Date: 25/05/2021

Space saving TVS devices for automotives deliver high performance

To ensure you follow safety protocol in designing automotive electronics, designers need to plug in a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) device at both power and data cable interfaces. Too big and too many components in automotive products make them heavy and complex. In order to make them light and smaller engineers try to use passive and other discrete devices which are as small as they can be. To meet this requirement, leading discrete semiconductor maker STMicroelectronics has made available new miniaturised TVS device family ESDCAN03-2BM3Y with low capacitance to protect CAN and CAN-FD interfaces.

ESDCAN03-2BM3Y measures 1.1mm x 1.0mm in footprint dimensions and meet automotive industry’s need for highly miniaturized and high-performing protection devices for the increasing numbers of high-density ECUs (Electronic Control Units) such as ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), autonomous driving controllers, and automotive gateways. ST says this device helps designers to save 75% or more of the PCB space needed by conventional TVS in SOT23-3L and SOT323-3L packages.

ST Claims ESDCAN03-2BM3Y delivers outstanding transient protection with clamping voltage as low as 33V (8/20µs at 1A) and 37V (transmission-line pulse (TLP) at 16A). Passing ISO 16750-2 jump-start and reversed-battery tests, the device is also marked as extremely robust, withstanding 15kV ESD contact discharge (ISO 10605) and, with 3.3A peak pulse rating, able to handle strong current surges.

With line capacitance of 3.3pF, this TVS is suggested for use to protect high-speed and high-data-rate buses such as FlexRay and USB. Printed circuit board designers can also leverage this minimal capacitance in laying out signal paths with extra margins.

With maximum junction temperature rating of 175°C, these devices can be placed in extreme hot places such as engine compartment with severe mission profiles. Low leakage current of 50nA at 24V helps in reducing battery drain when the vehicle is turned off.

ESDCAN03-2BM3Y TVS is in production now in the leadless DFN1110 package, which has wettable flanks that facilitate high-speed automatic optical inspection after soldering to fulfil high quality-assurance targets. Prices start at $0.044 for orders of 1000 pieces.

For further information visit www.st.com/esdcan03-2bm3y