Patents by Inventor James P. Di Sarro

James P. Di Sarro has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11532609
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device with fast response to high transient currents. The ESD device includes a short-pulse discharge (SPD) path and a long-pulse discharge (LPD) path. The SPD path provides robust response to ESD events, and it triggers a self-bias configuration of the LPD path. Advantageously, the SPD path reduces the risk of ESD voltage overshoot by promptly discharging short-pulse currents, such as a charge device model (CDM) current, whereas the LPD path provides efficient discharge of long-pulse currents, such as a human body model (HBM) current. In one implementation, for example, the SPD path includes a MOS transistor, and the LPD includes a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to the source of the MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATE
    Inventors: Aravind C. Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro
  • Patent number: 11139292
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is formed upon the semiconductor substrate in which the IGBT has an anode terminal, a cathode terminal, and a gate terminal, and a drift region. A diode is also formed on the semiconductor substrate and has an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, in which the anode of the diode is coupled to the anode terminal of the IGBT and the cathode of the diode is coupled to the drift region of the IGBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aravind C. Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Patent number: 11114848
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include an electrostatic discharge protection circuit including a shunt transistor coupled between first and second power supply nodes, a sensing circuit to deliver a control voltage signal to turn on the shunt transistor in response to a detected change in a voltage of the first power supply node resulting from an ESD stress event, and a charge pump circuit to boost the control voltage signal in response to the control voltage signal turning the shunt transistor on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Publication number: 20210091068
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device with fast response to high transient currents. The ESD device includes a short-pulse discharge (SPD) path and a long-pulse discharge (LPD) path. The SPD path provides robust response to ESD events, and it triggers a self-bias configuration of the LPD path. Advantageously, the SPD path reduces the risk of ESD voltage overshoot by promptly discharging short-pulse currents, such as a charge device model (CDM) current, whereas the LPD path provides efficient discharge of long-pulse currents, such as a human body model (HBM) current. In one implementation, for example, the SPD path includes a MOS transistor, and the LPD includes a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to the source of the MOS transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Aravind C. Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro
  • Patent number: 10861844
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device with fast response to high transient currents. The ESD device includes a short-pulse discharge (SPD) path and a long-pulse discharge (LPD) path. The SPD path provides robust response to ESD events, and it triggers a self-bias configuration of the LPD path. Advantageously, the SPD path reduces the risk of ESD voltage overshoot by promptly discharging short-pulse currents, such as a charge device model (CDM) current, whereas the LPD path provides efficient discharge of long-pulse currents, such as a human body model (HBM) current. In one implementation, for example, the SPD path includes a MOS transistor, and the LPD includes a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to the source of the MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aravind C. Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro
  • Patent number: 10763251
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a protected line connected to a ground line by a triggered clamp. A variable shunt, which includes a depletion mode JFET, is connected between the protected line and the ground line, in parallel with the triggered clamp. The depletion mode JFET is formed in a substrate of the semiconductor device. The channel of the depletion mode JFET provides a resistive path for the variable shunt when the semiconductor device is unpowered, to dissipate charge from the powered line after an ESD event. When the semiconductor device is operated, that is, powered up, the gate of the depletion mode JFET may be biased to turn off the channel, and so reduce impairment of operation of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Krishna Praveen Mysore Rajagopal, James P Di Sarro, Mariano Dissegna, Lihui Wang, Ann Margaret Concannon
  • Patent number: 10756078
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a CML driver including a driver biasing network. A first output pad and a second output pad are connected to a voltage pad. A first driver is connected to the first output pad and the voltage pad. A second driver is connected to the second output pad and the voltage pad. A first ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the first output pad, and the first driver. A second ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the second output pad, and the second driver. The first ESD circuit biases the first driver toward a voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the first output pad, and the second ESD circuit biases the second driver toward the voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the second output pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Nathan D. Jack, JunJun Li, Souvick Mitra
  • Publication number: 20200075584
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is formed upon the semiconductor substrate in which the IGBT has an anode terminal, a cathode terminal, and a gate terminal, and a drift region. A diode is also formed on the semiconductor substrate and has an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, in which the anode of the diode is coupled to the anode terminal of the IGBT and the cathode of the diode is coupled to the drift region of the IGBT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Aravind C. Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Patent number: 10529708
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is formed upon the semiconductor substrate in which the IGBT has an anode terminal, a cathode terminal, and a gate terminal, and a drift region. A diode is also formed on the semiconductor substrate and has an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, in which the anode of the diode is coupled to the anode terminal of the IGBT and the cathode of the diode is coupled to the drift region of the IGBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aravind C Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Publication number: 20190341773
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include an electrostatic discharge protection circuit including a shunt transistor coupled between first and second power supply nodes, a sensing circuit to deliver a control voltage signal to turn on the shunt transistor in response to a detected change in a voltage of the first power supply node resulting from an ESD stress event, and a charge pump circuit to boost the control voltage signal in response to the control voltage signal turning the shunt transistor on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Patent number: 10396550
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include an electrostatic discharge protection circuit including a shunt transistor coupled between first and second power supply nodes, a sensing circuit to deliver a control voltage signal to turn on the shunt transistor in response to a detected change in a voltage of the first power supply node resulting from an ESD stress event, and a charge pump circuit to boost the control voltage signal in response to the control voltage signal turning the shunt transistor on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Patent number: 10249610
    Abstract: In some examples, an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device comprises an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) comprising a source terminal, an anode terminal, a gate terminal, and a body terminal; and at least one reverse bias device comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal couples to the source terminal and the second terminal couples to the body terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aravind Chennimalai Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro, Krishna Praveen Mysore Rajagopal, Akram A. Salman, Muhammad Yusuf Ali
  • Publication number: 20190096874
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a protected line connected to a ground line by a triggered clamp. A variable shunt, which includes a depletion mode JFET, is connected between the protected line and the ground line, in parallel with the triggered clamp. The depletion mode JFET is formed in a substrate of the semiconductor device. The channel of the depletion mode JFET provides a resistive path for the variable shunt when the semiconductor device is unpowered, to dissipate charge from the powered line after an ESD event. When the semiconductor device is operated, that is, powered up, the gate of the depletion mode JFET may be biased to turn off the channel, and so reduce impairment of operation of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Krishna Praveen Mysore Rajagopal, James P. Di Sarro, Mariano Dissegna, Lihui Wang, Ann Margaret Concannon
  • Publication number: 20190043854
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device with fast response to high transient currents. The ESD device includes a short-pulse discharge (SPD) path and a long-pulse discharge (LPD) path. The SPD path provides robust response to ESD events, and it triggers a self-bias configuration of the LPD path. Advantageously, the SPD path reduces the risk of ESD voltage overshoot by promptly discharging short-pulse currents, such as a charge device model (CDM) current, whereas the LPD path provides efficient discharge of long-pulse currents, such as a human body model (HBM) current. In one implementation, for example, the SPD path includes a MOS transistor, and the LPD includes a bipolar transistor having a base coupled to the source of the MOS transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Aravind C. Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro
  • Patent number: 10181463
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a CML driver including a driver biasing network. A first output pad and a second output pad are connected to a voltage pad. A first driver is connected to the first output pad and the voltage pad. A second driver is connected to the second output pad and the voltage pad. A first ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the first output pad, and the first driver. A second ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the second output pad, and the second driver. The first ESD circuit biases the first driver toward a voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the first output pad, and the second ESD circuit biases the second driver toward the voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the second output pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Robert J. Gauthier, Nathan D. Jack, JunJun Li, Souvick Mitra
  • Publication number: 20180182755
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is formed upon the semiconductor substrate in which the IGBT has an anode terminal, a cathode terminal, and a gate terminal, and a drift region. A diode is also formed on the s5emiconductor substrate and has an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, in which the anode of the diode is coupled to the anode terminal of the IGBT and the cathode of the diode is coupled to the drift region of the IGBT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Aravind C Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Publication number: 20180097357
    Abstract: Disclosed examples include an electrostatic discharge protection circuit including a shunt transistor coupled between first and second power supply nodes, a sensing circuit to deliver a control voltage signal to turn on the shunt transistor in response to a detected change in a voltage of the first power supply node resulting from an ESD stress event, and a charge pump circuit to boost the control voltage signal in response to the control voltage signal turning the shunt transistor on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Patent number: 9905558
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is formed upon the semiconductor substrate in which the IGBT has an anode terminal, a cathode terminal, and a gate terminal, and a drift region. A diode is also formed on the semiconductor substrate and has an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, in which the anode of the diode is coupled to the anode terminal of the IGBT and the cathode of the diode is coupled to the drift region of the IGBT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aravind C Appaswamy, James P. Di Sarro, Farzan Farbiz
  • Publication number: 20170133839
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a CML driver including a driver biasing network. A first output pad and a second output pad are connected to a voltage pad. A first driver is connected to the first output pad and the voltage pad. A second driver is connected to the second output pad and the voltage pad. A first ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the first output pad, and the first driver. A second ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the second output pad, and the second driver. The first ESD circuit biases the first driver toward a voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the first output pad, and the second ESD circuit biases the second driver toward the voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the second output pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Robert J. Gauthier, JR., Nathan D. Jack, JunJun Li, Souvick Mitra
  • Patent number: 9620497
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having a CML driver including a driver biasing network. A first output pad and a second output pad are connected to a voltage pad. A first driver is connected to the first output pad and the voltage pad. A second driver is connected to the second output pad and the voltage pad. A first ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the first output pad, and the first driver. A second ESD circuit is connected to the voltage pad, the second output pad, and the second driver. The first ESD circuit biases the first driver toward a voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the first output pad, and the second ESD circuit biases the second driver toward the voltage of the voltage pad when an ESD event occurs at the second output pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Di Sarro, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Nathan D. Jack, JunJun Li, Souvick Mitra