Integrated overvoltage, overcurrent devices for consumer electronics

TE Circuit Protection, a business unit of TE Connectivity, has announced the PolyZen CE (Consumer Electronics) series of circuit protection devices for tablets and other portable consumer electronics. The low-profile (1mm-height) PolyZen CE device, rated at 2.6A, is an innovative solution that offers significant performance advantages over discrete solutions employing fuses, Zeners and other passive devices, noted the company.

Consumer electronics require robust circuit protection to help protect sensitive electronics from overvoltage and overcurrent events that can result in costly product returns and warranty issues. The PolyZen CE series offers board designers plug-and-play overvoltage protection devices that relieve them of the time it takes to integrate and test less effective discrete and more costly IC solutions, indicated TE.

The PolyZen products integrate a precision Zener diode, with 5.6V and 13.2V Zener voltage (Vz) options, and a PolySwitch Polymeric Positive Temperature Coefficient (PPTC) device in a single, surface-mount assembly. Offered in a thin, compact package useful for space-constrained applications, the PolyZen CE series uses a thermally protected Zener diode to help protect electronics against voltage transients, reverse-bias and the incorrect use of power supplies. The PolySwitch PPTC element shuts out excessive current while the fault condition remains and helps shield the Zener diode and downstream electronics from damage.

The PolyZen CE series includes six devices with various current ratings to accommodate a range of applications that include tablets and ultrabooks, GPS and navigation systems, hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), cigarette lighter adaptor chargers, cellphone charger ports and USB power, portable media players and STBS, automotive infotainment power, DC power port and industrial handheld (POS) products.

The devices are valued at $0.66 each for minimum quantities of 4,000 units. Samples are available with 12 weeks ARO.