New Industry Products

AEC-Q200 Multilayer Varistors with Low Clamping-to-Working-Voltage Ratios

October 12, 2019 by Paul Shepard

AVX Corporation has released a new series of automotive-qualified multilayer varistors (MLVs) especially designed to exhibit lower breakdown- and clamping-voltage to working-voltage ratios than other standard varistors.

The new VLAS Series Low-Clamp TransGuard® Automotive MLVs combine bi-directional overvoltage circuit protection and broadband EMI/RFI filtering functions in a single, space-saving, surface-mount device that is qualified to AEC-Q200. These devices provide very low clamping-to-working-voltage ratios that were previously only achievable with transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes.

This allows the new VLAS Series MLVs to extend the multifunctional advantages of varistor technology to sensitive automotive, industrial, and general electronics applications that require tighter clamping voltage performance for enhanced overvoltage protection, as well as the extreme optimization of physical space, including infotainment systems, engine control units, microcontrollers, and displays.

The series also exhibits high current- and energy-handling capabilities, very fast, sub-nanosecond (<1nS) response times to ESD strikes, multiple-strike capabilities, high energy absorption (i.e., load dump), low leakage, and excellent solderability. These devices are operate from -55°C to 125°C  with no current or energy derating.

In addition, the VLAS series can provide significant space savings when used to replace TVS diode and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) capacitor pairings.

Devices is currently available in four chip sizes (0603, 0805, 1206, and 1210) rated for 16Vdc working voltages, 35Vdc maximum (30Vdc typical) clamping voltages, 0.1- to 1.6-J energy ratings, 0.7- to 3-J load dump energy, 50- to 500-A peak current ratings, and 400- to 5,000-pF capacitance.

“AVX’s new VLAS Series Low-Clamp TransGuard Automotive Multilayer Varistors extend the multifunctional, space-saving, and high-reliability performance advantages of varistor technology to applications that require very tight clamping-to-working-voltage ratios, including automotive and industrial systems that need to be protected from overvoltage in order to prevent damage and downtime and to ensure the safety of operators and passengers,” said Jiri Machanicek, product marketing manager for circuit protection at AVX.

“The new VLAS Series MLVs provide TVS protection in their on-state and broadband EMI/RFI filtering in their off-state, don’t require any current or energy derating over the entire rated operating temperature range, and have a compact form factor that satisfies increasingly common cross-market demands for lightweight, space-saving components,” added Machanicek.

The new VLAS Series Low-Clamp MLVs also have RoHS-compliant nickel-barrier-over-pure-tin (Ni/Sn) terminations compatible with lead-free solder processes and are compliant with the ESD performance requirements defined in the AEC-Q200, IEC 61000-4-2, and ISO 10605 standards.

They are supplied in tape-and-reel packaging for compatibility with automated pick-and-place machinery, are available on 7” or 13” reels in quantities of 1,000, 4,000, and 10,000 pieces, and have a moisture sensitivity level of one (MSL 1), which mitigates common concerns about packaging, storage, and the timing of mounting and reflow processes. Lead-time for the series is currently 14 weeks.