Transient Voltage Suppressors (TVS) avalanche diodes and diode arrays can be used to protect sensitive electronic components from the surge pulses that arise from ESD and EMI. The small size, fast response time, low clamping voltage and low cost of TVS diodes provides for an effective solution to prevent surge problems. Avalanche TVS diodes and diode arrays are relatively simple devices to use to suppress surge voltages. Only a few PCB design rules must be followed to optimize the ESD and EMI immunity level of the protection circuits.

A transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diode is an effective, low-cost option to protect sensitive electronic components from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) surge pulses. However, to maximize the
surge immunity provided by a TVS diode, designers should follow certain printed circuit board (PCB) layout guidelines. Layout examples help illustrate the tradeoffs between the different circuit confi gurations available with TVS diodes.