824551201 Circuit Protection

TVS – Diodes (82455120 Application Field and Working Principle)

TVS – Diodes are high performance devices that provide protection against overvoltage conditions such as lightning strike, static discharge, and other transient events. They are also known as Transient Voltage Suppressors (TVS), Spark Gap Protection Devices (SGPDs), and line discharge units (LDUs).

TVS – Diodes are used in the protection of sensitive electronic equipment, from the more common applications such as voltage spikes that result from power line transients or electrostatic discharge (ESD), to the more esoteric protection from lightning strikes and even electromagnetic pulse protection (EMP).The components provide a higher level of protection than can be accomplished with external passive components such as capacitors or inductors—all with a much smaller foot-print and faster response time.

Working Principle of TVS – Diodes

TVS – Diodes operate by providing a low-resistance path for a surge current, and then providing a regulated voltage across the diode body, limiting the voltage across the protected circuit. The diode has two basic functions, as a voltage clamp and as an overvoltage limiting device. In the case of a voltage clamp, the diode is designed to stay switched on until the surge voltage exceeds its clamping voltage. When this happens, the diode “trips” and the voltage is clamped at a level which causes a low resistive path to be created and the current flows to the ground, thus limiting the voltage across the protected circuit.

In the case of an overvoltage limiting diode, the diode is designed to switch on only when the voltage across it reaches a pre-determined value. This triggers a regulated voltage across the diode body, which limits the voltage in the protected circuit, preventing potential damage from occurring. In either case, the device has fast switching times which effectively limits the transients.

Application Fields of TVS – Diodes

TVS Diodes are used in a variety of applications in both consumer and industrial fields. These devices are commonly used to provide surge protection for sensitive electronic equipment, helping to protect against voltage spikes and other transient events. In consumer applications, TVS Diodes are found in personal computers, audio/video equipment, and even portable and handheld devices such as cell phones, digital cameras, and portable game consoles. In industrial fields, TVS Diodes are commonly used in power and control systems, and telecommunications.

In addition to providing surge protection, TVS Diodes can also be used to protect against electromagnetic interference (EMI), providing a low-impedance path for the EMI current. This helps to reduce the amount of noise that can be introduced to the circuit, providing better protection of the sensitive electronic components. Finally, TVS Diodes can also be used as a switch or voltage regulator, providing a low-impedance path in order to maintain a constant voltage while still providing protection against transient events.

Conclusion

TVS – Diodes are a high performance packaged device used to protect sensitive electronic equipment from voltage overshoot and other transient events. They are designed to quickly provide a low-resistance path for the surge current, and then provide a regulated voltage across the diode body, limiting the voltage across the protected circuit. TVS – Diodes are commonly used in consumer and industrial applications, providing surge protection or EMI protection, as well as a switch or voltage regulator.