Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protective apparatus for a semiconductor circuit has at least one ESD protective element, which is connected between the substrate contact and a ground potential connection, and is electrically connected to the substrate contact. The ESD protective element may be in the form of an ESD protective diode or an ESD protective transistor. It is also possible to connect a resistor or an ESD protective transistor between the substrate contact and the ground potential connection as an ESD protective element, and additionally to connect an ESD protective diode or an ESD protective transistor between the substrate contact and a supply voltage potential connection.

Abstract: A method for determining an ESD/latch-up strength of an integrated circuit includes producing an integrated circuit and a test structure using the same fabrication process. Electrical parameters at the test structure are measured and characteristic values associated with the integrated circuit are derived from the measured parameter values, wherein the characteristic values characterize an ESD or latch-up characteristic curve associated with the integrated circuit. The method further includes testing whether the characteristic values in each case lie within a predetermined range assigned to them, wherein the ranges are chosen such that a desired ESD/latch-up strength is present if the characteristic values in each case lie within their range.

Abstract: A method for determining an ESD/latch-up strength of an integrated circuit includes producing an integrated circuit and a test structure using the same fabrication process. Electrical parameters at the test structure are measured and characteristic values associated with the integrated circuit are derived from the measured parameter values, wherein the characteristic values characterize an ESD or latch-up characteristic curve associated with the integrated circuit. The method further includes testing whether the characteristic values in each case lie within a predetermined range assigned to them, wherein the ranges are chosen such that a desired ESD/latch-up strength is present if the characteristic values in each case lie within their range.