Nexperia ESD protection diodes for USB4 and Thunderbolt
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Nexperia has introduced a series of five 1 V protection diodes designed for AC-coupled RF transmission lines, aimed at safeguarding USB4® and Thunderbolt™ interfaces from electrostatic discharge (ESD), surge currents, and short-circuit conditions. With data rates beyond 10 GHz, these ESD protection diodes address the increasing challenge of preserving signal integrity while delivering robust ESD protection.
For eeNews Europe readers developing high-speed interface designs, these diodes offer a tailored approach to balancing RF performance and ESD robustness, particularly where PCB layout constraints can affect both protection levels and transmission quality.
Optimised for different PCB layouts
Examples in the new series include the PESD1V0C1BSF and PESD1V0H1BSF, which Nexperia says can be matched to specific PCB trace lengths and configurations. According to Stefan Seider, senior product manager at Nexperia, “With this new series of protection diodes, Nexperia provides designers with the flexibility to select the device that is most appropriate to their specific board layout and thereby offering the highest level of protection.” He added that the company can supply RF and SEED (system-efficient ESD design) simulation models to help with optimisation.
Shorter PCB traces between the transceiver IC and the protection device can lower parasitic inductance but may reduce overall ESD robustness. Conversely, longer traces reduce clamping issues but can introduce signal degradation. By offering multiple device options with varying parameters, Nexperia aims to give designers the ability to fine-tune their protection strategy without sacrificing RF performance.
High ESD robustness with minimal insertion loss
The diodes protect against ESD events up to ±18 kV and offer surge robustness up to 9.6 A. Their ultra-low capacitance, down to 0.1 pF, minimises insertion loss (as low as –0.21 dB at 12.8 GHz) and avoids resonances up to 40 GHz.
Devices are housed in the DSN0603-2 (SOD962-2) leadless package, designed for ultra-low inductance. This makes them suitable for portable devices, communication systems, computing peripherals, and other applications where both board space and signal fidelity are critical.
More information is available on the Nexperia product page.
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