The high frequency performance characteristics of integrated circuits (ICs)
can be severely degraded by the addition of electrostatic discharge (ESD)
protection networks on input or output pins. However, without protection ne
tworks ICs can be extremely sensitive to ESD. This paper will present a rev
iew of a number of techniques that have been used to protect ICs without si
gnificantly degrading their AC operating performance. Experimental results
showing improved ESD performance are included for some of these techniques.
Although the emphasis of the paper will be on silicon based circuits, III-
V compounds will also be addressed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ
ts reserved.