Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    Samsung MLCCs Lineup for In-Vehicle Infotainment

    source: Samtec

    Best Practices for Cable Management in High-Speed and High-Density Systems

    Würth Elektronik Unveils Compact Common-Mode Data Lines Chokes

    Bourns Releases TCO 240 Watt USB Mini-Breaker

    Littelfuse Adds 600W Automotive TVS Diodes for High-Energy Transient Protection

    Vishay Releases Harsh Environment Robust DC-Link Film Capacitor

    Bourns Releases Automotive High Creepage and Clearance Transformer

    Bourns Unveils Metal Powder Core High Current Low DCR Shielded Power Inductor

    Influence of Tantalum Capacitor Pellets Size on Stability During Oxide Film Formation

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Ripple Steering in Coupled Inductors: SEPIC Case

    SEPIC Converter with Coupled and Uncoupled Inductors

    Coupled Inductors in SEPIC versus Flyback Converters

    Non-Linear MLCC Class II Capacitor Measurements Challenges

    Percolation Phenomenon and Reliability of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC converters

    Root Causes and Effects of DC Bias and AC in Ceramic Capacitors

    How to Calculate the Output Capacitor for a Switching Power Supply

    Switched Capacitor Converter Explained

    Understanding Inductor Dot Markings and Their Application in LTspice

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • Events
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    Samsung MLCCs Lineup for In-Vehicle Infotainment

    source: Samtec

    Best Practices for Cable Management in High-Speed and High-Density Systems

    Würth Elektronik Unveils Compact Common-Mode Data Lines Chokes

    Bourns Releases TCO 240 Watt USB Mini-Breaker

    Littelfuse Adds 600W Automotive TVS Diodes for High-Energy Transient Protection

    Vishay Releases Harsh Environment Robust DC-Link Film Capacitor

    Bourns Releases Automotive High Creepage and Clearance Transformer

    Bourns Unveils Metal Powder Core High Current Low DCR Shielded Power Inductor

    Influence of Tantalum Capacitor Pellets Size on Stability During Oxide Film Formation

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Ripple Steering in Coupled Inductors: SEPIC Case

    SEPIC Converter with Coupled and Uncoupled Inductors

    Coupled Inductors in SEPIC versus Flyback Converters

    Non-Linear MLCC Class II Capacitor Measurements Challenges

    Percolation Phenomenon and Reliability of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC converters

    Root Causes and Effects of DC Bias and AC in Ceramic Capacitors

    How to Calculate the Output Capacitor for a Switching Power Supply

    Switched Capacitor Converter Explained

    Understanding Inductor Dot Markings and Their Application in LTspice

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result

ADAS Surge Protection by Miniature Varistors

23.8.2022
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A

This technical blog article written by Sudhama Dharmappa, KYOCERA-AVX Components Corporation, discusses ESD surge protection of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) by miniature multilayer varistors (MLV).

Understanding ADAS Driver Assistance Systems

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have been used to enhance vehicle safety and performance long before the pursuit of self-driving cars.

RelatedPosts

KYOCERA AVX Releases Hermaphroditic WTW and WTB Connectors

Radiation Tolerance of Tantalum and Ceramic Capacitors

KYOCERA AVX Releases 600MHz Band71 Compact SAW Duplexer

Since the moment electronic sensors were integrated into automotive designs, a variety of driver assistance techniques have been widely adopted, including anti-lock braking, traction control, and cruise control.

At the highest level, ADAS involves simultaneously sensing the vehicle’s environment and some related aspect of performance and then processing this
information to further act upon it.

Figure 1. – ADAS Top Level Block Diagram. Image courtesy of KYOCERA AVX

The action may be as simple as alerting the driver or as complex as completely autonomous control. In recent years, the number and variety of sensors for both the vehicle’s surroundings and its internal operation have grown exponentially.

Figure 2. – Automotive Ethernet Bus. Image courtesy of KYOCERA AVX

External vision systems, radar, ultrasonics, vehicle-to-vehicle communication are just a few examples of the myriad of devices used to gather information for ADAS processing. Figure 1. presents the block diagram of a typical ADAS system.

The addition of so many sensors further compounds an already challenging problem in automotive design: moving the sensor information and the processed results to different points around the vehicle. To date, the keystone technology to solving this challenge has been automotive ethernet.

Unlike traditional ethernet used in terrestrial computer networks, the automotive variant uses a single twisted pair for transmission and reception (Bar-Niv).
Defined by the IEEE 802.3 specification, automotive ethernet is slated to reach data rates exceeding 10 Gb/S and serves to connect numerous vehicle subsystems, including those required for ADAS. A simplified vehicle ethernet bus is shown in Figure 2.

Automotive Surge Protection

Transient voltage spikes and electrostatic discharge (ESD) is particularly problematic in automotive environments. Alternator spikes, accessory motor field collapse, solenoid actuation, and a host of other noise sources have necessitated a much higher tolerance standard for automotive circuits. These requirements are also tightly controlled and tested through such regulatory standards as AEC-Q200, ISO-7637, and ISO-10605, to name a few (KYOCERA AVX).

Figure 3. – Construction of a Multi-Layer Varistor (MLV). Image courtesy of KYOCERA AVX

One of the most effective techniques for handling electrical surges is the generous application of varistors’ power and data lines. This is especially critical in ADAS systems and the associated ethernet subsystem since any failure directly correlates to the vehicle’s overall safety.

A varistor, or “voltage dependent resistor,” works by dramatically reducing its resistance when the applied voltage exceeds a defined threshold. When placed between an electrical conductor and ground, any voltage spikes will be dissipated to ground, thus protecting all downstream components. The construction of a typical multilayer varistor (MLV) is shown in Figure 3.

The core of the varistor is composed of a ceramic mass of zinc oxide (ZnO) grains and other trace oxides. The grain boundaries effectively form small diode junctions that break down at high voltage, allowing current to pass between the electrodes. A thick film termination and nickel surface plating allow for reliable soldering during assembly.

Interestingly, the transient energy capability of an MLV is determined by the number of dielectric layers and electrodes. This simultaneously allows MLVs to exhibit capacitance since ZnO is an effective dielectric. The resulting capacitance can be used along with the parasitic series inductance to provide additional limitations on electromagnetic radiation.

MLV Multi-layer Varistor Performance

MLVs demonstrate a superior capability to withstand repetitive ESD high voltage discharge without degradation. Repetitive high voltage strikes are best represented by applying IEC 61000-4-2 standard waveforms of 8kV x 20uS x 150A.

Figure 4. – MLV, SLV, and SiTVS repetitive strike comparison. Image courtesy of KYOCERA AVX

Figure 4 presents a comparison between MLVs and other voltage suppression devices such as SLVs and SiTVS.

Table 1. – Strike capability of MLVs

MLVs are particularly well suited to absorb a broad spectrum of transient threats because of a fast turn-on time, large in-rush capability, high peak current ratings, and high energy density.

For example, compared to a turn-on time range of 1.5-5nS for SiTVS devices, the response time of MLVs is typically less than 0.7 ns. Such a fast turn-on time provides the highest efficiency in diverting external transient threats to ground. Further, MLVs will not exhibit a wear out at anywhere near the rate of comparable TVS diodes. Table 1 shows typical MLV strike capability by case size.

Conclusion

The ADAS communication and control system is the primary intelligence for autonomous vehicles, and subsystems must remain operational at all times. ESD Protection on all ADAS inputs and outputs will protect the subsystem from disabling ESD strikes.

From a transient voltage perspective, MLVs provide automotive designers a set of valuable advantages when designing for reliability – fast turn on, high
inrush current capability, high energy capability, and repetitive strike capability. Coupled with an off-state EMI filter capability, the case for using MLVs for primary circuit protection is compelling.

Related

Source: KYOCERA AVX

Recent Posts

source: Samtec

Best Practices for Cable Management in High-Speed and High-Density Systems

4.9.2025
1

Würth Elektronik Unveils Compact Common-Mode Data Lines Chokes

3.9.2025
9

Influence of Tantalum Capacitor Pellets Size on Stability During Oxide Film Formation

29.8.2025
27

Ripple Steering in Coupled Inductors: SEPIC Case

27.8.2025
19

SEPIC Converter with Coupled and Uncoupled Inductors

26.8.2025
32

Coupled Inductors in SEPIC versus Flyback Converters

26.8.2025
21

Non-Linear MLCC Class II Capacitor Measurements Challenges

19.8.2025
62

Researchers Demonstrated HfO Anti-Ferroelectric Flexible Capacitors

19.8.2025
19

Common Mistakes in Flyback Transformer Specs

15.8.2025
76

High Voltage MLCCs Meeting the Growing Demand for Efficiency in Power Conversion

12.8.2025
188

Upcoming Events

Sep 16
17:00 - 18:00 CEST

EMI Shielding Challenges

Sep 22
September 22 @ 13:00 - September 25 @ 15:15 EDT

Pre Cap Visual Inspection per Mil-Std-883 (TM 2017)

Sep 30
September 30 @ 12:00 - October 2 @ 14:00 EDT

MIL-Std-883 TM 2010

Oct 17
12:00 - 14:00 EDT

External Visual Inspection per MIL-STD-883 TM 2009

Oct 20
October 20 - October 23

Digital WE Days 2025 – Virtual Conference

View Calendar

Popular Posts

  • Buck Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boost Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Flyback Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • LLC Resonant Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What is a Dielectric Constant and DF of Plastic Materials?

    4 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 0
  • Ripple Current and its Effects on the Performance of Capacitors

    3 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 0
  • Dual Active Bridge (DAB) Topology Explained

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How to Design an Inductor

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Core Materials, Permeability and Their Losses

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MLCC and Ceramic Capacitors

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter Subscription

 

Passive Components Blog

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • EPCI Membership & Advertisement
  • About

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Premium Suppliers

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version