Detailed Description

The MAX3202E/MAX3203E/MAX3204E/MAX3206E are

diode arrays designed to protect sensitive electronics

against damage resulting from ESD conditions or tran-

sient voltages. The low input capacitance makes these

devices ideal for high-speed data lines. The

MAX3202E, MAX3203E, MAX3204E, and MAX3206E

protect two, three, four, and six channels, respectively.

The MAX3202E/MAX3203E/MAX3204E/MAX3206E are

designed to work in conjunction with a device’s intrinsic

ESD protection. The MAX3202E/MAX3203E/MAX3204E/

MAX3206E limit the excursion of the ESD event to

below ±25V peak voltage when subjected to the

Human Body Model waveform. When subjected to the

IEC 61000-4-2 waveform, the peak voltage is limited to

±60V when subjected to Contact Discharge and ±100V

when subjected to Air-Gap Discharge. The device that

is being protected by the MAX3202E/MAX3203E/

MAX3204E/MAX3206E must be able to withstand these

peak voltages plus any additional voltage generated by

the parasitic board.

Applications Information

Design Considerations

Maximum protection against ESD damage results from

proper board layout (see the

Layout Recommendations

section and Figure 2). A good layout reduces the para-

sitic series inductance on the ground line, supply line,

and protected signal lines.

The MAX3202E/MAX3203E/MAX3204E/MAX3206E ESD

diodes clamp the voltage on the protected lines during

plus any supply voltage present on the cathode.

For positive ESD pulses:

For negative ESD pulses:

In reality, the effect of the parasitic series inductance

on the lines must also be considered (Figure 1).

For positive ESD pulses:

For negative ESD pulses:

VV

L x

dI

dt

Lx

d

C

FD

ESD

()

(

=−

+

⎛

⎝⎜

⎞

⎠⎟

+

()

2

13

II

dt

⎛

⎝⎜

⎞

⎠⎟

⎛

⎝⎜

⎞

⎠⎟

VV

V

L x

dI

dt

L

CCC

FD

ESD

()

=+

+

⎛

⎝⎜

⎞

⎠⎟

+

12

()

x

dI

dt

ESD

⎛

⎝⎜

⎞

⎠⎟

Low-Capacitance, 2/3/4/6-Channel, ±15kV ESD

Protection Arrays for High-Speed Data Interfaces

4

_______________________________________________________________________________________

L1

PROTECTED

LINE

L3

D2

GROUND RAIL

POSITIVE SUPPLY RAIL

I/O_

D1

L2

Figure 1. Parasitic Series Inductance

PROTECTED LINE

NEGATIVE ESD

CURRENT

PULSE

PATH TO

GROUND

PROTECTED

CIRCUIT

GND

D1

I/O_

D2

L1

L3

L2

Figure 2. Layout Considerations