Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing thermo-mechanical damage to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention use materials with superior thermo-mechanical properties, in particular, the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE), melting temperature, tensile strength and fracture toughness. The thermo-mechanical energy absorber materials are incorporated in, or replace, components of the ESD device that are susceptible to thermo-mechanical stress and cracking due to localized heating and thermal expansion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing thermo-mechanical damage to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention focus on preventing ESD protection circuit failure due to elastic waves within the materials of an integrated circuit. The elastic waves are specifically caused by very fast ESD discharge events. Disclosed are ESD protection circuits incorporating materials with superior thermo-mechanical properties, in particular, material damping, melting temperature, material stiffness, elastic modulus, tensile strength and fracture toughness. Also disclosed is the use of thermo-mechanical energy absorber material that is designed to protect ESD devices from failure due to slower ESD events.