Protection against electrostatic discharges is to be improved for electronic devices, or is to be provided in the first place. The device for protection against electrostatic discharges having an integrated semiconductor protection device comprises an inner region (1) configured at least as a thyristor (SCR) and at least one outer region (2a, 2b) configured as a corner region, which is formed and configured at least as a PNP transistor. The inner region (1) and the at least one outer region (2a, 2b) are arranged adjacent to one another.

Provided are a neuromorphic device and a neuromorphic circuit using the neuromorphic device. The neuromorphic device is configured to include a first semiconductor region formed on a substrate in a wall shape or a dumbbell shape; first, second, third, and fourth doped regions sequentially formed in the first semiconductor region; first and second gate insulating film stacks disposed on the respective side surfaces of the second doped region; first and second gate electrodes respectively disposed on the respective side surfaces of the second doped region; the first and second gate electrodes disposed on the respective side surface of the second doped region, the first and second gate electrodes being electrically insulated from the second doped, region by the first and second gate insulating film stacks; and first and second electrodes electrically connected to the first and fourth doped regions, respectively.

Provided are a neuromorphic device and a neuromorphic circuit using the neuromorphic device. The neuromorphic device is configured to include a first semiconductor region formed on a substrate in a wall shape or a dumbbell shape; first, second, third, and fourth doped regions sequentially formed in the first semiconductor region; first and second gate insulating film stacks disposed on the respective side surfaces of the second doped region; first and second gate electrodes respectively disposed on the respective side surfaces of the second doped region; the first and second gate electrodes disposed on the respective side surface of the second doped region, the first and second gate electrodes being electrically insulated from the second doped, region by the first and second gate insulating film stacks; and first and second electrodes electrically connected to the first and fourth doped regions, respectively.

An insulated gate turn-off (IGTO) device has a PNPN layered structure so that vertical NPN and PNP transistors are formed. Trench gates are formed extending into the intermediate P-layer. The device is formed of an array of cells. A P-channel MOSFET, having a trenched gate, is formed in some of the cells. The control terminal of the IGTO device is connected to the insulated gates of all cells, including to the gate of the P-channel MOSFET, and to the intermediate P-layer. To turn the device on, a positive voltage is applied to the control terminal to turn on the NPN transistor by forward biasing its base-emitter. To turn off the IGTO device, a negative voltage is applied to the control terminal to turn on the P-channel MOSFET to short the NPN base to its emitter.

An insulated gate turn-off (IGTO) device has a PNPN layered structure so that vertical NPN and PNP transistors are formed. Trench gates are formed extending into the intermediate P-layer. The device is formed of an array of cells. A P-channel MOSFET, having a trenched gate, is formed in some of the cells. The control terminal of the IGTO device is connected to the insulated gates of all cells, including to the gate of the P-channel MOSFET, and to the intermediate P-layer. To turn the device on, a positive voltage is applied to the control terminal to turn on the NPN transistor by forward biasing its base-emitter. To turn off the IGTO device, a negative voltage is applied to the control terminal to turn on the P-channel MOSFET to short the NPN base to its emitter.

An apparatus includes: a first SCR device having a first source terminal coupled to a signal terminal, a first body terminal coupled to the first source terminal, a first gate terminal coupled to the signal terminal, and a first drain terminal; a second SCR device having a second drain terminal coupled to the first drain terminal, a second gate terminal coupled to a reference voltage terminal; and a second source terminal coupled to the reference voltage terminal. The apparatus also includes: a third SCR device having a third source terminal coupled to the signal terminal, a third gate terminal coupled to the first gate terminal, and a third drain terminal; a first capacitor coupled between the third drain terminal and the second gate terminal; and a second capacitor coupled between the second gate terminal and the reference voltage terminal.

An apparatus includes: a first SCR device having a first source terminal coupled to a signal terminal, a first body terminal coupled to the first source terminal, a first gate terminal coupled to the signal terminal, and a first drain terminal; a second SCR device having a second drain terminal coupled to the first drain terminal, a second gate terminal coupled to a reference voltage terminal; and a second source terminal coupled to the reference voltage terminal. The apparatus also includes: a third SCR device having a third source terminal coupled to the signal terminal, a third gate terminal coupled to the first gate terminal, and a third drain terminal; a first capacitor coupled between the third drain terminal and the second gate terminal; and a second capacitor coupled between the second gate terminal and the reference voltage terminal.

A thyristor device that can include a disc-shaped device comprising a semiconductor material forming alternating p-n-p-n type layers. The device can include a gate area extending from an external gate lead contact point to a plurality of thyristor units connected in parallel. Each thyristor unit can include at least one exposed pB layer portion to form at least one plural point to which gate current can be directed. Further, an insulator layer can be formed over the gate area to insulate at least a portion of the gate electrode from the pB layer so that displacement current can be directed to short dots and then to the plural points. Current entering each thyristor unit can generate a turned-on area at each thyristor unit that spreads throughout the thyristor device.

A thyristor device that can include a disc-shaped device comprising a semiconductor material forming alternating p-n-p-n type layers. The device can include a gate area extending from an external gate lead contact point to a plurality of thyristor units connected in parallel. Each thyristor unit can include at least one exposed pB layer portion to form at least one plural point to which gate current can be directed. Further, an insulator layer can be formed over the gate area to insulate at least a portion of the gate electrode from the pB layer so that displacement current can be directed to short dots and then to the plural points. Current entering each thyristor unit can generate a turned-on area at each thyristor unit that spreads throughout the thyristor device.

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device for protecting an input/output terminal of a circuit, the device comprising a first transistor with an integrated silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) coupled between the input/output (I/O) terminal of the circuit and a node and a second transistor with an integrated silicon-controlled rectifier coupled between the node and a negative terminal of a supply voltage, wherein the silicon-controlled rectifier of the first transistor triggers in response to a negative ESD voltage and the silicon-controlled rectifier of the second transistor triggers in response to a positive ESD voltage.