Key aspects on ESD protection design for ICs: Mixed-mode simulation and RF/mixed-signal ESD

This paper reviews the key aspects in on-chip ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection circuitry design. The mixed-mode ESD Simulation-design methodology is discussed to address the design prediction task. New challenges in ESD protection design for RF/mixed-Signal ICs are discussed that include the complex ESD-circuit interactions, RF ESD protection characterization and hill-chip ESD protection solutions.