Two USB4 ESD devices protect high speed data lines with TrEOS technology
Two electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices from Nexperia are based on its TrEOS technology which combines low clamping with low capacitance and high robustness.
The PESD2V8Y1BSF and PESD4V0Y1BCSF are claimed to offer industry-leading insertion and return loss and are for use with retimers and redrivers on high speed data lines.
The PESD2V8Y1BSF is designed to protect USB4 (Thunderbolt) interfaces while PESD4V0Y1BCSF is intended for use with both USB4 as well as HDMI 2.1.
Retimers and redrivers are commonly used in the design of high-speed USB4 interfaces but they result in shorter board traces which have a lower parasitic inductance. As a consequence there is a reduction in the overall system-level ESD robustness, explained Nexperia. The PESD2V8Y1BSF and PESD4V0Y1BCSF provide very fast transmission line pulse (vfTLP) peak clamping voltages, which are even lower than USB4 protection solutions without visible trigger voltage in the standard I(V) TLP curve, according to Nexperia. This helps to compensate for the reduced inductance between protection and retimer, increasing overall system-level ESD robustness.
To comply with budget loss recommendations for ESD, the devices are designed to have exceptionally low insertion loss (-0.29dB at 10GHz) and return loss (-20.6dB at 10GHz). Capacitance does not increase with operating voltage, offering the full RF performance up to the reverse standoff voltage.
The PESD2V8Y1BSF and PESD4V0Y1BCSF can be placed immediately next to the connector of the device which they are protecting. This means that the AC coupling capacitance is also protected.
To maintain backward compatibility with older interface standards like USB3.2, which can be connected over USB Type-C, the PESD2V8Y1BSF has a reverse stand off voltage, VRWM of 2.8V. The PESD4V0Y1BCSF has a VRWM of 4.0V making it suitable for HDMI 2.1 as well. The RF performance of the TrEOS technology does not degrade over the operation voltage range; apart from USB4 and HDMI 2.1, both parts can also be used to protect PCIe or DisplayPort interfaces.
