TVS diodes support high-speed CAN FD autonomous driving in-vehicle communication systems

ROHM has developed bidirectional TVS diodes compatible with CAN FD high-speed in-vehicle communication. Such protocols are seeing an increased demand in line with the ongoing advancement in autonomous driving and ADAS. CAN FD is a crucial communication technology for safe, real-time data transmission between ECUs in vehicles. The new products achieve high-quality in-vehicle transmission by protecting electronic devices such as ECUs from surges and ESD while maintaining signal integrity in high-speed communication systems such as CAN FD.

The rapid evolution of autonomous driving technology and ADAS is boosting the demand for faster, more reliable automotive communication. Autonomous driving, in particular, needs quick and accurate processing of vast amounts of data from sensors such as cameras, LiDAR and radar – leading to the adoption of CAN FD that facilitates faster, higher capacity data transfer compared to traditional CAN used in automotive communication.

At the same time, to achieve high-speed in-vehicle communication, it is essential to ensure stable transmission even under harsh environments. This has led to a growing demand for protection components that provide low terminal capacitance, superior surge current rating, and clamping voltage performance. As a result, the market for TVS diodes for automotive communication is expected to continue to grow.

The company developed the ESDCANxx series to meet market needs that combine low terminal capacitance with excellent surge tolerance. Two package types are available: SOT-23 (2.9mm × 2.4mm) and DFN1010 (1mm × 1mm), both supporting standoff voltages (VRWM) of 24V and 27V. The SOT-23 package includes four models: 24V ESDCAN24HPY, ESDCAN24HXY and 27V ESDCAN27HPY, ESDCAN27HXY. Similarly, the DFN1010 package is also supplied in four models: 24V ESDCAN24YPA, ESDCAN24YXA and 27V ESDCAN27YPA, ESDCAN27YXA, totalling eight products in the lineup.

The new products feature an optimised element structure that lessens terminal capacitance to a maximum of 3.5pF, preventing signal degradation during high-speed communication. High surge tolerance is also accomplished, significantly improving the protection of electronic devices in automotive environments. For example, the 27V products of the DFN1010 package delivers approximately 3.2 times higher surge current rating and 16% lower clamping voltage compared to standard CAN FD-compatible products. This effectively safeguards expensive surge-sensitive electronic devices such as in-vehicle ECUs, ensuring high reliability even under harsh automotive environments.