Nexperia recently released one of the first ESD protection diodes to comply with the OPEN Alliance requirements for use in 10BASE-T1S automotive Ethernet applications.
The low capacitance (0.4 pF) of these diodes means they can also be used to protect higher speed applications deploying 100BASE-T1 or 1000BASE-T1 in-vehicle networks while still maintaining excellent signal integrity. These diodes offer a single line ESD protection solution with up to 18kV, according to IEC 61000-4-2, and up to 15 kV with 1000 discharges, as per OPEN Alliance.
The OPEN Alliance (One-Pair Ether-Net) is a non-profit group comprising automotive manufacturers, technology providers, and suppliers working to establish Ethernet-based networks as the standard for in-vehicle networking. Founded in 2011, the alliance fosters collaboration across the industry to support open access to specifications and advance automotive connectivity.
These devices are covering the full range of automotive board net voltages including 12V typically found in cars; 24V for trucks and larger commercial vehicles; and 48V in hybrid and electric cars.
"At Nexperia, we are proud to introduce the first diodes to meet the stringent OPEN Alliance requirements for 10BASE-T1S automotive Ethernet applications. These diodes not only enable backward compatibility with legacy standards like LIN and CAN but also support modern in-vehicle networks with exceptional signal integrity. Underscoring our leadership position in ESD protection, this innovation reflects our focus to deliver best-in-class products while helping customers simplify board designs. By bridging the gap between current and future automotive technologies, we’re helping our customers build smarter, more versatile, and future-proof vehicles," commented Alexander Benedix, Head of Product Group Protection and Filtering at Nexperia.
High-bandwidth 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1 automotive Ethernet networks are playing a major role in advancing automotive connectivity and electrification but many legacy in-vehicle applications operate at lower speeds and are still implemented using older connectivity standards like CAN and LIN. Interfacing these applications to higher speed automotive Ethernet networks introduces unnecessary complexity and cost. Therefore, replacing them with 10BASE-T1S makes sense.
This approach allows a single network architecture (automotive Ethernet) to serve the speed requirements of almost every automotive application. Now automotive subsystem manufacturers will be able to use a single ESD protection diode, the PESD1ETH10L-Q or PESD1ETH10LS-Q, to protect all automotive Ethernet applications against the harmful effects of electrostatic discharge, thus simplifying their board designs and supply chains.
The PESD1ETH10L-Q is available in a DFN1006-2 package measuring 1.0mm x 0.6mm x 0.48mm while the PESD1ETH10LS-Q is available in DFN1006BD-2 measuring 1.0mm x 0.6mm x 0.37mm with side-wettable flanks to enable automated optical inspection (AOI) in applications that require higher levels of soldering reliability.
