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TVS Diode Application Note: Surging Ideas

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134 views1 page

TVS Diode Application Note: Surging Ideas

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Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SI96-12

Surging Ideas
TVS Diode Application Note
PROTECTION PRODUCTS
ESD Protection
Reliable system design requires some form of ESD
protection. Although several types of transient protec-
tion devices are available, care must be taken when
deciding which device to use. An ill-chosen device will
not only be ineffective, but can interfere with the
normal operation of the circuit. For suppression of
transients in portable systems, the protection device
must provide the following characteristics:

l Extremely fast response time


l Low clamping and operating voltages
l Capacity to handle high peak ESD currents Figure 1 - ESD Protection Points
l Ability to remain undamaged by repetitive ESD
strikes
l Minimal size 5 data and I/O lines. As electronics continue to shrink,
l Minimal reverse leakage current available board space becomes even more of an
issue. To address this, TVS arrays in even smaller
TVS diodes are an ideal choice for board level ESD packages are also available. The SMF05 and SMF12
protection. They meet all of the above criteria and TVS arrays for example, are designed to protect four
have proven effective in the suppression of ESD lines and are housed in an extremely small SC-70
events. TVS diodes can protect even the most sensi- package.
tive semiconductor devices. For data and supply
voltages down to 5 volts, a device employing a p-n The TVS diode capacitance must be considered in
junction construction is used. For circuits operating high-speed interface applications. Excess device
below 5 volts, high leakage currents and junction capacitance can cause signal degradation or even
capacitance render conventional p-n junction technol- signal reflections. For systems employing high-speed
ogy impractical. Innovations in TVS diode design have data lines, special low capacitance devices are avail-
provided devices capable of protecting circuits operat- able such as Semtech’s LCDA and RailClamp® series.
ing below 5 volts, while adding minimal leakage current
and capacitance. Semtech’s proprietary EPD devices PC board layout is an important part of transient
are utilized for circuits operating below 5V. immunity design. This is especially critical in systems
where the threat of ESD exists. Parasitic inductance in
TVS diodes typically serve as parallel protection ele- the protection path can result in significant voltage
ments, connected between two signal lines or from line overshoot and may exceed the damage threshold of
to ground. As the transient voltage rises above the the protected IC. Recall that the voltage developed
operating voltage of the device, the TVS becomes a across an inductive load is proportional to the time
low impedance path diverting the transient current rate of change in current (V = L di/dt). An ESD induced
away from the protected device. ESD protection for transient reaches a peak in less than 1ns (per IEC
data interface ICs is recommended at the signal line 61000-4-2). Assuming a trace inductance of 20nH
interfaces and power supply lines (Figure 1). per inch and a quarter inch trace, the voltage over-
shoot will be 50 volts for a 10A pulse. All inductive
Selection of a suitable component will depend on the paths must be considered including the ground return
number of lines to be protected, the available board path, the path between the TVS and the protected
space, and the electrical characteristics of the circuit line, and the path from the connector to the TVS
to be protected. TVS diodes are available in a variety device. Additionally, The TVS device should be placed
of surface mount packages and configurations. In as close to the connector as possible to reduce tran-
portable applications where board space is at a pre- sient coupling into nearby trace. Finally, avoid running
mium, TVS arrays such as Semtech’s SMS series are critical signal lines near board edges or next to pro-
available in six-lead SOT23 packages and protect up to tected lines.
Revision 9/2000 1 www.semtech.com

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