TVS, AVX, StaticGuard

Multilayer ceramic transient voltage suppressors target ESD protection for CMOS, Bipolar and SiGe devices

News Release from: AVX
14/02/2008

StaticGuard multilayer ceramic transient voltage suppressors from AVX Corporation, a leading manufacturer of advanced passive components, are designed to address ESD protection for CMOS, Bi-polar and SiGe based devices. The voltage suppressors meet 15 kV ESD pulse (air discharge) per IEC 1000-4-2, Level 4, generating less than 20 millijoules of energy. It is particularly important to protect ICs against ESD as the typical failure voltage for CMOS and Bi-polar is under 200 V.

The zinc-oxide (ZnO) based, multilayer ceramic StaticGuard devices are varistors that feature non-linear, bi-directional voltage-current characteristics similar to back-to-back Zener diodes and an EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) capacitor in parallel. By effectively integrating this functionality into a single device the varistors require significantly less PCB real-estate. They also have the added advantage of greater current and energy handling capabilities as well as EMI/RFI attenuation.

StaticGuard specifications include a DC working voltage of less than 18 V, AC working voltage of under 14 V, clamping voltage of 50 V, versions with capacitances of 40, 50, 80 and 200 pF, peak current rating of 15 A for the VC04LC18V500 and 30 A for the others, an axial leaded device and SMD case sizes of 0402, 0603, 0805, and 1206.

Low capacitance makes these devices ideal for high-speed data transmission, while low leakage current of 10 µA maximum ensures that battery operated equipment maximize battery performance.