News & Events
Harris Semiconductor Introduces New Diode Array Family for Protecting Today’s High Speed Data Communications Equipment

— Low Capacitance SP724 Diode Array Family Saves on Costly Equipment Repair and Network Downtime

MELBOURNE, FL., March 29, 1999—Harris Semiconductor announced today the availability of a low capacitance diode array family to protect high speed data communications equipment from unwanted voltage transients. Harris’ latest suppression family provides bidirectional protection by diverting electrostatic discharge (ESD) and other overvoltages away from sensitive data lines. Harris’ new SP724 can save hundreds of dollars in data communications equipment repair and thousands of dollars in network downtime by providing simultaneous protection for up to four high speed data lines.

"The SP724 is tailor-made for today’s reliability-conscious data communications equipment manufacturers," says Mamoon Rashid, Harris’ marketing director for Suppression Products. "It provides quick response to ESD and overvoltages and protects sensitive input circuits and data lines from catastrophic failure. Anyone who has lost the use of a data communications network because of circuit damage knows the value of protection offered by this new family of diode arrays."

Most local area network (LAN) transceivers provide data communications via a pair of "transmit" wires and a separate pair of "receive" wires. Harris’ SP724 is a surface-mountable diode array that offers simultaneous protection for all four signal lines. Each SP724 uses two SCR/Diode structures of protection per four device inputs. The diode structures are triggered the moment any transient voltage exceeds 0.7V above V+ or -0.7V below V- supply rails and provides much lower clamping than traditional Zener-based transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes.

The SP724 is designed for applications ranging from 3.3V to 20V and provides lightning-fast switching, with typical risetimes of 2 nanoseconds. Harris’ SP724 meets IEC 10002 specifications by protecting circuits from up to 15,000-volts of air discharge and 8,000-volts of direct discharge ESD.

Unlike Zener arrays, Harris’ SP724 family is not affected by power supply variations. The SP724 works with any supply voltage within its range. The low input leakage (1nA at 25C typical) and low input capacitance (3pF typical) make the SP724 ideally suited for protecting LAN transceivers, microprocessor and logic input devices, data busses and analog input devices. It provides voltage clamping over a wide temperature range from

-40 to 150 C. Because of the low profile of the SP724’s package, it can be easily surface mounted in PCMCIA cards and the backside of PC boards. The compact 6-lead SOT23 package minimizes board space requirements compared to competing SO-8 offerings.

Price and Availability
Priced at $.58 each in quantities greater than 12,000, the SP724 is immediately

available in a 6-lead SOT23. These devices are shipped in 3,000-piece

increments packaged in 7-inch tape and reel . For more information, call the

company toll free at 1-800-4HARRIS.

Harris Semiconductor formed the Suppression Product Line within its Power Business in August of 1998 to address high-growth opportunities within the surge suppression market. The Suppression Product Line brings together several distinct TVS technologies to provide turn-key power solutions for the mobile communications, computing, industrial and automotive markets.

Harris’ Suppression Product Line combines leadership in systems-level applications expertise with a vast portfolio of products including metal oxide varistors (MOVs), multilayer suppressors (MLs), SCR/Diode Arrays and Thyristor Products (Surgectors). Harris provides ESD/EMI Suppression solutions in mobile communications, computing

and LAN applications; voltage surge and lightning protection for uninterruptible power supply (UPS), electric utility and industrial applications; surge suppression solutions in telecom PBX and line card applications; and load dump, secondary/tertiary suppression and ESD solutions for automotive applications Harris offers today's broadest line of protection devices — ranging in application from 3.5V logic circuits to 480kV AC power transmission distribution.

Harris is the inventor of the Nickel-terminated multilayer planar array, the surgector thyristor, the SCR diode array and other innovative products for the suppression market. The company is developing next-generation products and recently introduced its new UltraMOV series of varistors featuring the industry’s highest energy ratings.

Harris Corporation's Semiconductor sector manufactures discrete semiconductors and integrated circuits. Product development efforts are focused on innovative "next level solutions" for the communications and power markets. The company’s portfolio of high-value products serve many market segments – automotive, industrial, PC computing, wireless networking, signal processing, telecommunications, PC multimedia, consumer electronics, defense and space. The worldwide website is http://www.semi.harris.com/

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), with worldwide sales of $3.9 billion, is an international communications and electronics company focused on providing product, system and service solutions that take its customers to the next level. The company provides a wide range of products and services such as wireless and personal communications, digital television (HDTV), health care information, automotive electronics, transportation, business information, defense communications and information and Lanier office products.