US Patent 7420789 ESD protection system for multi-power domain circuitry

The invention discloses an integrated circuit that includes a first device in a first power domain; a second device in a second power domain; and an electrostatic discharge (ESD) bus coupled to the first and second devices for providing a current path to dissipate an ESD current during an ESD event occurring at the first or second device. The ESD bus is disposed across the first and second power domains without having a diode module interposed therebetween, thereby preventing the ESD current from flowing through the first and second devices.