JAN1N6168A Circuit Protection

The JAN1N6168A is a surface mount uni-directional transil diode that is designed to protect voltage sensitive components such as CMOS integrated circuits from transients induced by electrostatic discharge (ESD). It is commonly used in automotive applications such as airbags, powertrain and power supply lines as well as general industrial electronics.

The JAN1N6168A is part of the TVS, (Transient Voltage Suppressor) diode family, which are mainly used to protect electronic components and circuits from over-voltage transients. TVS diodes absorb and dissipate the energy from the transient and limit the voltage applied to the protected device to a safe level to ensure component safety.

The JAN1N6168A is a uni-directional device, meaning that it can only protect a circuit from voltage pulses coming in one direction through the diode. It can absorb spikes up to 600W peak and it can temporarily store energy up to 4J. It has an ultrasmall body size of 0.6x0.4mm, and its high working frequency is suitable for applications up to 1.1GHz.

The working principle of the JAN1N6168A is simple. When the diode is subjected to a transient, or in other words to an over-voltage, it starts to conduct. This triggers the Avalanche Breakdown process which can absorb much more energy than the device can handle in normal operating conditions. The Avalanche Breakdown process is an avalanche multiplication effect that occurs in the diode when it is subjected to an electric field that is strong enough in the junction region of the diode to cause a large number of electrons to break down the barrier and start conducting current.

Once the avalanche breakdown process is triggered, the diode conducts a large current, which limits the voltage applied to the protected device to a safe level. This has the effect of limiting the rise time of the voltage, and as a result the energy of the transient is dissipated instead of being transmitted to the protected device. This ensures the safety of the device and the circuit.

The JAN1N6168A is widely used in automotive applications due to its small size and high peak pulse power rating. It is also suitable for use in industrial electronic devices such as machine tools and welding machines, where it can protect voltage sensitive components from over-voltage transients.