US Patent 7551413 Transient triggered protection of IC components

One embodiment provides a system for protecting at least one component in an integrated circuit (IC). The system includes a disconnect element that is electrically connected in series between an input terminal of the IC and the at least one component. The disconnect element is configured to have a first state to electrically connect the terminal to the at least one component and a second state corresponding to a high impedance condition that electrically isolates the terminal relative to the at least one component. A control system is configured to cause the disconnect element to transition from the first state to the second state in response to a rate of change of an input signal at the terminal exceeding a predetermined rate of change.