Nexperia, a specialist in basic semiconductor devices, announces two optimized electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection diode devices for retimers and signal repeaters in high-speed data lines. The PESD2V8Y1BSF is designed to protect USB4 (Thunderbolt) ports, while the PESD4V0Y1BCSF is suitable for USB4 and HDMI 2.1. Both products use Nexperia's proven TrEOS technology, which combines low clamping, low capacitance and high robustness.
Retimers and signal repeaters are commonly used devices for designing high-speed USB4 interfaces. They require shorter circuit board traces, which reduces parasitic inductance, but also unexpectedly reduces overall system-level ESD robustness. PESD2V8Y1BSF and PESD4V0Y1BCSF have lower ultrafast transmission line pulse (vfTLP) peak clamping voltages, even lower than USB4 protection solutions with no apparent trigger voltage in standard I(V) TLP curves. This helps compensate for the reduced inductance between the protection device and the retimer, improving overall system-level ESD robustness. To meet budget loss recommendations for ESD, both devices offer ultra-low insertion loss (-0.29 dB at 10 GHz) and return loss (-20.6 dB at 10 GHz). Unlike other solutions, the capacitance does not increase with operating voltage, providing full RF performance up to the reverse cutoff voltage.
Compared to other ESD protection diode devices, the PESD2V8Y1BSF and PESD4V0Y1BCSF can be placed directly next to the connector of the protected device, thus providing greater design flexibility. This means that the AC coupling capacitors are also protected. In addition, it places most of the line inductance between the ESD protection and the protected device to optimize the ESD performance of the system. Stefan Seider, Senior Product Manager at Nexperia, said: “Nexperia helps design engineers meet the insertion loss and return loss requirements of high-speed USB4 cables on a budget by providing devices that minimize the impact of ESD protection on the overall budget. This device offers an excellent balance between optimizing system-level ESD robustness and RF performance."
For backward compatibility with older interface standards that can be connected via USB Type-C (such as USB3.2), the PESD2V8Y1BSF has a reverse cut-off voltage VRWM of 2.8 V, while the VRWM of the PESD4V0Y1BCSF is 4 V, so it is also compatible with HDMI 2.1. Both devices use TrEOS technology and their RF performance does not degrade over the operating voltage range. In addition to USB4 and HDMI 2.1, both devices can be used to protect PCIe and DisplayPort interfaces.
