New Miniaturization Record by STMicroelectronics Makes More Room for Mobile Functionality

STMicroelectronics (ST), the world’s largest supplier of Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) protection components, has introduced the world’s smallest TVS diode for protecting sensitive electronics in consumer products and handhelds.

As the first such device to be offered in the industry’s smallest standard surface-mount outline of 0.45 x 0.2mm, the ESDAVLC6-1BV2 is one size smaller than today’s 0.6 x 0.3mm devices. The value of the space saving to designers can be seen by comparing with other chip sizes used in smartphones and tablets.

“A complete motion-sensing IC for features such as indoor navigation and advanced user interface, such as ST’s LSM303D, measures just 3 x 3mm, while some power chips are as small as 2 x 2mm,” explains Eric Paris, product marketing director, ASD & IPAD Division, STMicroelectronics. “Trimming 0.2mm or 0.1mm from each TVS can simplify placing components and routing connections, especially if the design contains several such devices.”