Microsemi Polymer ESD Transient Protection to be used in Mercedes SClass
SANTA ANA, Calif.--Feb. 28, 2001--| -- | Low capacitance renders devices invisible in RF application |
| -- | Production orders received to protect in-car mobile information receiver |
Microsemi Corp. today announced that it has received initial production orders for its advanced polymer-based ESD protection devices.
The company announced in early February that the high-speed products designed to protect RF integrated circuits were capable of reaching speeds of 9GHz without oscillation rendering them virtually invisible during normal circuit operation. The initial orders for the product are to be used by an unnamed manufacturer who is providing RF transceiver modules to Daimler Chrysler for use in the new Mercedes S-Class.
"The applications for this innovative product are far reaching," stated Mick McKeighan, vice president and general manager of the Transient Protection Products group at Microsemi. "With one of the smallest and fastest ESD protection devices on the market we are refining our ability to reapply our system engineered approach. We look initially at the end circuit function - we provide solutions that can be applied across multiple end markets. In this case we protect high speed RF integrated circuits from the environmental threats of ESD without impeding the device performance and eliminating potentially damaging oscillation effects at higher frequencies."
Installed from signal line to ground, Microsemi's polymer TVS devices (TVSF0805 and TVSF1206) exhibit high impedance and low capacitance that make them transparent to high-speed digital circuits. Signals are not distorted nor disrupted and waveform definition stays true and high-speed signals do not suffer. The polymer protection products which offer extremely low (0.2pF) capacitance ratings, were specifically designed to protect sensitive electronic circuits from the threat of electrostatic discharge. Only one device is required to provide complete ESD protection, regardless of the surge polarity. This new approach to ESD protection is expected to decrease system cost without impeding RF circuit performance.
"Our ability to leverage intellectual property and `know-how' across multiple market segments is a key element of Microsemi's competitive differentiation strategy -- we are not in love with any one particular market," commented Manuel Lynch, vice president of marketing and business development. "These initial orders for products used in wireless information systems coupled together with our ongoing production orders for power PIN diode antenna switches and our many wins in automotive LCD backlight circuits is creating an excellent opportunity for us to emerge as a major semiconductor system solution player in the next mobile information market - the automobile."
The company has now received orders for the Polymer-based ESD transient protection devices to protect high-speed 10Gbit/sec InGaAs/InP PIN Photodetectors in Optical Transponders as well as 2.4GHz RF Transceiver modules in next-generation automotive mobile information dashboard clusters.
Transient Protection Offering
Microsemi is one the leading suppliers of transient protection solutions. The company offers the broadest and one the most advanced line of products to serve multiple end markets. The transient protection product family encompasses Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), Electrical Fast Transients (EFT) and Lightning Protection solutions.
Microsemi offers silicon- and polymer-based devices in axial lead, surface mount, modules, arrays, and has been supplying flip chip solutions to end applications for more than five years. Circuit solutions range from aircraft fuel tank protection, xDSL tripolar IC protection, implantable pacemaker protection, wireless LAN (802.11 a/b) IC protection, USB port protection and Set Top box protection to name a few.
