard ring. The distance between the groove and the pad is varied along the corresponding guard ring.

Abstract: An A-NPC circuit is configured so that the intermediate potential of two connected IGBTs is clamped by a bidirectional switch including two RB-IGBTs. Control is applied to the turn-on di/dt of the IGBTs during the reverse recovery of the RB-IGBTs. The carrier life time of an n? drift region in each RB-IGBT constituting the bidirectional switch is comparatively longer than that in a typical NPT structure device. A low life time region is also provided in the interface between the n? drift region and a p collector region, and extends between the n? drift region and the p collector region. Thus, it is possible to provide a low-loss semiconductor device, a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device and a method for controlling the semiconductor device, in which the reverse recovery loss is reduced while the reverse recovery current peak and the jump voltage peak during reverse recovery are suppressed.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a high voltage semiconductor device and the associated methods of manufacturing. In one embodiment, the high voltage semiconductor device comprises: an epitaxial layer, a first low voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer; a second low voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer; a high voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer, wherein the second low voltage well is surrounded by the high voltage well; a first highly doping region formed in the first low voltage well; a second highly doping region and a third highly doping region formed in the second low voltage well, wherein the third highly doping region is adjacent to the second highly doping region; a field oxide formed in the epitaxial layer as a shallow-trench isolation structure; and a gate region formed on the epitaxial layer.

Abstract: The invention enhances resistance to a surge in a semiconductor device having a semiconductor die mounted on a lead frame. An N type embedded layer, an epitaxial layer and a P type semiconductor layer are disposed on the front surface of a P type semiconductor substrate forming an IC die. A metal thin film is disposed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a conductive paste containing silver particles and so on is disposed between the metal thin film and a metal island. When a surge is applied to a pad electrode disposed on the front surface of the semiconductor layer, the surge current flowing from the semiconductor layer into the semiconductor substrate runs toward the metal island through the metal thin film.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a normal region, a carrier supplying region, and an interface current blocking region. The interface current blocking region surrounds the normal region and the carrier supplying region. The interface current blocking region and the carrier supplying region include impurities. The carrier supplying region has a conductivity type allowing the carrier supplying region to serve as a source of carriers supplied to or a destination of carriers supplied from a carrier layer generated at an interface between the nitride semiconductor layer and the semiconductor substrate. The interface current blocking region has a conductivity type allowing the interface current blocking region to serve as a potential barrier to the carriers.

Abstract: The semiconductor device has insulating films 40, 42 formed over a substrate 10; an interconnection 58 buried in at least a surface side of the insulating films 40, 42; insulating films 60, 62 formed on the insulating film 42 and including a hole-shaped via-hole 60 and a groove-shaped via-hole 66a having a pattern bent at a right angle; and buried conductors 70, 72a buried in the hole-shaped via-hole 60 and the groove-shaped via-hole 66a. A groove-shaped via-hole 66a is formed to have a width which is smaller than a width of the hole-shaped via-hole 66. Defective filling of the buried conductor and the cracking of the inter-layer insulating film can be prevented. Steps on the conductor plug can be reduced. Accordingly, defective contact with the upper interconnection layer and the problems taking place in forming films can be prevented.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus having a bootstrap-type driver circuit includes a cavity for a SON structure formed below a bootstrap diode Db, and a p-type floating region formed in a n? epitaxial layer between a bootstrap diode Db and a p-type GND region at the ground potential (GND). The p-type floating region extends to the cavity for suppressing the leakage current caused by the holes flowing to the p? substrate in charging an externally attached bootstrap capacitor C1. The semiconductor apparatus which includes a bootstrap-type driver circuit facilitates suppressing the leakage current caused by the holes flowing to the p? substrate, when the bootstrap diode is biased in forward.

Abstract: An insulating layer, an undoped first GaN layer and an AlGaN layer are laminated in this order on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A surface barrier layer formed by a two-dimensional electron gas is provided in an interface between the first GaN layer and the AlGaN layer. A recess (first recess) which reaches the first GaN layer but does not pierce the first GaN layer is formed in a surface layer of the AlGaN layer. A first high withstand voltage transistor and a control circuit are formed integrally on the aforementioned semiconductor substrate. The first high withstand voltage transistor is formed in the first recess and on a surface of the AlGaN layer. The control circuit includes an n-channel MOSFET formed in part of the first recess, and a depression type n-channel MOSFET formed on a surface of the AlGaN layer.

Abstract: To prevent damage on an element even when a voltage high enough to break the element is input. A semiconductor device of the invention operates with a first voltage and includes a protection circuit which changes the value of the first voltage when the absolute value of the first voltage is higher than a reference value. The protection circuit includes: a control signal generation circuit generating a second voltage based on the first voltage and outputting the generated second voltage; and a voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit includes a transistor which has a source, a drain, and a gate, and which is turned on or off depending on the second voltage input to the gate and thus controls whether the value of the first voltage is changed based on the amount of current flowing between the source and the drain. The transistor also includes an oxide semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure with dispersedly arranged active region trenches is provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate, an epitaxial layer, and an active region dielectric layer. The semiconductor substrate is doped with impurities of a first conductive type having a first impurity concentration. The epitaxial layer is doped with impurities of the first conductive type having a second impurity concentration and is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The epitaxial layer has a plurality of active region trenches formed therein being arranged in a dispersed manner. The active region dielectric layer covers a bottom and a sidewall of the active region trenches. Wherein, the active region trench has an opening in a tetragonal shape on a surface of the epitaxial layer, and the first impurity concentration is greater than the second impurity concentration.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit connecting to an input pad is configured to dissipate an ESD current. The circuit has a substrate of a first conductivity type, a first well of a second conductivity type in the substrate, and a second well of the first conductivity type in the first well. The circuit further has a diode device having a first end of the first conductivity type electrically coupled to the input pad and a second end of the second conductivity type in the second well. Moreover, the protection circuit has a first doped region of the second conductivity type in the first well electrically connecting to the input pad, and a second doped region of the first conductivity type in the substrate electrically coupled to the ground. The circuit also has a channel formed between the input pad and the second doped region to provide an ESD current discharge.