Offering extremely low clamping bidirectional ESD protection devices for USB4

Nexperia offers two PESD5V0R1BxSF extremely low clamping and capacitance bidirectional ESD protection diodes. Based on its TrEOS technology with active silicon-controlled rectification, the devices secure optimal signal integrity for USB4TM (up to 2 x 20Gbps) data lines on laptops and peripherals, smartphones and other portable electronic equipment.

“Since there are tight budgets on insertion loss and return loss for the USB4 Super Speed lines, Nexperia supports design engineers by offering devices that minimise the impact of ESD protection on the total budget,” says Stefan Seider, senior product manager at Nexperia. “By providing these two device options, engineers can balance between ESD voltage clamping (that is protection level) and RF performance.”

The PESD5V0R1BDSF is optimised for low clamping and provides remarkably low insertion loss figures of ‑0.28dB at 10GHz and similarly low return loss figures of ‑19dB at 10GHz. The PESD5V0R1BCSF, on the other hand, is optimised for RF performance with insertion loss data of -0.25dB and return loss data of -19.4dB at 10GHz each. This makes it excellent for applications with further limited budgets for insertion loss and return loss.

Both devices are contained in the ultra-low inductance DSN0603-2 (SOD962-2) leadless package, with a standard 0.6mm x 0.3mm footprint and 0.3mm profile, with return-loss optimised solder pads. For USB4, it is mandatory to have AC-coupling capacitors also for the receiver (Rx) inputs. The voltage rating VRWM of the devices (>2.8V) enables them to be placed immediately behind the connector, which is the favoured position to incorporate these capacitors in the protection and to deliver the best system-level ESD performance. This voltage rating makes them backwards compatible with all standards that connect over USB Type-C. Together with USB4, this includes USB 3.2, the older USB3.x, as well as Thunderbolt and HDMI2.1 (in HDMI Alt Mode) data lines, with HDMI2.1 data rates being supported up to 48Gbps (4 x 12) and Thunderbolt up to 40Gbps (2 x 20). At the same time, TrEOS technology provides very low ESD voltage clamping to protect sensitive transceivers.