CIRCUIT PROTECTION

FOR HIGH-SPEED SERIAL

INTERFACES
 Contents

Protecting Electrical Ports from Storms 3

Protective Blockade: Protecting Wired Communication

in the IoT World 4

These General Ports Protect Against Electrical Stress 6

USB: A Closer Look at USB Type-C Port Protection 12

Fast Charging Using USB-C Cables Presents Problems 15

Industrial Communication Protection for RS-485

and Ethernet 18

Don’t Lose Control of Your Factory Automation 22

Protecting Autonomous Vehicle Control Circuits 28

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informational purposes only.

2 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces


Protecting ELECTRICAL
PORTS from STORMS PAUL GOLATA | Mouser Electronics
W
hen sailors and pirates sailed the seven seas
in days of old, a crew was very likely to head
their ship into the nearest port, regardless of its
location and acceptance if a life-threatening storm was
brewing. From this, the phrase “Any Port in a Storm” was
born. The meaning is any shelter or harbor was worth
hazarding for protection from the storm elements.
In today’s high-tech world, ports are the vital link
connecting electrical networks and circuits. The reality is
that every connection into every port must be protected.
Littelfuse is the company that “Protects Electrical Ports
from Storms.”
As a $1.4 billion (USD) industrial technology company,
Littelfuse empowers a sustainable, connected, and safer
world. Littelfuse delivers high-quality products to over
200,000 end customers. The company’s products are
found in various industrial, transportation, and electronics
end markets.
In this eBook, Littelfuse and Mouser Electronics share
ideas and concepts related to Protecting High-Speed
Serial Interface Circuits with design engineers. High-
speed circuit protection technologies are designed to
protect against harmful occurrences, including voltage
spikes, short circuits, power surges, and electrostatic
discharge.
The demand for automotive circuit protection is
expected to increase dramatically with the growth
of autonomous/connected vehicle development and
with more hybrid and electric-vehicle (EV) offerings
Foreword
entering the marketplace. In this eBook, Littelfuse will
demonstrate how its products support Controller Area
Network (CAN) bus and Local Interconnect Network (LIN)
bus solutions. Also, portable and consumer devices often
rely on Universal Serial Bus (USB). USB interfaces will
be looked at with an emphasis on high-speed Type C.
Finally, applications including industrial and data centers
commonly employ RS-485, Ethernet, and Power over
Ethernet (PoE). This eBook will provide Littelfuse’s insight
into how to navigate these waters successfully.
Littelfuse welcomes you into port and hopes you enjoy
the safety and security we provide to protect your high-
speed serial interfaces from damaging storms. ■
PAUL GOLATA joined Mouser Electronics in
2011. As a Senior Technology Specialist, Paul
contributes to Mouser’s success through driving
strategic leadership, tactical execution, and the
overall product-line and marketing directions
for advanced technology-related products. He
provides design engineers with the latest infor-
mation and trends in electrical engineering by
delivering unique and valuable technical content
that facilitates and enhances Mouser Electronics
as the preferred distributor of choice.
Before joining Mouser Electronics, Paul served in various manufacturing,
marketing, and sales-related roles for Hughes Aircraft Company, Melles
Griot, Piper Jaffray, Balzers Optics, JDSU, and Arrow Electronics. He holds
a BSEET from the DeVry Institute of Technology (Chicago, IL); an MBA from
Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA); an MDiv w/BL from Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, TX); and a PhD from Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, TX).
littelfuse.com 3
 PROTECTIVE BLOCKADE:
Protecting WIRED
COMMUNICATION
in the IoT World
PAUL GOLATA | Mouser Electronics
Wired Communication
The human voice is a wireless communication medium.
Sound waves travel through the air. Over the past
generation, electronic solution advances have enabled
wireless communication to flourish and given rise to
the Internet of Things (IoT). Despite the abundance
of breakthroughs in wireless communication, a large
portion of today’s communication is handled by wired
communication with applications that include telephone
networks, cable television, internet access, and fiber-
optic communication. Recently, I had my internet service
provider at my house making the necessary adjustments
to complete fiber internet installation, providing 300Mbps
data-rate speeds.
4 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces
Protection Blockade
A blockade is an act or means of sealing off a place
to prevent items from entering or exiting. A blockade
bars access in a uni- or bi-directional manner. Wired
communication electronics in today’s IoT world are often
high-speed (≥480Mbps). High-speed serial interfaces
transmit data as voltage signals down a wire digitally. They
require an electronic blockade against dangerous events.
High-speed circuit protection technologies are designed
to protect against harmful occurrences, including voltage
spikes, short circuits, power surges, and electrostatic
discharge. In essence, they properly let the good items
move and come-and-go unobstructed, while destructive
items are stopped, squelched, and eliminated.
Automotive
As today’s transportation and automotive solutions
transform into tomorrow, electronics components
are being rapidly integrated into the vehicle, enabling
connections to the IoT world. Since inventing the first
automotive fuse in 1930, Littelfuse has partnered with
carmakers on circuit protection, sensors, and power-
control solutions that have become the industry standard.
This innovation level is present today and is responsible
for Littelfuse leadership position in protecting systems
throughout automotive and transportation applications.
Littelfuse Everywhere Every Day
Prominent approaches to high-speed serial
interfaces in this industry include Controller Area

Network (CAN) bus and Local Interconnect Network
(LIN) bus. CAN is a robust bus standard utilized
in transportation applications. It is designed to
Industrial & Data Center
allow microcontrollers (MCUs) and related components This application area is pervasive. It touches on various
to communicate with each other’s applications. This disparate industries that connect to help us all produce
is done without requiring that the system have a host and meet today’s needs. Energy is power harnesses
computer. LIN is a low-cost serial network protocol. It from electronic, chemical, or physical resources such as
is employed to send data between various electronic oil and gas, wind, sun, and the like. Energy conversion,
solutions inside of vehicles. transportation, and storage might be required. Building
and construction projects require coordination, planning,
Littelfuse offers various solutions intended to address the
and manufacturing. Mining operations locate resources
wide gamut of situations that electronics are exposed to in
necessary to produce goods and services, including
these harsh environments. This includes AEC-Q101/Q200-
silicon (Si) and associated compounds as are required
qualified transient-voltage-suppression (TVS) diodes and
for semiconductor and passive components and
varistors where the electrical resistance varies with applied
solutions to be made. Motors drive industrial machinery
voltage. Littelfuse automotive products also have their
leveraging inputs to maximize outputs and provide
new resettable fuses, industry standards.
high quality and consistency. Heating, ventilation, and
Portable & Consumer Devices air conditioning (HVAC) provide environmental comfort
making life more enjoyable. Large server farms help
As a society, we are always on the go. Smartwatches
power the internet and provide instant access to a wealth
and mobile phones go with us wherever the road
of information and connections.
leads us. We want to be unconnected, but sometimes
we need to stop and reconnect. Universal Serial Industrial and data center applications are often interfaced
Bus (USB) is an industry-standard commonly utilized with RS-485, Ethernet, and Power Over Ethernet (PoE).
in portable and consumer devices. This standard RS-485 is a standard balanced interconnecting cable and
outlines the appropriate specifications for cables and network topology. It provides the opportunity for interfaces
connectors and protocols for interfacing between to be point-to-point, multi-dropped, and multi-point.
computers, peripherals, and other devices. One of Ethernet is a way to connect computers into a localized
today’s standard USB interfaces is Type C. It enables cluster known as a local area network (LAN) or wide
devices to transmit both power and data on a single area network (WAN). Power over Ethernet (PoE, PoE+,
cable in a standardized industry method. Littelfuse and PoE++) builds upon Ethernet. It enables an Ethernet
provides high-speed USB protections by delivering system to pass electric power along with data. Littelfuse
power and signals protection through an assortment provides RS-485 solutions that offer signal and power
of TVS diodes, and PolySwitch® resettable positive protections utilizing PTCs and TVS diodes. Fuses, Gas
temperature coefficients (PPTC) fuses devices such as Discharge Tubes (GDTs), and TVS diodes safeguard power
the Littelfuse setP™ series. and signals where Ethernet is employed. ■

littelfuse.com 5
These
GENERAL PORTS
Protect Against
Electrical Stress
TODD PHILLIPS | Littelfuse, Inc.

P
orts provide a connection to the outside world,
primarily for a device looking for data or power.
Ports create an opening that becomes an easy
entry point for electrical stress (Figure 1). Common
electrical stress points would be lightning strikes to a
power line that might be traveling down the power line
itself and into the device. It could even strike nearby and
induce a voltage spike on the power line or even the data
lines that need to be protected. Other types:

• Static electricity: We typically refer to it as

General Port Protection
Littelfuse and Mouser Electronics
electrostatic discharge (ESD), which commonly
comes from human touch. Effectively, we become
the source of electrical stress that can damage
sensitive electronics.
• Short circuits: They are typically caused by things
such as a power cross. A power line faulting into a data
line or a power line faulting to ground and bypassing
the load and that short circuit creates a spike in current
that could damage a piece of electronics.
• General overvoltage events: These events occur from
 everyday activities such as turning on motors or lights.
Inductive load-switching can wear out electronics over
time, cause damage, and need protection.

6 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces

 “ Combining component expertise
with application knowledge,
Littelfuse selects the best available
technology to provide the most
optimal protection solution.

Figure 1: Common electrical threats (Image: Common Electrical Hazards

Littelfuse has the broadest offering of circuit protection

technologies. Combining component expertise with
application knowledge, Littelfuse selects the best
available technology to provide the most optimal
protection solution. With priorities aligned to the needs
of design engineers, Littelfuse can help ensure the end
application has the most appropriate protection. The
chart identifies the various technologies, which can apply
to various power, and communication ports (Figure 2).

About Littelfuse: Our Capabilities


littelfuse.com 7
Figure 2: Littelfuse circuit has a wide selection of protection solutions for power and communication ports (Source: Littelfuse)

Across the top of the chart are listed various ports based RS-485
on data speed, from the slowest on the left side to the
The protection of an RS-485 line varies by exposure
fastest on the right. Along the bottom, one will observe
levels. For indoor or intra-building applications, a
two technology types—over-voltage solutions in blue
polymeric positive temperature coefficient device (PPTC)
and overcurrent protection technologies in green. The
and diode-array combination will provide sufficient over-
chart reveals which technologies to first consider when
current and over-voltage protection, however, if the port
looking for optimized port protection. Littelfuse can help
connects outdoors, such as a rooftop unit, such as a
to further select parts based on the unique specifications
heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) condenser
of a particular end-product design.
unit. A higher level of surge protection is needed and
Ethernet provided by using a coordinated protection scheme
with GDTs and SIDACtors. A PPTC provides overcurrent
Protection for ethernet ports varies based on the level of
protection and acts as a coordinating element between
exposure to electrical hazards. For indoor applications
the GDT and the SIDACtors. The PPTC ensures that the
with minimal exposure to potential hazards, a single
SIDACtor reacts first, providing fast protection until the
ESD protector can be sufficient. A single diode array
GDT can react.
placed after the transformer, such as the SRV05 Series
diode array can protect the Ethernet PHY in this case. CAN, LIN, SIM, µSIM
If one moves outdoors, the environment will be harsher,
As automotive electronics, or the use of electronics in
increasing the risk of receiving damage because of
automotive, have increased, so has CAN and LIN bus
an electrical hazard. A fuse is needed to help protect
prevalence. These communication lines require ESD
during a power-cross event when the power line makes
protection, typically provided by diode arrays. For these
contact with the communication lines. Additionally, a Gas
automotive-related applications, it is important for all
Discharge Tube (GDT) such as the CG6 will help protect
electronic components to pass the rigorous standards of
against dangerous surge events associated with lightning
AECQ and its included tests.
strikes. A diode array, such as the LC03, then adds
another level of protection, further clamping the surge
and protecting the PHY from damage.

8 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces

 Figure 5: AC Input Protection (Source: Littelfuse)

Power
AC
AC power input ports have the highest hazard potentials.
Fuses and varistors are used to protect against
overcurrent and overvoltage events, respectively. Exact
sizing of those devices varies depending on how much
power or precisely where it will be connected to line
power. Designers will not see the same protection on a
device plugging into your wall at home as the protection
a motor might need in a factory. Still, the selection
criteria basics remain the same for each situation. For The varistor is the first line of defense against voltage
most electronic equipment, a cartridge or cylindrical fuse transients. It needs to combine a good balance of surge
is sufficient to provide overcurrent protection, such as capability, speed to react, and be small enough to be
the 313 series. Because of its surge-current withstand placed in the circuit. The UltraMOV Series varistor does
capability, it can successfully avoid nuisance trip an outstanding job of responding when it needs to and
situations. When it does need to react, its short-circuit clamping to the right level of protection for whatever
current breaking capacity can safely interrupt. might be downstream on that power line.

Figure 6: DC Input Protection (Source: Littelfuse)

10 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces

DC
DC inputs are very similar but require different
specific considerations (Figure 6). DC inputs have
different options depending on the power levels
one will see. Protection could be as simple as a
TVS diode for transient protection of a 12VDC or
24VDC input. For DC inputs of portable electronic
devices, ESD protection can be provided by a
TVS diode array such as the SP11 Series, and
a resettable PPTC can be used for overcurrent
Littelfuse
SP2555NUTG 2.5V
protection. Similarly, to AC-power input ports,
45A Diode Array
fuses provide overcurrent protection, and
varistors and GDTs provide surge protection to
DC input ports with high voltages, such as 48VDC LEARN MORE 
or higher. ■

Littelfuse
SMCJ TVS 1500W
Diodes

LEARN MORE 

“ Designers will not see the same

protection on a device plugging into
your wall at home as the protection a
motor might need in a factory.

littelfuse.com ”
11
 USB:

A Closer Look at USB

TYPE-C PORT Protection
TODD PHILLIPS | Littelfuse, Inc.

O
ne of the most up-and-coming
high-speed serial interfaces is
USB Type-C. USB in general and
Type-C specifically require designers
to focus on electrostatic discharge
(ESD) events and over-temperature
events that could damage physical
plastic casing of the electronic
equipment. The integrated circuits
(ICs) really all need to be considered
(Figure 1).

Figure 1: Circuit protection solutions for USB-C (Source: Littelfuse)

12 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces

Figure 2: Circuit protection solution for USB Type-C (Source: Littelfuse)

V
Each line of the USB-C port requires
optimized circuit protection. To
investigate, let’s start at the bottom of
the table in Figure 2, at Roman numeral
five (V) and work our way up. One first
notices an ESD protector for the USB-C
port’s power lines. Each Vbus power
line could provide power at voltages
up to 20V. Typical ESD devices are
only capable of withstanding 5V, 6V, or
even 12V of sustained power. Littelfuse
SPHV24 Series is designed to handle
20V without clamping. When an ESD
event comes in, it can accurately protect Figure 3: Circuit protection solutions for USB 3.0 (Source: Littelfuse)
against that event.

IV
IV indicates protection for the CC line and the SBU
lines. Since the data rate on these lines are fast but not
as fast as the SuperSpeed lines, the capacitance of an
ESD protector can be a little higher. For data speeding,
capacitance, and the relationship, the faster your data
speed, the lower one wants capacitance. This is because
capacitance can degrade the signal to a point where it
attenuates, and it’s unreadable by the device receiving
it. So on this line, because it’s lower speed, a higher
capacitance device can be used and typically is lower in
price. Littelfuse would suggest something such as the
SP1006 Series single-channel device.
III
The SuperSpeed lines carry data at extremely fast data
rates. Up to eight of these could be in action at any one
point in time. Signals with faster data speeds are more
sensitive to interference caused by the capacitance of
components connected to them. Due to the number of
data lines and very fast data speed associated with the
SuperSpeed lines, ESD protection, such as the SP3213
Series, must be very small and have extremely low
capacitance so that it fits within the allotted space and
does not interfere with the data signal.

littelfuse.com 13
 “
Figure 4: Circuit protection solutions for USB Type 2.0 (Source: Littelfuse)

USB 2.0 lines run at about

480Mbps, not quite as fast as the
super speed lines but still need
a moderate level of protection in
Littelfuse Low
Rho SMD PTC for terms of how fast they react.
Charging Cables

LEARN MORE  II
”
II contains the USB 2.0 lines. USB 2.0 lines are fast at
480 Mbps, but not quite as fast as the super speed lines.
The SP3530 is extremely small and has the appropriately
Littelfuse SP3213 low capacitance.
0.09pF 12kV
Bidirectional TVS I
Diode Arrays USB has a long history of requiring over-temperature
LEARN MORE  protection. A fault is created when a foreign substance
such as dust, dirt, or another material creates a resistive
short from the power line to ground. Traditionally,
protection would have been provided using a PPTC
placed on the power line. However, due the higher
Littelfuse SP1006 power capability of USB-C, a PPTC on Vbus is impractical.
Unidirectional Discrete Littelfuse has developed a new method using setP digital
TVS Diode Array temperature indicators. The setP device is placed on the
CC line where it leverages the USB-C protocols to initiate
LEARN MORE  a power shut-down when it (setP) senses heat. ■

Littelfuse SPHV Littelfuse SP3530

& SPHV-C TVS Unidirectional
Diodes Automotive TVS Diodes

LEARN MORE  LEARN MORE 

14 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces

 FAST CHARGING
Using USB-C Cables
PRESENTS PROBLEMS
TODD PHILLIPS | Littelfuse, Inc.

Cable-to-device connections can
accumulate contaminants, causing them
to heat up quickly, which can easily
damage or destroy the cable and the
mobile device. The fix: better circuit design
with temperature monitoring.
Littelfuse setP Digital
Temperature Indicator  significant advantage for the phone-addicted among us.
W
ireless charging for smartphones and other
mobile devices is increasing, but charging cables
are unlikely to disappear completely anytime
soon. That’s because wired charging offers significant
advantages over wireless charging for some users—
primarily because wired charging offers far greater
charging speed.
The USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) and USB-C
Connectors and Cable Assemblies specifications
developed by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF)
are central to the latest generation of wired charging
solutions. The USB Power Delivery Specification enables
the maximum functionality of USB by providing more
flexible power delivery and data over a single cable.
Fast chargers and cables compliant with USB-PD and
USB-C specifications can support charging power levels
up to 100W. Depending on the device involved, that
means that they can recharge a phone or other device
much faster than a wireless charger. A wired charger
with a long-enough cable also allows users to keep
interacting with their devices while they’re recharging, a

littelfuse.com 15

As crucial as these advantages are to users, it’s equally
essential for designers to consider the safety issues
associated with power and temperature management at
the cable-to-device connection. Without proper circuit
design, including temperature monitoring, cables and
connectors can accumulate contaminants inside the
connection, causing them to heat up quickly, easily
damaging or destroying the cable and the mobile device.
Basics of USB-C Wired Charging
Three individual items must work together in any
charging system—the device being charged, the
cable, and the charger. USB-C cables have one or
more symmetrical (and, therefore, reversible) 24-pin
connectors. USB-C chargers have an AC plug on one
end (for plugging into a wall outlet) and either a cable
with a USB-C connector on the other (for plugging into
the device to be charged) or a USB-C output port for
plugging in a USB-C cable.
From a safety standpoint, USB-C cables must be capable
of carrying appropriate voltages and currents. For
chargers with captive or fixed cables, the cables must
handle the charger’s maximum voltage output. Cables with
USB-C plugs on each end must be capable of driving 21V
and at least 3A. Cables that incorporate special e-marker
integrated circuits can carry 5A of current. Any device
placed in the path of power, especially protection devices,
must also manage these levels of voltage and current.
Sources of USB-C Charging Damage
USB-C connectors’ pin pitch is 0.5mm—much tighter
than the 2.5mm pin pitch in USB Type-A connectors. This
tighter pitch significantly increases the risk of a fault that
16 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces
Figure 1: Resistive faults in USB-C connectors can
damage both cables and the devices being charged.
(Source: Littelfuse)
“ From a safety standpoint, USB‑C
cables must be capable of carrying
appropriate voltages and currents.
could cause a thermal event. When connector pins become
”
deformed or dust, metal particles, hair, or other debris gets
stuck in a USB-C cable connector, a resistive fault can be
created from the power line to ground. These resistive faults
can cause a dangerous temperature rise while increasing
current only minimally. Damage to both cables and devices,
even fire, has been reported (Figure 1).
The traditional approach to protecting USB cables from
overheating involves locating either a polymeric positive
temperature coefficient (PPTC) device or a mini-breaker
(also known as a thermal cutoff) on the VBUS power line.
The chosen device would be placed on a printed circuit
board inside the connector to sense the resistive fault’s
temperature rise.
However, using this approach when attempting to protect
against up to 100W can challenge design engineers.
One of the drawbacks of adding a protection device in
the path of power is that its resistance, even if it’s just
milliohms of resistance, can contribute to significant
power loss, making it more difficult for manufacturers to
meet mandatory efficiency requirements.
The close confines of a USB-C connector can also make
it challenging to fit a protection device inside. Polymeric
positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) devices suitable
for protecting 60W chargers typically have a 1210 (3.2mm
× 2.5mm) footprint, and mini-breakers are often even
bigger. PPTCs and mini-breakers meant to protect 100W
would need to be even more significant. Also, mini-
breakers have relatively weak mechanical structures. The
cable assembly process can deform the bi-metal materials
from which they’re constructed, which would prevent
them from protecting against a heating fault.
PolySwitch setP™ Digital Temperature Indicators
One way to address these disadvantages is to place a
different type of protection device in the communication
channel (CC) of the USB-C connector rather than on the
VBUS line. One of the latest devices developed to protect
USB-C cables against over-temperature conditions is
the compact (2.0mm × 1.2mm) PolySwitch setP digital
temperature indicator (Figure 2). The setP device senses
a temperature increase and then alerts the system to
shut down the power flow.
Here’s how it works: A setP digital temperature indicator
is placed on the connector’s CC line, and when it senses
temperatures higher than 100°C, it switches from a
low-resistance state to a high-resistance state. This
heightened resistance causes the voltage on the CC
line to increase beyond the value defined by the USB
Implementers Forum (USB-IF) to determine whether the
source and sink are detached.
The charging system assumes that the cable has
become detached because the voltage is higher than
the value outlined in the specification, so the charging
system turns off the power through the VBUS line. This
prevents the connector, cable, and device from being
charged from overheating. Once the user disconnects
the cable and removes the connector’s debris, the cable
can resume normal operation.
With a compact 0805 (2.0mm × 1.2mm) footprint, setP
devices are at least 30 percent smaller than most other
solutions used for this application in the past. Their rigid
physical structure also allows them to withstand modern
cable assembly and molding operations reliably. They’re
well-suited for use in USB-C charging cables, USB Power
Delivery charging cables, and chargers with captive
USB-C cables.
Conclusion
USB-C cables offer owners a fast, uncomplicated way
to recharge mobile devices and transfer data. With
the development of a new solution for temperature
indication, they can be confident that the process will
remain safer. ■
Figure 2: PolySwitch setP
digital temperature indicators
help protect USB-C
plugs from overheating.
They are designed to the
specifications of USB-C and
help protect even the highest
levels of USB Power Delivery.
(Source: Mouser Electronics)
Littelfuse setP™
Temperature
Indicators
LEARN MORE 
littelfuse.com 17
 INDUSTRIAL
COMMUNICATION
PROTECTION for
RS-485 and ETHERNET
CRAIG MORROW | Littelfuse, Inc.

I
ndustrial communication requires a high-reliability
operation, which means protecting industrial
communication equipment is extremely important.
This article will take some time to discuss aspects of
RS-485 and Ethernet connections. It will then provide
some application examples. After that, we will look
at some considerations depending on what kind of
environment you might find yourself operating in. Finally,
we will examine some potential electrical threats, and
then finish with some solution examples.
An amazingly high number of industrial nodes are
currently in industrial applications. At present, estimates
are more than 350 million of them in place. If one looks
at the specific RS-485 versus Ethernet, Ethernet is
growing faster. In the past year or two, Ethernet nodes
have surpassed RS-485 nodes. The other thing to note
about them is that Ethernet runs faster, up to 1GB/s,
while RS-485 is limited to 10MB/s. Ethernet has another
key feature when compared to RS-485. Ethernet can
power over Ethernet, which is to power the field device.
In contrast, RS-485 can transmit longer distances, up to
approximately 1500m, while industrial Ethernet is limited
to about 100m.
This then begs the question: Where would design
engineers favor the employment of RS-485 versus
Ethernet? In general, designers would want to use
Ethernet when one has a lot of data transmission. So,
take security cameras or machine vision systems as
examples. When you want to use RS-485, it would be
in long transmission links such as remote I/O or other
things you need to get out in the field, such as energy
metering.
This implies that it intensely matters where and how
one will employ their industrial communication node.
Location is critical to port protection. If you’re going to
have a line outside, one certainly needs to be aware of
lightning, both where the outdoor port connection is and
where it runs in and connects internally to a building. In
long-distance runs, one needs to be concerned about

18 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces

the potential reality of inductive surge risks. Additionally,
wherever a human might touch something related to the
system, you need to be aware of electrostatic discharge
(ESD) in the interfacing. One needs to be mindful of
that wherever a motor’s stop and start can cause fast
electrical transients.
This leads to several specific challenges that the
designer must take into account. For example, one
of the difficulties is lightning surges. Lightning surges
can significantly impact ports that one is attempting to
protect. Another item is induced power surges. From
lightning strikes, induced power surges can come
through other lines and cause an impact on ports that
Figure 1: RS-485 Intra-building (Source: Littelfuse)
Figure 2: RS-485 Outdoor (Source: Littelfuse)
you want to protect. ESD, such as a human touching
component, can cause high voltage going into your
component. If someone inadvertently miswired something,
an improperly connected cable can cause damage to
equipment by sending too much voltage or current.
Additionally, fast electrical transients can arise when
someone stops or starts a big motor or other kinds of
equipment. These transients are often called bouncing.
Finally, one often might experience problems if and
when cables wear into a break, and they can send
wrong power to a port. These issues can be addressed
or reduced by wire ties and other methods that can
minimize through-the-system vibrations.
RS-485 Protection
RS-485 is commonly employed
in buildings (Figure 1). Littelfuse
has a wide variety of products and
technologies that provide intra-building
protection. A resettable polymeric
positive temperature coefficient (PPTC)
or PolySwitch® positive temperature
coefficient can protect against both
short circuit and power crosses. For
voltage protection, the TVS Diode
array works well. Littelfuse offers the
SM712 designed explicitly for RS-485
and protects against ESD, electrical
fast transcends, and some lightning-
induced surges. As an alternative,
one can use a Pulse-Guard ESD
Suppressor type PGB or XGD as other
alternatives. These all help designers
align too many IEC, ITU, GR, and UL
standards.
But what should the designer employ
if the solution is not within the building
but rather outdoors and in a harsher
environment? Indeed, one is going
to need more protection in these
environments (Figure 2). One can still
employ resettable PPTCs to protect
against short-circuit and power
crosses. For lightning protection,
Littelfuse offers a combination of a
Gas Discharge Tube (GDT) with a
SIDACtor®. With a lightning surge,
SIDACtor will fire quickly. This will
cause more voltage across the PPTC
and, at that point, the GDT will fire.
The resistance of the PPTC must be
littelfuse.com 19
Figure 3: Ethernet Port Protection (Source: Littelfuse)
selected carefully for proper coordination with the GDT.
Littelfuse has specific products for these protection
needs. For PPTC, Littelfuse offers the TRF, TS, and TSV
series. For GDT, Littelfuse has the GTC series. At the
same time, the Littelfuse SIDACtor Protection Thyristors
include a wide range of semiconductor protection
thyristor over-voltage transient suppression devices
designed to serve the requirements of telecom and data-
networking equipment applications.
Ethernet Protection
Let’s now look at Ethernet solutions in the same
contextual environments. For intra-building protection,
one can generally use a simple diode array such as the
Littelfuse SRV series (Figure 3). This will provide port
protection from electrostatic discharge and fast electrical
transients, and when this is used in an application where
lightning is not a concern. One of the advantages of this
Figure 4: Ethernet Port Protection (Source: Littelfuse)
20 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces
TVS diode array is its low capacitance, which enables
high transmission speeds. If one needs data speeds of
greater than 1GB/s per second, one will need to employ
additional twisted pairs.
When going outdoors with Ethernet into a harsh
environment, one will require additional protection
(Figure 4). One Littelfuse solution for this area is
protected from overcurrent with its TeleLink® 461 series
fuses. These are specifically designed for high-speed
telecom applications, and you only need one fuse per
wire pair. For protecting against lightning, Littelfuse
suggests the GDT with the diode array. The class ratings
will determine what specific protection you need. For
example, if you need four kilovolts and two kiloohms. The
GDT series that one might consider to include SG, CG6,
and C65 and the Diode array can be the LCO3 series and
SP40 series.
PoE Protection
“ For any Ethernet application, the
optimal protection depends on where
Power over Ethernet (15.4W), PoE+ (30W), PoE++ (90W))
powers remote devices via the Ethernet cable (Figure 5).
it’s being used and the amount of
Littelfuse suggests that designers employ TeleLink fuses exposure that that location might have
for overcurrent protection, such as the 461 series. For to electrical hazards.
voltage protection, Littelfuse suggests that one utilize a

”
TVS diode. TVS diodes can be used across the center
tap signal pair and a second one across the center tap
Littelfuse is the company to go to for solutions to protect
spare pair. The TVS diode can be chosen based on one’s
industrial communication equipment. Whether you rely
search needs for the specific application. We have 400W,
on RS-485 and Ethernet connections, its wide variety of
600W, 1500W, or 3kW. The TVS diode array Littelfuse
protection solutions keep your systems up and running in
recommends you looking at is the SMCJ series.
even the most challenging environments. ■
For any Ethernet application, the optimal
protection depends on where it’s being used
and the amount of exposure that that location
might have to electrical hazards. Standard
GR-1089 provides an excellent reference
to what testing could be done to select the
right components and know that one has
adequate protection. One of the tests, GR-
1089, requires a power cross test in how the
circuit is protected. It requires a solution such
as the 461 fuses, which can not only protect for
a power cross event as a short circuit type of
event, but it would also be able to withstand the
surge levels that are adequate for that outdoor
connector. SIDACtors provide surge protection
on the lines that have the power. Ghost power
created on PoE gets separated off and fed into
a power controller to be used as real DC power,
and those lines are protected primarily by a
SIDACtor.
Figure 5: PoE Port Protection. (Source: Littelfuse)

Littelfuse 461 Littelfuse P-0S-LRP

TeleLink® Surface Voice-DS1 SIDACtor®
Mount Fuses Protection Thyristors

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littelfuse.com 21
 Don’t Lose
CONTROL of
Your FACTORY
AUTOMATION
JAMES COLBY | Littelfuse, Inc.
The Factories of the Future Will Demand Advanced Circuit
Protection Technology to Keep Everything Connected
T
he original Industrial Revolution marked the
transition from making things by using human and
animal power to making things with machines by
harnessing water and steam power.
The increased connectivity that the Industrial Internet of
Things (IIoT) brings to factory automation systems also
makes these systems particularly vulnerable to electrical
damage from various threats. These threats include
electrostatic discharge (ESD), electrical fast transients
(EFT), cable discharge events (CDE), lighting-induced
surges, and system-induced voltage transients that occur
when large motors turn on or off, etc. This can happen
via both data and power connections (Industrial Ethernet,
Power over Ethernet (PoE), Controller Area Network
(CAN) bus, RS-485, Profibus/FieldBus, etc.).
The ability to use electricity in the mass production of
goods made the second Industrial Revolution possible.
22 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces
The third came as the result of the use of computers to
automate production processes. The fourth Industrial
Revolution marks the transition from dumb machines
(assembly lines, standalone automated painters, welders,
etc.) to ones that are made smarter and self-configurable
by incorporating sensors and processors and, more
importantly, by connecting them and to the operations
center via the IIoT. Sometimes known as Industry 4.0, it
aims to make production more efficient, cost-effective,
and flexible and deliver a better product to the customer in
less time.
Engineers designing and implementing automation
systems in industrial settings need to be aware of the
appropriate circuit protection solutions, such as Transient
Voltage Suppression (TVS) Diodes, TVS Diode Arrays,
Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs), and SIDACtor® protection
thyristors, that can help reduce or eliminate the risks

involved. In the following, we present an overview of
circuit protection solutions that are particularly appropriate
for various industrial automation applications and the
advantages they provide for ensuring the reliability of the
systems driving the factories of the future.
Industrial Ethernet
Industrial Ethernet (IE) combines standard Ethernet
protocols with rugged connectors and high-temperature
switches. Components used in industrial applications
must be able to withstand temperature extremes,
humidity, and vibration significantly beyond the ranges
for equipment intended for installation in typical office
environments.
Industrial Ethernet networks must interoperate with
existing and legacy systems and provide predictable
performance and maintainability. In addition to physical
Figure 1: One approach to indoor long-haul
Ethernet data line protection against lightning,
ESD, EFT, CDE, and power faults. The four
data lines shown (Tx± and Rx±) are protected
against intra-building lightning transients.
The LC03 TVS Diode Array diverts the majority
of energy away from the transformer, but
any common-mode energy that does get
coupled across the transformer interwinding
capacitance is diverted to GND by the
SP3051 TVS Diode. This component can be
connected to the ground on the PHY side of
the transformer because the transformer itself
meets the IEEE 802.3 isolation requirements.
Figure 2: For applications that are subject to
severe levels of lightning-induced transients
that exceed the limits of today’s silicon
technology, gas discharge tubes (GDTs) are
often recommended to protect the transformer.
The GDTs are connected between the data
pair (and not GND) to be compliant with the
IEEE 802.3 standard. The SL0902A90SM GDTs
shown here are used in addition to extremely
robust protection components, such as two
LC03 Series TVS Diode Arrays, to suppress
the let-through energy at the PHY. The F1-F4
TeleLink fuses provide overcurrent protection
against power faults.
compatibility and low-level transport protocols, a
practical Industrial Ethernet system must also provide
interoperability of higher levels of the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) model. An industrial network must
provide security both from intrusions from outside the
plant and from inadvertent or unauthorized use.
Figure 1 illustrates one approach to indoor long-haul
data line (not PoE) protection against lightning-induced
transients, ESD, EFT, CDE, and power faults that’s
appropriate for use in a factory automation environment.
Some Industrial Ethernet circuit protection applications
pose even greater challenges, such as in facilities with
multiple buildings with equipment and cabling located
outdoors. Figure 2 shows a circuit protection scheme
optimized for these applications involving severe outdoor
exposure in environments with frequent electrical storms.
littelfuse.com 23
 Figure 3: Here, a properly rated transformer and power
supply provide the required isolation for IEEE 802.3
compliance. For the PSE, TVS Diodes are used on the
specific pair(s) to provide the power. Shown here are
1,500W versions for high-exposure cable and equipment
installations. For short cables or installations where
lightning exposure is not expected to be high, lower-
power 600W or 400W components can be used. For the
protection of the PD, both pairs need to be protected as it
will not be known ahead of time which pair(s) will provide
power. TVS Diodes should be selected based on the
expected surge exposure level. (Source: Littelfuse)

Power Over Ethernet device that receives the power is called the client device
or Powered Device (PD), and the device supplying the
PoE describes several standardized or ad-hoc systems
power is the Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE). Mode
that pass electrical power and data on Ethernet
A power is supplied over the active data pair found in
cabling. This allows a single cable to provide both data
10BaseT or 100BaseTX interfaces. Mode B power is
connection and electrical power to various devices
applied over the unused pair for 10BaseT and 100BaseT
such as IP security cameras. Unlike the USB bus, which
interfaces. For 1000BaseT and 10GbE applications, all
also powers devices over the data cables, PoE allows
wire pairs are used for data transfer, so no spare pairs are
for extended cable lengths. Power can be carried on
available. Figure 3 illustrates circuit protection schemes
the same conductors as the data or on dedicated
for PoE Powered Device and Power Supply Equipment.
conductors in the same cable. In a PoE scheme, the

24 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces


CAN Bus (DeviceNet)
IE and PoE are far from the only communication buses
relied upon for factory automation system coordination.
The CAN Bus standard allows microcontrollers and
devices to communicate with each other in applications
without a host computer. Although not nearly as fast
as Ethernet, CAN Bus is highly robust and capable of
communicating data reliably over substantially longer
distances than Ethernet. That makes it a good choice
for applications that require communicating instructions
Figure 4: The SM24CANB Series TVS Diode Array is designed to
protect CAN Bus and DeviceNet lines from damage due to ESD, EFT,
and surge transients. It’s well suited for longer cable runs or cables
that must be located close to power cables. (Source: Littelfuse)
“ Power can be carried on the
same conductors as the data or
on dedicated conductors in the
same cable.
”
or returning data from separate pieces of equipment
located some distance from each other. Figure 4 shows
a typical CAN Bus application example. The DeviceNet
network is based on CAN bus technology.
littelfuse.com 25
RS-485 (Profibus, FieldBus)
Much like CAN Bus, RS-485 is highly robust and offers
industrial users the ability to transmit data without
degradation over longer distances, but it’s somewhat
faster than CAN Bus. In industrial settings, it’s often
used for control of lighting, security cameras, and
fire detection systems. Figure 5 illustrates one circuit
protection solution for RS-485 ports subject to ESD or
low-level transients because of lightning-induced surges.
Figure 6 represents a higher level of protection. Figure 5: The SM712 Series TVS Diode Array from Littelfuse offers one
solution for protecting RS-285 ports from lower-level electrical threats.
(Source: Littelfuse)

Littelfuse Gas Littelfuse SM712

Discharge Tubes Series TVS Diode
Array

LEARN MORE  LEARN MORE 

26 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces

 Figure 7: Low-profile,
small-footprint protection
thyristors such as the Q2L
Conclusion Series SIDACtor are designed
Although system designers spend most of their time to protect high-density
focused on the functionality of the communication broadband equipment from
system (that supports their Factory Automation project), damaging overvoltage
transients. (Source: Littelfuse)
it is important to not overlook the electrical threats
to which those systems will be exposed. As shown
here, Littelfuse offers a wide range of solutions for
the Ethernet, PoE, CAN bus and RS-485 data circuits
that will be used. For example, to learn more about Array, visit here and sign up for a free Littelfuse iDesign
protecting Ethernet circuits and equipment in industrial account. The iDesign platform guides you through
settings from ESD, lightning, power faults, and other the process of choosing the best component for an
electrical transient threats, download a free copy of application, finding parts documentation, sharing
the Ethernet Protection Design Guide from Littelfuse. information with colleagues, and ordering part samples
For help in choosing an appropriate fuse or TVS Diode for prototyping. ■

Figure 6: In this circuit protection schematic for RS-485 busses in high exposure environments, the symbols can represent any number of overvoltage protection
solutions, including Q2L Series SIDACtor protection thyristors (Figure 7). (Source: Littelfuse)

Littelfuse PolySwitch
Telecommunication
Resettable PTCs

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littelfuse.com 27
 Protecting AUTONOMOUS
Vehicle Control CIRCUITS
JAMES COLBY, PRASAD TAWADE | Littelfuse, Inc.
Design engineers must incorporate
circuit protection early enough in the
process of vehicle electronics to avoid
last-minute revisions that can delay
compliance approvals and potentially
compromise circuit performance.
28 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces
T
hose who follow autonomous vehicle technology
are usually well aware of its benefits. But the safety
and convenience autonomous vehicles offer can
only come if the vehicle electronics are reliable and
robust to electrical shocks such as lightning strikes
(limited to the AC input of on-board chargers), in-vehicle
power surges electrostatic discharge (ESD). Design
engineers must incorporate circuit protection early
enough in the process to avoid last-minute revisions
that can delay compliance approvals and potentially
compromise circuit performance. The following is a look
at what’s available.
Designers Have Choices
First, consider the case of the camera subsystem.
Among other things, multiple cameras work together
to provide depth perception and convert visual light
through a charge coupled device/complementary metal
oxide semiconductor (CCD/CMOS) image sensor into
electronic signals sent to a communication and control
circuit. Of the circuit blocks in a camera subsystem,
those that require protection components connect with
external circuitry (Figure 1). They typically include a
Controller Area Network (CAN) transceiver, the power
supply, and an Ethernet transceiver.
The camera power-supply subsystem requires
protection from over-currents, high-energy transients,
and ESD. A fuse provides over-current protection.
Design engineers can select either a conventional one-
time blow, ceramic fuse, or a polymer-based, positive
temperature coefficient (PPTC) resettable fuse. Both
components can have wide temperature ratings for
automotive requirements. Ceramic fuses can have
operating temperature ratings of -55°C to +150°C, and
PPTC resettable fuses can operate up to +125°C. The
PPTC has the advantage of not needing replacement if
it experiences an over-current. The PPTC substantially
boosts resistance in response to the heat generated
by an over-current. When the over-current is removed,
Figure 1: Of the circuit blocks in a camera subsystem, those that require protection components connect with external circuitry. (Source: Littelfuse)
the PPTC recovers to low resistance. Both component
types come in surface-mount packages to save valuable
printed circuit board (PCB) space.
Besides over-currents, power-supply circuits need
protection from high-energy transients caused by in-
vehicle sources such as motors turning on and off. The
circuitry must be capable of withstanding transients
defined by ISO Standards 7637 and 16750. Compliant
components include transient voltage suppressor (TVS)
diodes that can safely absorb both low-energy transients
and high-energy transients as specified in Pulses 1, 2, 3,
and 5 that the above-referenced standards spell out.
Design engineers can also consider a metal oxide
varistor (MOV) for transient energy protection. MOVs
can absorb transients with surge currents of 500A from
8×20-µsec pulses and up to 2.5J from 10×1,000-µsec
pulses. These components comply with Electromagnetic
Compliance Standard IEC 61000-4-2. MOVs can also
safely withstand the automotive environment with an
operating temperature range of -40°C to + 125°C.
To avoid catastrophic failure if the polarity of the voltage
to the power supply accidentally reverses, designers can
insert a Schottky diode in series with the fuse. Although
providing reverse polarity protection, the diode’s low-
forward voltage drop will have a minimal impact on
power-supply performance.
littelfuse.com 29
Figure 2: Diode arrays and polymer ESD suppressors can provide the necessary protection for the high-speed differential data lines. (Source: Littelfuse)
“ A single protection component
containing both arrays is
available and helps to reduce
pick-and-place costs in
production.
”
The CAN protocol transceiver needs protection from
ESD, fast electrical transients, and other overvoltage
transients. Some diode arrays are specifically designed
to protect the CAN lines without degrading. Diode arrays
have high ESD tolerance, with models having 30kV air
and 30kV contact discharge capabilities. These devices
help designers meet the ISO 10605 standard for ESD
in-road vehicles. Withstanding the high ESD voltages, the
diode arrays can absorb up to 50A of transients defined
by IEC Standard 61000-4-4 (Electrical Fast Transients).
Furthermore, with a capacitance of about 15pF and
leakage current under 1µA, the diode arrays do not
interfere with protocol transmissions.
These devices also survive the automotive environment
with a temperature operating range of -40°C to 150°C.
Circuits designed to protect a CAN transceiver generally
include a two-channel diode array on both the high and
low lines. A single protection component containing both
arrays is available and helps to reduce pick-and-place
costs in production.
30 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces
The Ethernet transceiver, such as the CAN transceiver,
needs ESD and transient surge protection. Diode arrays
and polymer ESD suppressors can provide the necessary
protection for the high-speed differential data lines.
Models of these diode arrays can provide up to ±30kV
ESD protection and can absorb up to 50A of Electrical
Fast Transients.
Diode arrays can protect a differential line pair in a single
package to save space. Versions are also available as
discrete components in 0402 and 0603 surface-mount
packages to minimize capacitance and PCB space.
These ESD protection devices cut signal distortion,
reduce voltage overshoot, and simplify the circuit design.
Capacitance values can get down to 0.35pF for the
diode array and down to 0.04pF for the polymer ESD
suppressor. These parameters ensure the ESD protection
does not impede 1Gbit Ethernet transmission rates.
The image sensor is the most important circuit block.
A single pair, bipolar set of ESD diodes can protect the
image sensor and its circuit. The diodes in this bipolar
protection component are oriented cathode to cathode.
This model of TVS diode can withstand an ESD strike of
up to ±30kV and has an extremely low leakage current
with typical values of under 10nA. Its capacitance is
around 0.35pF. These TVS diode arrays have ultra-small,
1.0mm × 0.5-mm SOD882 packaging to minimize board
space. Keeping protection components as close as
possible to the circuit inputs keeps extraneous energy
from damaging critical parts.
The radar subsystem provides the input for forward
and side pedestrian detection and collision avoidance
(Figure 3). The circuit generally has two DC power
supplies, a low-noise supply powering the analog radar
transmitter and receiver circuit blocks, a conventional
supply for the logic and communication circuits. Like
the camera subsystem power supply, radar subsystem
power supplies need over-current protection, transient
surge protection, reverse polarity, and ESD protection.
One set of protection components can handle over-
current and reverse polarity for both supplies. Again,
design engineers can employ either a conventional
surface-mount fuse or a PPTC resettable fuse. In series
with the input line to both supplies, a low-forward-
voltage Schottky diode will protect against reverse
polarity for both power supplies and the radar subsystem
circuit blocks. Design engineers should provide each
supply with surge protection at the input.
TVS diodes are the recommended surge protection
component. They can absorb large amounts of transient
power, such as 600W for 1msec. These diodes can
also absorb up to 100A of transient current. Designers
select a TVS diode based on its transient power rating
(400W/600W for low-power transients and 1.5kW/7kW
for high-power transients).
The waveform generator and the analog front end are
part of the radar transmitter and radar receiver.
They are separate from the transmitter and receiver
blocks because protection components on the
transmitter output and receiver input blocks would
alter their transmission and reception impedance. The
protection components safeguard as much of the circuits
as possible. A bipolar diode array is the recommended
component for ESD protection. A component similar
to the diode array protecting the image sensor in the
camera subsystem will provide the necessary ESD
protection. The high-sensitivity analog front end requires
ESD protection that will not interfere with the circuit’s
low-level signal integrity. Designers should consider a
bipolar polymer ESD suppressor. The ESD suppressor
has a capacitance below 0.1pF and draws under 1nA of
leakage current for a minimal impact on the circuit’s gain
and bandwidth.
As with the camera subsystem, the radar subsystem
sends its information to the vehicle central processing
subsystem. Bipolar diode arrays provide ESD protection
for both the high and low sides of CAN I/O lines. The
Ethernet transceiver can use either diode arrays or
polymer ESD suppressors to minimize signal distortion
and not impact the Ethernet transmission rate.
The radar system is crucial for the safe, proper operation
of an autonomous vehicle. It is, like the camera system,
the set of eyes that monitor the road. Protection of its
circuit blocks from the external environment is essential.
Figure 3: Radar subsystem power supplies
need over-current protection, transient surge
protection, reverse polarity, and ESD protection.
(Source: Littelfuse)
littelfuse.com 31

Protecting the ADAS
The signal processing, communication, and control
subsystem operate the vehicle. This main subsystem
must be robust, reliable, and fail-safe. The circuit must
react to other vehicles in traffic and make fast stops
when an animal or person obstructs the vehicle’s path.
The subsystem also must have a fail-safe response to a
failed sensor. All circuit blocks that supply information to
the controller need protection from ESD.
Like the other power-supply blocks, the ADAS power
supply (Figure 4) requires over-current protection, surge
protection, and reverse polarity protection. The fuse
for this supply can reside within the module or further
upstream in the vehicle’s low-voltage junction box. A TVS
diode, picked for its surge power rating, protects against
surge transients. A Schottky diode in series with the
power supply input line provides reverse voltage polarity
protection.
32 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces
Figure 4: The ADAS power supply requires
over-current protection, surge protection, and
reverse polarity protection. (Source: Littelfuse)
Each communication link requires ESD and transient
protection designed for each port’s performance and
configuration. Design engineers can select from a wide
range of diode arrays and polymer ESD suppressors to
protect each communication link without compromising
its data rate or its high-to-low voltage differential.
Any signal lines connecting directly to the DSP circuit
block should have ESD and transient protection.
Designers can use diode arrays or polymer ESD
suppressors that provide bipolar protection for high and
low signal lines.
The ADAS communication and control subsystem is
the primary intelligence for autonomous vehicles. This
subsystem must remain operational at all times. ESD
protection on all ADAS inputs and outputs will protect the
subsystem from disabling ESD strikes, and TVS diodes
will protect against surge transients generated by electric
and electromechanical devices.
Designers should be aware of the ISO standards with
which vehicle electronic systems must comply. The most
important of them include:
• Standard ISO7637-2: Defines requirements for
protection from conducted electrical transients;
• Standard ISO16750-2: Describes environmental
stresses that automotive electrical and electronic
systems must withstand; and
• Standard ISO 10605:2008: Defines the ESD
conditions that automotive electronics must
withstand.
Familiarity with these standards helps design engineers
avoid expensive and time-consuming redesigns.
The automotive industry has defined a qualification
system for components that can be used in automotive
electronic circuits. The components that pass a set of
Littelfuse AQx
AEC-Q101 TVS
Diode Arrays
LEARN MORE 
defined mechanical, electrical, and environmental stress
tests, including operation over a wide temperature range,
can be designated as AEC-Q (Automotive Electronics
Council-Quality). The tests have several Q values,
including AEC-Q100, AEC-Q101, and AEC-Q200.
This qualification system determines which tests must
take place. The use of AEC-Q-qualified components
can enable a faster approval process for automotive
electronic circuitry.
Conclusion
Robust, reliable vehicle electronic systems will help
make autonomous vehicles fixtures on the road.
Designers can substantially reduce the risk of circuit
failures by providing over-current protection, transient
surge protection, ESD protection, and reverse polarity
protection. ■
Littelfuse AXGD
Xtreme-Guard™
Automotive
Suppressors
LEARN MORE 
littelfuse.com 33
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