TVS - Diodes

The MXL15KP280CAE3 is a high-reliability, low capacitance transient voltage suppression (TVS) diode.In applications such as automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics, TVS diodes are used to protect circuitry from voltage transients caused by electrical (ESD) and lighting (EFT) disturbances.

Application Field

MXL15KP280CAE3 TVS diode is designed to protect a variety of bus lines from over-voltage transients caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) events and lightning. It features a low clamping voltage, a low capacitance, and an ultra-fast response time. With a 5A surge capability, it is an excellent choice for ESD protection. The device is also suitable for protecting power and data lines to Cat 5/6 Ethernet and 1G/10G Fibre Channel standards.

Working Principle

TVS diodes protect circuits by clamping the transient voltage to a safe level that the components can tolerate. They achieve this by providing an open circuit with normal applied voltages, clamping the voltage when a surge or transient is applied, and finally, providing a short circuit path for the over-voltage current to bypass the protected circuitry. The MXL15KP280CAE3 TVS diode utilizes a modified Zener breakdown action, meaning that as the voltage crosses the breakdown voltage, the gradient of the conduction increases exponential.

In addition, the device has an avalanche-boosting mode that further improves the clamping effect, resulting in extremely fast response times. The very low capacitance (0.105pF) of the MXL15KP280CAE3 TVS diode ensures protection for high-speed signals up to 25Gbps. Its low capacitance also helps to reduce signal degradation for RF/microwave protection.