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Circuit Protection Considerations for In-Vehicle Infotainment Equipment

To accommodate high data rates and conform to current communications requirements, new in-vehicle infotainment and navigation systems must be protected from damage. Tyco Electronics offers applicable circuit protection products in a wide range of form factors and termination methods, all of which meet relevant industry standards and are compatible with high volume assembly procedures.

Resettable PPTC (Polymeric Positive Temperature Coefficient) devices are widely used in infotainment applications. The resettable functionality of Tyco Electronics’ PolySwitch devices allows placement in inaccessible locations in a vehicle and a wide range of electrical and physical sizes facilitates precise protection design solutions. PolySwitch devices are compatible with high volume, automated assembly processes and are available for both current and future vehicle electrical systems.



In applications where resettable functionality is not desirable or practical, chip type surface mount fuses are generally specified. Tyco Electronics offers high-current, small size devices in both fast- and slow-blow configurations. The fuses provide clean blow characteristics that physically contain the fusing event within the package. Devices are available for applications of up to +125°C and offer excellent arc suppression characteristics as well as resistance to shock and vibration.

Infotainment equipment is also susceptible to damage caused by overvoltage transients, including ESD (ElectroStatic Discharge) pulses from the operating environment and peripherals. Tyco Electronics’ PESD devices help protect sensitive electronics against such events. Suitable for high-speed data transmission lines and radio frequency data lines, they can withstand numerous ESD transients, are RoHS and IEC61000-4-2 compliant, and offer extremely low capacitance, low trigger voltage and fast response time.

Also for OverVoltage Protection (OVP), Tyco Electronics’ range of Radial leaded metal Oxide Varistors (ROVs) provide high current handling and energy absorption. The devices’ low leakage also helps improve battery run-down rate.



Protection from 'dirty' automotive power buses is becoming increasingly necessary for appliances being charged from the car battery via a USB interface. The new PolyZen™ device provides both OverCurrent Protection (OCP) and OVP by combining a stable Zener diode with a resistively non-linear PPTC layer that responds to either diode heating or overcurrent events by transitioning from a low to high resistance state. The PolyZen device is especially effective at clamping and smoothing inductive voltage spikes and can withstand very high power fault conditions.

Features

• Range of circuit protection options for automotive electronics
• PolySwitch resettable polymeric positive temperature coefficient devices
• Chip type surface mount fuses
  • High current, small size devices
  • Fast and slow blow
  • Up to +125°C
• PESD devices
  • Withstand numerous events
  • RoHS compatible
  • IEC61000-4-2 compliant
  • Low capacitance
  • Low trigger voltage
  • Fast response time
• Radial leaded metal oxide varistors
  • Overvoltage protection
  • High current handling
  • High energy absorption
  • Low leakage
• PolyZen devices
  • Combines a stable Zener diode with a resistively non-linear PPTC layer
  • Both overcurrent protection and overvoltage protection
  • Especially effective against inductive spikes
  • High power withstand

For further information, including PolyZen™ Application Notes, please click here