What does a "fork" symbol mean on this schematic:
It was taken from page 6 of a motor driver datasheet: https://docs.rs-online.com/b7d1/A700000007487180.pdf
Schematics – What Does a Fork Symbol Mean?
circuit-designintegrated-circuitmotordriverschematicssymbol [~]
Related Solutions
It is an ESD clamp, showing that the gate is ESD protected. Typically the back to back diodes are shown as Zeners. This scheme protects against positive and negative ESD hits.
In the event of a positive ESD event, the top diode is forward biased, and the bottom diode's reverse breakdown voltage will be exceeded. The ESD is shunted to the source, which is often ground.
In the event of a negative ESD event, the top diode's reverse breakdown voltage is exceeded, and the bottom diode is forward biased. The ESD is again shunted to the source.
It looks like a solder bridge. Sometimes there can be a jumper that you need to put, sometimes it is just two very close pads that you join with a blob of solder.
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Best Answer
Chassis ground. See:
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
(Illustration from Ground - Ultimate Electronics Book)