For the first time ever, our 1.5 kW transient-voltage suppression diode is getting an SMB Flat package while our 400 W series is available in an SMA Flat housing, and our 600 W models use SMB Flat and SMA Flat variants. The 1500 W model offers a footprint reduction of 50% compared to the SMC package, and it is already sampling with a production target for early 2020. Moreover, the new 400 W and 600 W packages are significantly more cost-effective, and pin-to-pin compatible with their previous generations, which compounds the savings companies will make since they won’t have to redesign their PCB.
1500 W TVS Diode in SMB Flat, When Technological Breakthroughs Make Surge Protection More Cost-Effective
The current 1500 W SMC device will continue to exist. We understand that some companies take time to switch to a new package. Once teams qualified a device and use it in their designs, it is natural to want to get as much from it as possible. However, we are also aware of the market realities, which is why we are offering this highly cost-effective SMB Flat package. 2019 was symbolic for ST because it inaugurated various initiatives in important markets, like the Industrial Summit in China, which is a testament to our desire to work with local partners and ensure their competitiveness. A 1.5 kW TVS diode in an SMB Flat package enables lower costs without sacrificing the device’s reliability. In fact, the new model is not only a more modern and cost-conscious solution but a marvel of technological prowess.
A few years ago, an SMB Flat 1.5 kW TVS diode would have been impossible, but a significant increase in the precision of our new equipment made this breakthrough possible. We had to reshape the die from a square to a rectangle to fit the smaller housings. New machines also allowed us to center the die in a much tighter space and connect it to the thinner clip of the new package. Additionally, we’re able to position the clip better to use the thinner resin layer of the SMB Flat housing. It’s easy to overlook the technical complexities inherent to a transition from an SMC to an SMB Flat package, but it’s because we have been mastering the assembly lines of our TVS products for more than 30 years that we can lead the industry in offering this modern and cost-effective solution.
400 W and 600 W TVS in SMA Flat and SMB Flat, When the Next Technological Era is More Reliable and Accessible Than Ever
The new 400 W and 600 W in SMA Flat and SMB Flat are also the results of significant technological advancements and a desire to assist engineers in their transition. The devices are pin-to-pin compatible with the previous generation. We also have the 600 W model in both SMA Flat and SMB Flat because, despite the significant savings, some companies may still be reluctant to transition from a traditional SMB device to SMA Flat. The SMB Flat device thus provides an intermediary step that will facilitate the transition. In many cases, manufacturers already have pick-and-place machines compatible with thinner devices, but engineers too often ignore these components to focus on other aspects of their designs. By making the new packages more accessible, designers can transition to more cost-effective TVS diodes without diverting their focus away from the other parts of the PCB.
These latest devices represent a new chapter in the history of TVS diodes. Our SMC series is more than 20 years old, and we can expect the SMA Flat and SMB Flat variants to know a similar success because beyond lowering costs, they also increase reliability. The devices are so robust that we offer industrial-grade and automotive-qualified versions (AEC-Q101) of the same die. We also increased our production capabilities to ensure that companies that want to jump on the bandwagon early can do so with confidence, knowing that they will meet their customers’ demands. Indeed, the question is not if the industry will switch to SMA Flat 400 W or SMB Flat 1500 W diodes, but when, and thanks to the many innovations and measures we took to make it easier for companies to do so, the answer can easily be “now!”
