A system for protecting a weak device operating in micro-electronic
circuit and a design structure including the system embodied in a machine
readable medium are disclosed. The system includes a high voltage power
supply from high voltage overstressing prevents the weak device from
failing during power-up, power-down, and when a low voltage power supply
in a multiple power supply system is absent. The system further includes
a low voltage power supply detection circuit configured to detect circuit
power-up, circuit power-down, and when the low voltage power supply is
absent, and generate a control signal upon detection. The system further
includes a controlled current mirror device configured to provide a
trickle current to maintain a conduction channel in the weak device in
response to the control signal received from the low voltage power supply
detection circuit during circuit power-up, circuit power-down, and when
the low voltage power supply is absent.