Abstract: A SiGe ESD (electrostatic discharge) power clamp circuit having a forward biased trigger device fabricated in a given technology and a clamp transistor preferably comprising a high frequency cutoff SiGe npn transistor, wherein the trigger device has a turn-on voltage which is below the Johnson Limit breakdown voltage of the highest frequency device fabricated in the given technology.

Abstract: A resistor device structure and method of manufacture therefore, wherein the resistor device structure invention includes a plurality of alternating conductive film and insulative film layers, at least two of the conductive film layers being electrically connected in parallel to provide for high current flow through the resistor device at high frequencies with increased temperature and mechanical stability. The alternating conductive film and insulative film layers may be of a planar or non-planar geometric spatial orientation. The alternating conductive film and insulative film layers may include lateral and vertical portions designed to enable a uniform current density flow within the structure itself through a self-ballasting effect within the physical resistor.

Abstract: A diode structure that facilitates tuning the breakdown voltage of the diode structure, and a method for forming and operating the diode structure. In a P? substrate, a N+ layer is implanted. The N+ layer has an opening whose size affects the breakdown voltage of the diode structure. Upon the N+ layer, an N? layer is implanted in the substrate. Then, a P+ region is formed to serve as an anode of the diode structure. An N+ region can be formed on the surface of the substrate to serve as a cathode of the diode structure. By changing the size of the opening in the N+ layer during fabrication, the breakdown voltage of the diode structure can be changed (tuned) to a desired value.

Abstract: Tolerance to ESD is increased in an electronic fuse by providing at least one non-conductive region adjacent to a conductive region on the surface of an insulator. Such an arrangement reduces the thermal stresses imposed on the insulator in high current applications. Where multiple conductive and adjacent non-conductive regions are disposed on an insulator, the fuse can fail in discrete steps, thus providing a well defined and easily detected transisition to a blown state, as well as providing a stepwise increase in resistance between prescribed resistance values.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure, a trigger device and a method of electrostatic discharge protection, the integrated circuit structure including: a substrate having a top surface defining a horizontal direction, the substrate of a first dopant type; a first horizontal layer in the substrate, the first layer of a second dopant type; and a second horizontal layer of the first dopant type, the second layer on top of the first layer and between the top surface of the substrate and the first layer, the second layer electrically modulated by the first layer.

Abstract: Tolerance to ESD is increased in an electronic fuse by providing at least one non-conductive region adjacent to a conductive region on the surface of an insulator. Such an arrangement reduces the thermal stresses imposed on the insulator in high current applications. Where multiple conductive and adjacent non-conductive regions are disposed on an insulator, the fuse can fail in discrete steps, thus providing a well defined and easily detected transisition to a blown state, as well as providing a stepwise increase in resistance between prescribed resistance values.

Abstract: Tolerance to ESD is increased in an electronic fuse by providing at least one non-conductive region adjacent to a conductive region on the surface of an insulator. Such an arrangement reduces the thermal stresses imposed on the insulator in high current applications. Where multiple conductive and adjacent non-conductive regions are disposed on an insulator, the fuse can fail in discrete steps, thus providing a well defined and easily detected transisition to a blown state, as well as providing a stepwise increase in resistance between prescribed resistance values.

Abstract: A structure, apparatus and method for circuits to minimize sensitivity to latch. The method includes, for example, identifying element density of at least one functional circuit block and element attributes of elements associated with the at least one functional circuit block. An element density function parameterized from the element attributes is formed. The placement of the at least one functional circuit block is modified relative to other functional circuit blocks based on the element density function to substantially eliminate latching effects in a circuit.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for designing, verification and checking of the electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuits and their implementation in a integrated computer chip design where the computer chip comprises of electronic circuits designed in a parameterized cell design system, pads, interconnects and the ESD system uses a hierarchical system of parameterized cells (p-cells) which are constructed into higher level ESD networks. Lowest order p-cells pass user defined parameters to higher order p-cells to form an ESD protection circuit meeting design criteria. Ones of the p-cells are “grow-able” such that they can form repetition groups of the underlying p-cell element to accommodate the design parameters. Layout and circuit schematics are auto-generated with the user varying the number of elements in the circuit by adjusting the input parameters. The circuit topology automation allows for the customer to auto generate new ESD circuits and ESD power clamps without additional design work.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection network that uses triple well semiconductor devices either singularly or in a series configuration. The semiconductor devices are preferably in diode junction type configuration.

Abstract: A silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor device and method comprises a semiconductor region, and a diffusion region in the semiconductor region, wherein the diffusion region is boron-doped, wherein the semiconductor region comprises a carbon dopant therein to minimize boron diffusion, and wherein a combination of an amount of the dopant, an amount of the boron, and a size of the semiconductor region are such that the diffusion region has a sheet resistance of less than approximately 4 Kohms/cm2. Also, the diffusion region is boron-doped at a concentration of 1×1020/cm3 to 1×1021/cm3. Additionally, the semiconductor region comprises 5-25% germanium and 0-3% carbon. By adding carbon to the semiconductor region, the device achieves an electrostatic discharge robustness, which further causes a tighter distribution of a power-to-failure of the device, and increases a critical thickness and reduces the thermal strain of the semiconductor region.