General Purpose ESD Protection

In the fast-paced world of technology, few companies have demonstrated the staying power and adaptive innovation of Semtech. For over 65 years, Semtech has continually evolved—transforming from a discrete component manufacturer to a global leader in connectivity, protection and analog solutions that power our interconnected world. 

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the concept of smart buildings has moved from futuristic vision to present reality. Connected spaces are revolutionizing how we interact with our built environment, offering unprecedented levels of efficiency, comfort and sustainability. Let's explore how technologies are driving this transformation. 

In modern telecommunications and industrial automation systems, equipment is frequently deployed in challenging environments, exposing it to voltage transients that can originate from sources such as motor switching, power line fluctuations, indirect lightning strikes, electrostatic buildup, and human-induced Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)) events. These transients pose significant risks, ranging from data corruption to catastrophic system failures, leading to costly downtime and repairs. As industrial and telecom systems become increasingly interconnected, safeguarding sensitive electronics from ESD and other transient voltage events is crucial. Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) diodes provide a robust first line of defense by rapidly diverting excess energy to ground, as illustrated in Figure 1, with sub-nanosecond response times to clamp voltage spikes and protect critical components.