Protection for electrostatically

Apparatus and methods for protecting devices such as micro-switches (100) and micro-relays from adverse effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD). A protection device is provided that includes a two terminal switch (102, 104) that can be actuated by an ESD event to protect an EDS-sensitive micro-swit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors ZAVRACKY PAUL M, MCGRUER NICOL E
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.07.2004
Edition7
Subjects
BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS
CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
ELECTRIC SWITCHES
ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
ELECTRICITY
EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
GENERATION
MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
PRINTED CIRCUITS
RELAYS
SELECTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
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Summary:Apparatus and methods for protecting devices such as micro-switches (100) and micro-relays from adverse effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD). A protection device is provided that includes a two terminal switch (102, 104) that can be actuated by an ESD event to protect an EDS-sensitive micro-switch or micro-relay from potential malfunction and/or damage. The two terminal switch is configured to close in less time than the micro-switch or micro-relay it is protecting, thereby disipating the energy associated with the ESD event without causing damage to the micro-relays which are provided with increased immunity to the adverse effects of ESD events. The micro-switch includes respective drain/gate terminal pairs at respective ends of the device. The micro-relay includes at least two drain terminals (106) and a gate terminal (102) at respective ends of the device. The micro-switch and micro-relay are configured to be less sensitive to ESD events by using the gate terminal (104) at one end of the device to latch that end of the device down, thereby increasing the gate or drain voltage required to generate a threshold electric field to pull the other end of the device down.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20030220910