New automotive-grade TVS diodes reduce BOM cost while protecting GaN/SiC MOSFETs and IGBTs in BDU, HVAC, and PTC systems
Littelfuse, an industrial technology manufacturing company, has launched its TPSMC, TPSMD, and TP5.0SMDJ high-voltage transient voltage suppression (TVS) diode series, expanding the TP Series portfolio with devices designed for automotive high-voltage power electronics applications, including battery disconnect units (BDUs), high-voltage HVAC systems, and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters
As electrified vehicle architectures move toward higher voltages and wide-bandgap semiconductors, power devices such as GaN/SiC MOSFETs and IGBTs are becoming increasingly exposed to severe voltage transients from load dumps, inductive switching, and other high-energy events. Traditional low- and mid-voltage TVS solutions often require multiple devices in series to achieve sufficient protection, increasing PCB area, complexity, and bill-of-materials costs.
The new TPSMC, TPSMD, and TP5.0MDJ high-voltage TVS diodes have been designed to address this challenge by providing higher standoff voltages and high peak pulse power in a single automotive-grade device, allowing engineers to simplify protection schemes while improving system efficiency and robustness.
Key Features:
- High standoff voltage (≥400 V) to enable single-device protection in high-voltage automotive systems.
- Peak surge current up to 300A and peak pulse power up to 5kW to support harsh transient conditions
- Fast response time typically <1 ps for effective transient clamping
- AEC-Q101 qualified and PPAP capable for automotive reliability requirements
- DO-214AB surface-mount package minimises PCB footprint and simplifies layout
- IEC-61000-4-2 ESD compliance up to 30 kV for robust system-level protection
- Reduced BOM cost and component count compared to multi-device protection approaches
High-Voltage Automotive Power Systems
The TPSMC, TPSMD, and TP5.0SMDJ series is first-to-market in offering TVS diodes designed for emerging high-voltage automotive subsystems, enabling designers to:
- Reduce the number of TVS devices required in series
- Optimise selection of lower-rated GaN/SiC MOSFETs or IGBTs to reduce conduction losses
- Improve overall system efficiency while lowering cost
Charlie Cai, director of product marketing at Littelfuse, said, “These high-voltage TVS diodes were developed specifically for next-generation automotive power architectures. By enabling single-device transient protection in BDU, HVAC, and PTC applications, our customers can simplify designs, reduce BOM cost, and even select lower-rated power semiconductors to improve efficiency and system performance.”
Series Overview
All series are available in unidirectional and bidirectional configurations.
Markets and Applications
- Automotive electronics
- Battery Disconnect Units (BDU)
- High-voltage HVAC compressors
- PTC cabin and battery heaters
- High-voltage DC power distribution
