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自動車産業向けサイド・ウェッタブル・フランク

09 March 2022 / by Anindita Bhattacharya

Anindita Bhattacharya

Semtech_Blog_TVS_Side-Wettable-Flank-Packages_v2

20世紀初頭の登場以来、自動車産業は、多数の革新、変更や適応を取り入れて大幅に進化しました。現代の自動車は、バックアップカメラ、フル機能のインフォテインメントシステム、スマートフォンドック、GPSナビゲーション、Bluetooth接続を始め、さまざまな高度な機能を備えています。加えて、最新の車種には、自動運転、前方・後方の衝突検出、自動駐車が可能なものもあります。自動車に使用される電子部品点数が急増していることは想像に難くなく、同時に、新たなコンポーネントのスペースを作るため、電子部品の小型化の要件が重要となっています。

半導体業界は、膨大な数の電子部品に対応するスペースを確保し、現代の自動車の安全性と信頼性の要件を満たすために、集積回路 (IC) のリードレスパッケージを製造しています。ここで大きな課題となるのが、パッケージ組み立て後のプロセス中にプリント回路基板 (PCB) のはんだ接合部の視認性が低下することです。接続はパッケージの下にあり、上部と側面からは見えないため、ICがPCBに適切に接合されているかの確認ができないのです。相手先ブランド供給 (OEM) メーカーは、信頼性の低いはんだ接合の検出にX線装置を使用していますが、これには費用と時間がかかります。

さらに、これは多層ボードや複雑なレイアウトとルーティング手順を持つボードでは十分に効果的でない可能性もあります。車載PCBは、安全性と信頼性の基準に準拠するため、全数が厳格な自動目視検査 (AVI) ポストアセンブリ過程を通過する必要があります。ここでの目標は、すべての電線接続が適切にはんだ付けされ、接続の信頼性が高いことを確認することです。

Introducing Side-Wettable Flanks

To make the assembly process more manufacturable and economical, packages with side-wettable flanks were developed. Side-wettable flank is a technology that allows a portion of the lead to be visible on the edge of a package. This, in turn, allows for visual examination of the formed solder fillets, which are “bumps” formed between the vertical side of the lead and the solder pad on the PCB. The solder fillets in such side-flank leadless packages allow inspection and testing of the solder joints even when most of the IC is not visible when soldered. The copper leads are tin plated to allow the solder joints to spread from the bottom and flow up the side wall of the IC. So after the soldering is complete, it becomes easy to examine if the IC is actually bonded to the PCB. With the side-wettable flanks as shown in Figure 1, AVI can easily detect if there are any improper solder joints.

Figure 1. Depiction of side-wettable flankFigure 1. Depiction of side-wettable flank

Side-wettable flanks have several other advantages as well. It increases reliability, and that improves yield. At the same time, it saves manufacturing cost and time. With this package technology, ICs can be designed with flexible form factor and size. Since tin plating is used to cover the copper terminals, it acts as a protection layer and helps protect the copper from oxidation over time.

Semtech offers numerous automotive graded transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diodes in DFN packages with side-wettable flank options across its entire portfolio of automotive circuit protection products. The saw step cut side-wettable flank technology, as shown in Figure 2, is used for the automotive circuit protection products at Semtech. This not only saves board space but also offers superb visibility of solder joints for AVI. That is how this technology allows the achievement of safety and reliability standards in the automotive industry.

Side-Wettable-Flack-Packages-Chips-Chart-Figure-2Figure 2. Side-wettable flanks in automotive TVS diodes

Solutions from Semtech for Automotive TVS

Now let us look into Semtech's portfolio of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection TVS diodes with side-wettable flanks for various automotive applications. The first product we discuss is a TVS diode for the ESD protection of the controller area network or CAN Bus. There are several bus interfaces used in automotive applications. The CAN Bus allows microcontrollers and other control units to communicate with each other.

Side-Wettable-Flack-Packages-Chips-Chart-Figure-3Semtech offers µClamp®2424PWQ, a 24V TVS diode in DFN (2.5x1.0x0.55mm) package with state-of-the-art side-wettable flank technology to protect CAN Bus during ESD and electrical overstress (EOS) events. µClamp2424PWQ provides 4 lines of transient protection to ESD events at ±30kV (air) and ±30kV (contact) as per the IEC 61000-4-2 standard. It has an extremely low capacitance of 18pF (max), and each line is rated for a maximum EOS current of 5A (tp = 8/20μs).

The second product is a TVS diode that protects automotive gigabit Ethernet. An ever-growing number of features and in-car applications continues to drive the need for higher bandwidth in automobiles, which is being satisfied by employing Ethernet technology. When designing a system to that deploys a high-speed interface like Ethernet in a harsh automotive environment, it is imperative to ensure sufficient ESD protection is provided to achieve reliable operation during undesirable transient events.

Side-Wettable-Flack-Packages-Chips-Chart-Figure-4Semtech's RClamp®0592PWQ, which also has a wettable side flank, is specifically designed to provide surge and ESD protection on automotive gigabit Ethernet ports. It protects two high-speed data lines with a typical junction capacitance of 1.2pF. It has an operating voltage of 5.0V and has a meager dynamic resistance of 0.07Ω (typical). RClamp0592PWQ is available in a 3 pin DFN package (1.0 x 0.6 x 0.55 mm ).

The other interfaces that need to be protected from ESD and EOS events in an automotive environment are high-speed data transmission interfaces like HDMI and display port. Semtech's RClamp0534PWQ is precisely suited to protect four high-speed data lines. It has a maximum junction capacitance of 0.18pF between I/O pins and GND. With an operating voltage of 5V and a minimum breakdown voltage of 5.5V, RClamp0534PWQ is available in a 10 pin DFN package (2.5 x 1.0 x 0.55 mm) with side-wettable flanks.

Side-Wettable-Flack-Packages-Chips-Chart-Figure-5Semtech is a leading manufacturer of TVS diodes that protects many of the world's most popular automotive model's electronic gadgets. In the harsh automotive environment, careful design and proper selection of TVS diodes is essential for safeguarding the communication buses and interfaces. Conformance to level 4 IEC61000-4-2 standard along with AEC-Q qualification is mandatory for automotive system design. Packages designed with side-wettable flanks are becoming essential in most automotive applications. Semtech's highly efficient and trusted portfolio of TVS products with side-wettable flanks protect high-speed data buses and other communication buses present in an automobile.

To learn more about Semtech's product offerings for the automotive industry, visit Semtech's Automotive Circuit Protection product site.

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Semtech, the Semtech logo, RClamp, and µClamp are registered trademarks or service marks of Semtech Corporation or its affiliates.

Topics: Circuit Protection, Automotive

Anindita Bhattacharya

Written by Anindita Bhattacharya

Anindita Bhattacharya is principal solutions architect in Semtech’s Advanced Protection & Sensing Products Group. She is also an adjunct faculty at San Jose State University.

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