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When to use a transient voltage suppressor diode?
Transient voltage suppressor diodes are very popular devices used to instantaneously clamp transient voltages (e.g., ESD events) to safe levels before they can damage a circuit.
What are the devices used to suppress transients?
Devices Used to Suppress Transients 1 Zener Diodes. A Zener diode is a specially designed diode that has a reduced breakdown voltage called the Zener voltage. 2 Avalanche Diode. Avalanche diodes, like Zener diodes, are designed to break down and conduct very high currents at a specific reverse-bias voltage. 3 PolySwitch.
When does the TVS diode go away what happens?
When the normal voltage exceed to a certain level, the TVS diode junction avalanches and as the result overvoltage is diverted from the protected circuit and shunted through the TVS diode. The device automatically resets when the overvoltage goes away.
What causes transient voltage suppresison in a circuit?
Transients can be caused by internal or external connections in a circuit. For example, transients can be generated internally due to inductive load switching or faulty contacts in switches, and connectors. Externally it can generate due to lightning strikes or inductive switching.
How is transient voltage suppression used in cars?
As modern vehicles include more and more data communications, the use of automotive-qualified TVS devices for networking standards such as CAN, FlexRay and LIN is increasing. These networks are used to carry safety-critical communications between automotive modules. These signals may be interrupted by noise at a lower energy than transient surges.
Why are transient voltages important in integrated circuits?
Transient voltages are an ever-present threat to sensitive integrated circuits, and in automotive applications they are unavoidable. The TVS is the right component, in many cases, to provide protection against surges, spikes and transients.