Patents Assigned to SOFIC
  • Publication number: 20130200493
    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: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Sofics BVBA
    Inventor: Sofics BVBA
  • Publication number: 20130163128
    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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Sofics BVBA
    Inventor: Sofics BVBA
  • Publication number: 20130115569
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for mixing a first injectable liquid pharmaceutical composition and a second injectable composition within an injection device, said injection device including: ·a generally cylindrical shell in which a cartridge is lodged or a generally cylindrical barrel, ·at one first end of the generally cylindrical barrel or the generally cylindrical shell, a plunger, the plunger being mounted on the barrel or shell, ·at a second end opposite the first end of the generally cylindrical barrel or the generally cylindrical shell, is provided a needle assembly support member, on which may be mounted a needle assembly, said needle assembly comprising means to be mounted on the needle support member, and further comprising: -at least one hollow cannula for transportation of liquid from the barrel or cartridge to the body of the patient; -and at least one hub surrounding part of the cannula and attached to cannula; said hub possibly including a hollow part; characterized in that the first inje
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: SOFIC (STÉ FRANÇAISE D'INSTRUMENTS DE CHIRURGIE)
    Inventors: Gregory Lambert, Jurgen Wollbold, Christophe Combes
  • Patent number: 8283698
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting an integrated circuit (IC) having a first voltage potential, a first power supply potential and a second power supply potential. The ESD circuit includes a first NPN bipolar transistor having a first N-doped junction, a second N-doped junction and a third P-doped base junction. The first N-doped junction is coupled to the first voltage potential and the second N-doped junction is coupled to the first power supply potential. The ESD circuit also includes a first PNP bipolar transistor having a first P-doped junction, a second P-doped junction and a third N-doped base junction. The first P-doped junction is coupled to the first voltage potential and the second P-doped junction is coupled to the second power supply potential. The third P-doped base junction of the first NPN bipolar transistor is coupled to the third N-doped base junction of the first PNP bipolar transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Sorgeloos, Benjamin Van Camp
  • Patent number: 8247839
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit including an SCR having at least one PNP transistor and at least one NPN transistor such that at least one of the PNP transistor and the NPN transistor having an additional second collector. The circuit further including at least one control circuit coupled to the at least one second collector to control holding voltage of the SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventor: Sven Van Wijmeersch
  • Patent number: 8164869
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ESD protection device having at least one diode in a well of a first conductivity type formed in a substrate of a second conductivity type. The circuit further includes a guard-band of the first conductivity surrounding at least a portion of the diode, thus forming an NPN transistor between the diode cathode, the substrate and the guard-band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Benjamin Van Camp, Geert Wybo, Stefaan Verleye
  • Patent number: 8143700
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit with a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) having a plurality of SCR fingers (SCRs) with the advantages to couple the different fingers or SCRs to decrease the multi-triggering problem and to increase the ESD-performance of the circuit. Additionally, a boost circuit can be introduced or additionally multiple SCRs can be coupled inherent through a common base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Pieter Vanysacker, Benjamin Van Camp, Olivier Marichal, Wybo Geert, Steven Thijs, Gerd Vermont
  • Patent number: 7986502
    Abstract: An ESD protection circuit including an SCR having at least a PNP transistor and at least a NPN transistor such that said PNP transistor is coupled to an anode and the NPN transistor is coupled to a cathode. The circuit also includes a first resistor coupled between the anode and the base of the pnp transistor and a second resistor coupled between the cathode and the base of the npn transistor. A parasitic distributed bipolar transistor is formed between said first and second transistor to control triggering of the SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventor: Bart Sorgeloos
  • Patent number: 7973334
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ESD device to reduce the total triggering current without increasing the overshoot voltage. This is achieved by localizing the triggering current, such that the local current density remains high enough to trigger the ESD device. This localized triggering provides a fast and efficient triggering of the ESD device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Stefaan Verleye, Geert Wybo, Benjamin Van Camp
  • Patent number: 7763940
    Abstract: An electronic device having an LV-well element trigger structure that reduces the effective snapback trigger voltage in MOS drivers or ESD protection devices. A reduced triggering voltage facilitates multi-finger turn-on and thus uniform current flow and/or helps to avoid competitive triggering issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Markus Paul Josef Mergens, Bart Keppens, Koen Verhaege, John Armer, Cong Son Trinh
  • Patent number: 7672100
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ESD protection circuitry in a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) having protected circuitry to prevent false triggering of the ESD clamp. The circuitry includes an SCR as an ESD clamp having an anode adapted for coupling to a first voltage source, and a cathode adapted for coupling to a second voltage source. The circuitry also includes at least one noise current buffer (NCB) coupled between at least one of a first trigger tap of the SCR and the first voltage source such that the first trigger tap of the SCR is coupled to a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventor: Benjamin Van Camp
  • Patent number: 7589944
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit in a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) having protected circuitry. In one embodiment, the ESD protection circuit includes a pad adapted for connection to a first voltage source of a protected circuit node of the IC, and a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) having an anode adapted for coupling to the first voltage source, and a cathode adapted for coupling to a second voltage source. At least one capacitive turn-on device respectively coupled between at least one of a first gate of the SCR and the first voltage source, and a second gate of the SCR and the second voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sofics BVBA
    Inventors: Markus Paul Josef Mergens, Cornelius Christian Russ, John Armer, Koen Gerard Maria Verhaege
  • Patent number: 6595978
    Abstract: The invention concerns a disposable injection syringe, in particular in the field of dentistry, comprising: a syringe body provided with a needle at one first end thereof, the needle comprising an external part extending outside the body and an internal part extending inside the body, the needle forming an end external to the body and an end internal to the body; means for grasping the syringe body, at a second end thereof opposite the first end; a mobile injection rod; a cartridge containing a product to be injected, arranged inside the body between the needle internal end and the body second end in an inoperative position, the cartridge capable of being moved from the inoperative position towards the body first end under the injecting rod pressure; elastic means for automatically returning the cartridge towards the inoperative position when the pressure on the injecting rod is released, to cause a depression in the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: SOFIC
    Inventor: Patrick Granier