OPA623 Datasheet, PDF (4/15 Pages) Burr-Brown (TI) – Wide Bandwidth, Current-Feedback OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER

INPUT PROTECTION
The need for protection from static damage has long been
recognized for MOSFET devices, but all semiconductor
devices deserve protection form this potentially damaging
source. The OPA623 incorporates on-chip ESD protection
diodes as shown in Figure 1. These diodes eliminate the
need for external protection diodes, which can add capaci-
tance and degrade AC performance.
As shown, all input pins of the OPA623 are internally
protected from ESD by a pair of back-to-back reverse-biased
diodes to either power supply. These diodes begin to con-
duct when the input voltage exceeds either power supply by
about 0.7V. This situation can occur when the amplifier
loses its power supplies while a signal source is still present.
The diodes can typically withstand a continuous current of
30mA without destruction. To ensure long-term reliability,
however, the diode current should be limited externally to
approximately 10mA whenever possible.
The internal protection diodes are designed to withstand
2.5kV (using the Human Body Model) and will provide
adequate ESD protection for most normal handling proce-
dures. However, static damage can cause subtle changes in
the amplifier input characteristics without necessarily de-
stroying the device. In precision amplifiers, such changes
may degrade offset and drift noticeably. For this reason,
static protection is strongly recommended when handling
the OPA623.
+V_CC
ESD Protection diodes internally
connected to all pins.
External
Pin
–V_CC
FIGURE 1. Internal ESD Protection.
Internal
Circuitry
®
OPA623
4