TVS Diode Array from Littelfuse Reduces Clamping Voltage up to 35% to Protect Cutting-Edge Telecommunications Chipsets

CHICAGO, June 6, 2013 – Littelfuse, Inc., the global leader in circuit protection, has introduced the SP3051-04HTG Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) Diode Array (SPA® Diode), the latest addition to the lightning surge devices in the company's TVS Diode Array line. It integrates low capacitance rail-to-rail diodes with an additional zener diode to protect I/O pins against ESD and lightning-induced surge events. This robust device can safely absorb 20A of current (t_P =8/20μs) without performance degradation and a minimum of ±30kV ESD protection. Furthermore, the low loading capacitance makes it ideal for protecting high-speed signal pins such as 1Gb Ethernet data lines.

The SP3051-04HTG offers a variety of advantages over similar devices from other manufacturers. For example, because it has lower dynamic resistance (0.3Ω) than competitive devices, the SP3051-04HTG can offer a substantially lower clamping voltage (just 10.5V vs. as high as 16.6V from other devices). It also has a much higher contact discharge ESD contact rating (30kV vs. 8kV to 20kV) than devices from other suppliers.

Typical applications of the SP3051-04HTG TVS Diode Array include protection of 10/100/1000 Ethernet (PHY side), T1/E1/T3/E3 (PHY side), USB 2.0 and FireWire ports.  These ports can be found in a wide range of equipment such as switches, gateways, pico/femtocells, LCD/PDP TVs, set-top boxes, notebooks/ultrabooks, diagnostic/medical equipment and monitors/flat panel displays.

“As IC process geometries continue to shrink Ethernet transceivers, and other high-speed buses, become more susceptible to damage due to lightning-induced transients or ESD and require a low clamping, robust, low capacitance device like the SP3051-04HTG to protect them,” said Chad Marak, product line director for TVS diode arrays. “The proliferation of Ethernet and IP communications makes this an ideal circuit protection solution for a growing list of market segments such as telecom/datacom, computing, industrial, consumer, medical and many others.”

SP3051-04HTG TVS Diode Arrays offer these key features and benefits:

Features
• Extremely low dynamic resistance (R_DYN ) of 0.3Ω
• Low capacitance from I/O to GND (3.8pF @ 0V DC bias, 1.7pF @ V_CC =5V, V_I/O =2.5V)
• Robust surge protection (Lightning, IEC61000-4-5, 20A (8/20µs); Peak pulse power, 400W (8/20µs))
• Enhanced ESD capability (IEC61000-4-2, ±30kV contact, ±30kV air)

Benefits
• Reduces clamping voltages up to 35 percent compared to competition; better able to protect modern ICs against industry-defined transients such as the IEC61000-4-5
• Capacitance up to 15 percent lower than similar market solutions; helps to preserve signal integrity by minimizing data loss in long (e.g., 100m) installations of 1Gb Ethernet
• High power and surge handling capability offers more design margin to electrical threats defined by industry standards as well as Cable Discharge Events (CDE)
• Enhanced ESD protection far exceeds the highest level of the IEC61000-4-2 standard (±8kV), ensuring maximum reliability of end products in the field

Availability
SP3051-04HTG TVS Diode Arrays are available in quantities of 3,000 in tape and reel packaging. Samples are available now for bulk orders; sample requests can be placed through authorized Littelfuse distributors worldwide. For a listing of Littelfuse distributors, please visit Littelfuse.com.

For More Information
Additional information is available on the SP3051-04HTG product page and datasheet. If you have technical questions, please contact: Chad Marak, Global Product Manager, .

About Littelfuse
Founded in 1927, Littelfuse, Inc., the worldwide leader in circuit protection, offers the industry's broadest and deepest portfolio of circuit protection products and solutions.  Littelfuse devices protect products in virtually every market that uses electrical energy, from consumer electronics to automobiles to industrial equipment.  In addition to its Chicago, Illinois, world headquarters, Littelfuse has more than 30 sales, distribution, manufacturing and engineering facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia.  Technologies offered by Littelfuse include ; ; ; ; ; ; ;  and   The company also offers a comprehensive line of highly reliable for commercial and specialty vehicles and for automobile safety systems, as well as and underground  for safe control and distribution of electricity.

For more information, please visit the Littelfuse website: .