Nexperia Launches 1V ESD Protection Diodes for USB4 and Thunderbolt Interfaces

Nexperia has unveiled a new lineup of five ultra-low capacitance 1V ESD protection diodes, specifically designed to protect high-speed USB4 and Thunderbolt™ transmission lines. As data rates climb past 10 GHz in next-gen consumer and computing devices, these components help ensure signal integrity while safeguarding sensitive electronics from ESD events, surge pulses, and short circuits.

Designed for Modern High-Speed Interfaces

The new diodes, including models such as the PESD1V0C1BSF and PESD1V0H1BSF, are optimised for AC-coupled RF lines where space is tight and performance is non-negotiable. With applications ranging from smartphones and laptops to communication equipment and peripherals, these devices address the growing complexity of USB Type-C interface protection.

Modern USB4 and Thunderbolt systems must manage not only increasing data rates, but also real-world challenges like short circuits between Vbus and TX/RX pins in non-compliant connectors. This places added pressure on the ESD protection circuitry to perform reliably without degrading signal quality.

Matching the Diode to the Design

What makes this series particularly relevant to designers is the flexibility Nexperia has built in. Depending on PCB layout, specifically the trace length between transceiver ICs and protection components, the best diode choice will vary. Shorter traces reduce inductance but can reduce system-level ESD robustness, while longer traces improve clamping behaviour but risk signal integrity losses.

“With this new series of protection diodes, Nexperia provides designers with the flexibility to select the device that is most appropriate to their specific board layout,” said Stefan Seider, Senior Product Manager at Nexperia. “We also offer RF and SEED (System Efficient ESD Design) simulation models to help guide that choice.”

Small Form, High Performance

The diodes are housed in Nexperia’s compact DSN0603-2 (SOD962-2) leadless package, known for its minimal inductance and space-saving footprint.

Key performance highlights include:

• Surge robustness: Up to 9.6 A (average Ipp)
• ESD protection: ±18 kV (air discharge)
• Capacitance: As low as 0.1 pF
• Insertion loss: Down to –0.21 dB at 12.8 GHz
• No resonance: Up to 40 GHz

This combination makes the new series a strong fit for high-frequency, high-density designs where maintaining clean signal paths is critical.

Closing Thoughts

As USB4 and Thunderbolt continue to push bandwidth limits, ESD protection can no longer be an afterthought. Nexperia’s new 1V series stands out by addressing not only robustness but also the RF demands of modern system design.