ESD Protection Design for Mixed-Signal/RF IC- A design perspective

ESD failure is a major concern in the electronic industry. As IC designs migrate toward the VDSM regime, On-chip ESD protection circuits pose challenging design problems particularly for mixed-signal and RF ICs, where the interactions between ESD protection networks and the circuits become critical.

This seminar starts with a review of ESD fundamentals including its origins, phenomena, operation, models, and different standards. Commonly used ESD protection structures and circuits will be discussed. Key issues on mixed-signal/RF ESD protection design, such as parasitic effects, ESD-circuit interactions, RF ESD protection measurement and evaluation techniques will be presented. Various RF ESD protection solutions will be described as well. In addition new CAD-based mixed-mode ESD simulation-design methodologies will be discussed. 

Finally research advances in full-chip ESD design verification CAD tool development are explored, and practical ESD design examples for industrial applications will be provided.li

TRAINING PROGRAM OUTLINE

Part One: ESD Theory & Design

• ESD basics;
• ESD regulations & standards;
• ESD models, testers, & measurements;
• Trends in ESD specifications;
• Device level ESD protection design;
• Circuit level ESD protection design;
• Failure analysis & failure models;
• ESD protection and latch-up.

Part Two: Advanced ESD Design

• ESD stressing vs. TLP testing;
• ESD protection simulation - traditional;
• ESD protection design for VDSM ICs;
• Whole-chip ESD solutions;
• ESD protection for mixed-signal & RF ICs;
• ESD protection design for SOI & SiGe ICs;
• ESD protection interconnect design & design rules;Predictive mixed-mode ESD protection simulation-design methodology;

• ESD-to-circuit interactions;
• ESD protection design guidelines;
• Advanced ESD design examples;
• Full-chip ESD protection circuit design verification.
• 3D electro-thermal modeling for ESD protection devices.
• CAD for whole-chip ESD protection circuit design verification.
• Practical ESD protection circuit design examples.
• Low-parasitic RF ESD protection designs.
• RF ESD protection characterization.
• ESD-RF IC co-design methodology.