California Micro Devices Introduces New ESD Protection Solution For High Brightness LEDs

California Micro Devices announced the latest product in the LuxGuard™ family of turnkey solutions for ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection and thermal management for high power, high brightness light emitting diode (HBLED) lighting applications. The new CM1771 is described as the industry’s first ESD protection solution for HBLED applications to feature a 100V breakdown voltage.

According to the company, this enhanced level of ESD protection is a requirement for a growing segment of high power HBLED lighting applications that feature high output power, high efficacy levels reaching over 120 lumens per watt or those utilizing multiple HBLEDs driven in a serial arrangement. Delivering ESD protection at high operating voltages poses the new challenge of dissipating a higher level of power during an ESD strike, and also in maintaining acceptably low dynamic clamp voltages. A silicon-based, side mount protection solution with a back-to-back electrical configuration, the LuxGuard CM1771 provides robust, symmetrical ESD protection and features a very small, cost effective die that can easily be integrated into a broad range of HBLED lamp modules.

The CM1771 is described as the industry’s first ESD protection solution for high power HBLED applications to feature a 100 volt breakdown ESD rating. Critical specifications include: back-to-back zener diode configuration for bi-directional ESD protection; safely dissipates ESD strikes of at least 6 kV, Human Body Model (HBM); 100 volt breakdown voltage (typical); top pad composition: Gold; and a compact flip chip package.

Samples are available in October 2009 with mass production scheduled for Q1 2010. Samples are priced at $0.05 per unit with a minimum purchase of one wafer.