Importance

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Abstract

In one embodiment, an integrated circuit has hot-socket circuitry to protect I/O drivers during hot-socket events. The hot-socket circuitry has (i) N-well-to-pad switcher circuitry that ties driver PMOS N-wells to pads when the pad voltages are greater than the power-supply voltage and (ii) N-well-to-power-supply switcher circuitry that ties the driver PMOS N-wells to the power supply when the pad voltages are less than the power-supply voltage. The hot-socket circuitry also has a special PMOS device connected between the pad and a gate of at least one other PMOS device in the N-well-to-power-supply switcher circuitry to turn off the N-well-to-power-supply switcher circuitry quickly whenever the pad voltage is greater than the power-supply voltage. Applying a reduced power-supply voltage level to the gate of the special PMOS device enables the hot-socket circuitry to be implemented without having to use low Vt devices and without having to implement substantially large drive strengths.

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First Claim