New Industry Products

Semtech Targets Telecom Industry With Small Package, 3.3V, Ethernet Protection Device

July 09, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

Semtech Corp. announced the TClamp™3302N, a 3.3V, low-capacitance TVS device. It is the newest addition to the TClamp™ product platform of protection technology designed to protect high-speed interfaces such as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet transceivers from cable discharge, ESD and lightning threats.

Semtech claims that its new TClamp device provides telecom/datacom system designers with the industry’s smallest 3.3V working voltage protection device rated for 100A GR-1089 intra-building lightning surge. The new protection device is said to deliver superior electrical performance yet is said to consume 4.5 times less board space than competitive devices. Semtech’s TClamp3302N is provided in an SLP package measuring 2.6 x 2.6 x 0.6mm, which requires 6.76mm² board space, compared to the industry’s current SO-8 packaged devices which measures 5.80 x 4.80 x 1.35mm and consumes 27.84mm2 board space.

Engineered with Semtech’s proprietary Enhanced Punch-through Diode (EPD) process technology, the TClamp3302N is said to anchor Semtech’s TClamp family of low capacitance TVS surge protection devices. The TClamp platform is specifically designed to safeguard telecom equipment in such high growth applications as data center routers, digital surveillance cameras, WiMAX base stations, and triple-play ONTs from cable discharge, ESD and lightning threats.

"With the proliferation of Ethernet in communication infrastructure, the high-speed design community has been eager for a surge protection solution that offers the performance advantages of the TClamp3302N," said Rick Hansen, Senior Marketing Manager, Protection Products. "In an application environment with increasing port density and decreasing board space, this small and robust part should generate plenty of traction in telecom protection."

Semtech’s TClamp products are housed in a proprietary, small 2.6 x 2.6 x 0.6mm SLP package. The company claims that, while these products offer designers the benefit of significant board space savings, their small size and RoHS & WEEE compliance also contribute to energy conservation and hazardous waste reduction.

The TClamp3302N (order code: TClamp3302N.TCT) is available immediately in production quantities and is priced at $1.37 each in 1,000-piece lots.