Philips introduces new series of Electro Static Discharge protection diodes

New ESD devices for high speed, high frequency applications save up to 90% board space

Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today announced a new series of Electro Static Discharge (ESD) protection diodes designed to protect consumer and communications applications from ESD and other voltage induced transient pulses. With very low diode capacitance, ultra low leakage current and reverse stand voltages of 3.3V and 5.0V – all in ultra-small packages – the new ESD protection diodes provide designers of space-constrained applications an excellent option for protection of electrical equipment both at the system and component level.

Semiconductors are becoming smaller, denser and more complex, particularly in space-critical applications such as portable devices, which increases the semiconductors’ susceptibility to ESD pulses. With the ultra small package dimensions and integration of several protection diodes per device, Philips’ new ESD diode series is well suited for these space-critical applications, ranging from cellular handsets and accessories to computers and peripherals and audio / video equipment. Philips’ ESD protection diodes are designed to protect up to seven transmission or data lines from the damage caused by ESD pulses.

“With the introduction of the new ESD series of protection diodes, Philips is providing customers with superior ESD protection performance for all ESD sensitive applications by consuming minimum PCB space,” said Rochus Kraehe, application support manager for small-signal diodes at Philips Semiconductors. “We continue to drive innovation in the discrete diode arena while delivering products that meet our customers’ size and performance needs.”

In high-speed data rate or high frequency applications too much protection device parasitic capacitance causes unintentional signal attenuation. Offering a low device capacitance down to 16 pF, Philips’ new devices are ideal for ESD protection in these applications. The devices are also ideal for applications such as battery driven devices where power consumption is a key concern. With an ultra low leakage current down to 50 nA, the devices help lower overall power consumption in these applications.

Two new parts in the series – the  PESD3V3L2UM and  PESD5V0L2UM – are the first ESD protection devices on the market in the new leadless ultra small SOT883 surface mount package. The device footprint is 1.0 x 0.6 x 0.5 mm, providing customers with printed circuit board savings of 90% compared to the SOT23 package traditionally used for ESD protection diodes. The new series of diodes can withstand ESD pulses up to 20 kV and fulfills industry standard IEC 61000-4-2 (level 4), thus providing customers superior ESD protection performance.

Availability

The new ESD series of low capacitance diodes are available now in a range of configurations and packages:

• Double ESD protection diodes ( PESD3V3L2UM /  PESD5V0L2UM) in leadless ultra small SOT883
• Quad ESD protection arrays ( PESD3V3L4UW /  PESD5V0L4UW / PESD3V3L4UG / PESD5V0L4UG) in compact SOT665 and SC-88A packages
• 5-fold ESD protection arrays (PESD3V3L5UV / PESD5V0L5UV / PESD3V3L5UY / PESD5V0L5UY) in ultra small SOT666 and SC-88 packages
• 6-fold and 7-fold ESD protection array PESD5V0L6US / PESD5V0L7BS in the SO8 package

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 31.8 billion in 2002. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 166,500 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.semiconductors.philips.com.