Protection of analog reference and bias voltage inputs

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A latchup and electrostatic discharge protection circuit for an analog reference or bias voltage power supply input connected between an input power providing terminal of the power supply and a power rail of a CMOS integrated circuit having a parasitic latch device. The protection circuit comprised of three field effect transistors close-circuits a path from the power supply input to the power rail for normal power supply conditions and open-circuits the path for excessively positive and negative voltages at the power supply input thereby, safeguarding the CMOS integrated circuit from currents resulting from the excessive positive and negative voltages.