TDK Launches 6.8V Multilayer Chip Varistor

TDK Corp. announced that it has developed the AVRM0603C6R8NT101N (0.6 mm x 0.3 mm x 0.3 mm) multilayer chip varistor with a low varistor voltage of 6.8V. The product boasts what the company claims is the industry’s lowest varistor voltage for a multilayer chip varistor and is also said to be the industry’s smallest varistor of its type.

Mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones and portable music players are being made ever smaller even as they incorporate more advanced functions, and consequently, the miniaturization and high-density integration of components is progressing rapidly. In addition, the shift to lower voltages for operating ICs is also accelerating to reduce power consumption and maintain and extend operating times. In conjunction with these developments, the risks of malfunctions from static electricity at lower voltages than previously are increasing, and consequently, protective components with both low varistor voltage and compact size are needed as countermeasures.

In response to this demand, TDK states that it improved multilayer chip varistor materials and internal structures to reduce varistor voltage to 6.8V. As a result, the static electric limiting voltage has been reduced from the 8V varistor voltage of earlier products to 6.8V, a reduction of 15%. Because the varistors are compact and have no polarity, they contribute to reductions in both mounting area and mounting costs, making them suitable static electric countermeasures in compact mobile devices.

Among the devices main features are the varistor voltage at V1mA/6.8V; a apacitance at 1kHz/100 pF; and dimensions of 0.6 mm x 0.3 mm x 0.3 mm. Among the devices’ applications are mobile electronic devices such as portable music players, mobile phones, digital still cameras, and digital video cameras. They are currently sample priced at 10 yen.