Mcrosemi unveiled its family of Plastic Wide Area Device (PLAD) surface-mount transient voltage suppressors (TVS) which enable avionics systems to meet new safety standards required for today's carbon composite-skinned aircraft. The packaging improves surge protection, preventing the disruption of digital signal processing, component damage and interruption of function due to the indirect effects of lightning. These new multiple-burst lightning-protection requirements were specified by the Radio Technical Committee for Aeronautics in the United States, and the European Civil Aviation Electronic organisation. Modern military aircraft, such as the F-22, use composites for at least a third of their structures, and commercial aircraft such the Boeing 787 use composite materials for nearly all exterior surfaces except for the leading edges of the wings, the stabilizers and the engine pylons. Microsemi's PLAD technology is the first to enable more effective surface-mount TVS packaging for both 15kW and 30kW devices. It combines a large die size with an exposed bottom contact for heat sinking that improves power handling as compared to through-hole devices, and is compatible with standard assembly automation.
