Semtech Unveils Industry's First, Low-Voltage, Eight-Line TVS Protection Device for Emerging High-Reliability Gigabit Ethernet MarketsDevice Meets Toughest IEC and ETSI Transient Immunity Standards, Plus Small Footprint Requirements for Carrier and Business Class Ethernet Systems Camarillo, California - August 26, 2002 Semtech Corp. (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for communications, portable devices, computers, and industrial equipment, today announced availability of the industry’s first and smallest integrated device to provide standards-compliant transient voltage protection for up to eight high-speed, low-voltage signals, such as used in Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet applications. The accelerating demand for bandwidth-hungry services such as Voice over IP, Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), Ethernet over telecommunications backplanes, and broadband to the home are driving the deployment of high-reliability carrier and enterprise class Ethernet-based systems. These systems require the robust protection of external ports from transient voltage events such as lightning, electrostatic discharge, and cable discharge events. Each new generation of Ethernet deployment yields higher-density boards that demand protection solutions that occupy less board space. The SLVU2.8-8 device is an optimized solution—housed in a standard 8-lead small-outline plastic package that requires half the board space of alternative protection schemes. The device is also designed to protect lines with working voltages as low as 2.8V, making it ideal for protecting low-voltage CMOS circuitry used in most Ethernet systems today. The SLVU2.8-8 protects sensitive circuitry from voltage surges that enter through external system ports. The device safely redirects excess current away, while minimizing the voltage drop on the signal line. A single SLVU2.8-8 device can protect four high-speed differential pairs (eight lines) such as those used in single standard 10BaseT (10Mbits/sec), 100BaseT (100Mbits/sec), or 1000BaseTX (1Gbit/sec over copper) Ethernet transceiver interfaces. The SLVU2.8-8 is also highly suitable for other low voltage datacom/telecom applications. The SLVU2.8-8 introduces very low capacitance load, which means that signal integrity is maintained. This helps systems that employ the device to meet the IEEE’s 802.3 requirements for Gigabit Ethernet as well as the telecommunications industry’s "five nines" of reliability. The SLVU2.8-8 offers designers a practical and effective solution for meeting the industry’s toughest transient immunity standards, including the new ETSI EN 300 386 from the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), which becomes effective September 2002. The ETSI standard defines electromagnetic-immunity requirements for Ethernet and other telecommunications equipment interfaces by subjecting them to surge tests defined by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. These include IEC 61000-4-2 (ESD), IEC 61000-4-4 (EFT), and IEC 61000-4-5 (Lightning). The SLVU2.8-8 employs Semtech’s proprietary enhanced punch-through diode technology that yields superior transient protection performance for low voltage applications. With typical capacitance of less than eight picoFarads per line, the new device is suited to protect lines carrying signals operating at speeds over one GigaHertz. The new device provides surge capabilities to 30 Amps (8/20-microsecond pulse durations), enabling it to exceed all applicable standards-based protection requirements. Finally, the SLVU2.8-8 maintains extremely low clamping voltages, minimizing stresses on protected circuits during transient events. "Ethernet—today the world’s most ubiquitous local area networking protocol—is experiencing an explosion of applications in the public network, such as last-mile link to business and residences, DSL and digital cable equipment, as well as set-top boxes. New systems often increase the number ports, while shrinking in overall size. In these applications, the small-footprint protection provided by the SLVU2.8-8 is an undeniable necessity, enabling carrier-class system designers to attain high reliability," said Semtech Protection Products Group Marketing Director Tom Dugan. "The SLVU2.8-8 is a major improvement over existing devices, effectively doubling the functionality of previous devices in the same size footprint." Key Features of the SLVU2.8-8
Pricing and AvailabilitySamples of the SLVU2.8-8 in SO-8 packages are available immediately. Production orders are being taken now with an 8 -10 week lead time. Pricing is $2.69 each in 5,000 piece lots, with discounts available for larger volumes. Datasheets are available at www.semtech.com. About SemtechSemtech Corporation is a leading supplier of high-quality analog and mixed-signal ICs for power management, over-voltage and transient protection, human interface devices & system management, test & measurement applications, and advanced communications. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol SMTC. For more information, contact Semtech Corporation at 200 Flynn Road, Camarillo, CA. 93012-8790; phone (805) 498-2111; email to info@semtech.com; or visit its Web site at www.semtech.com. Press ContactTerry Sears, Marketing Communications Manager, Telephone: 805.498.2111 |
