Product category:
Circuit Protection Devices
News Release from: AVX | Subject: AntennaGuard transient voltage suppressors
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 18 January 2008
Transient voltage suppression protects
antennas
AntennaGuard varistors are suitable for protecting the FETs used in miniature RF amplifiers against ESD damage.
AntennaGuard multilayer ceramic transient voltage suppressors from AVX target RF-antenna and RF-amplifier protection These devices are zinc-oxide (ZnO) based, multilayer ceramic chips in 0402 and 0603 sizes and feature nonlinear, bi-directional voltage-current characteristics similar to back-to-back Zener diodes and an EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) capacitor in parallel
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 27 Jan 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Capacitor technology has environmental benefits
A new capacitor technology, OxiCap from AVX, offers a host of environmental advantages while delivering higher performance than other types of capacitor.
Small claims for tantalum chips
The 0402 TACmicrochip series tantalum chip capacitor is not only the smallest ever tantalum device, it also offers the highest volumetric efficiency.
Capacitance of under 3pF in 0402 chip sizes and less than 3 and 12pF in the 0603 packages as well as low insertion loss make AntennaGuard varistors suitable for protecting the FETs used in miniature RF amplifiers against ESD damage.
They are also suitable as a replacement for the output capacitors in mobile phones, pagers and wireless LANs, with the added advantage of ESD suppression.
Antenna varistors offer a high degree of ESD repetitive strike capability compared to a SOT23 diode when subjected to IEC 61000-4-2 8kV contact discharge.
By inherently replacing three devices (two zener diodes and an EMC capacitor), ZnO varistors require much less PCB real-estate.
In RF applications AntennaGuard can offer savings in component volume up to 86% and PCB footprint savings up to 83%.
In RF amplifiers it is common to employ some form of FET as they have nearly suitable input gate impedance and an outstanding noise figure.
However these FETs are using ever thinner silicon dioxide layers to improve transistor gain and decrease size, resulting in a higher susceptibility to ESD events as silicon dioxide layers thin out.
AntennaGuard varistors are suitable for protecting the FET and in addition to small size, offer superior performance to diode-based methods, including better repetitive strike capability, higher inrush current capability, faster turn on time and inherent EMI attenuation. Request a free brochure from AVX ...
• AVX: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
