ESD Suppressor Basics: How They Work

This page covers the fundamentals of ESD suppressors, including an application note and a list of manufacturers/vendors. ESD stands for Electrostatic Discharge, and an ESD suppressor is a device designed to protect against it.

ESD suppressors are used to protect sensitive electronic circuits and devices from high-voltage ESD (around 30-32kV) in various applications, including:

• Laptops
• Tablets
• Smart TVs
• Smartphones
• Gaming devices
• Wearable devices
• Set-top boxes
• Medical portable devices

ESD Suppressor Application Note

Here’s an example application note, focusing on an ESD suppressor developed by Littlefuse Inc.

ESD suppressor

Littlefuse manufactures the XGD series (XTREME-GUARD) of ESD suppressors. These are available in 0402 and 0603 sizes.

The image above shows the top and bottom view of the ESD suppressor, as well as its equivalent circuit. This surface-mount device has a flat top.

The body is made of glass epoxy, and the terminations are made of copper, tin, or nickel.

Key features of the Littlefuse Inc. ESD suppressor:

• Withstands very high voltage (up to 32kV)
• Ultra-low capacitance
• Low leakage current
• Fast response time
• Bi-directional (as shown in the equivalent circuit)
• Compliant with pick-and-place processes
• Withstands multiple ESD strikes
• Wide operating temperature range (-65 to +125 degrees Celsius)
• RoHS compliant
• Supports specifications as per MIL-STD

ESD Suppressor Manufacturers/Vendors

Here is a list of popular ESD suppressor manufacturers and vendors:

• Digikey
• Littelfuse Inc.
• Mouser Electronics
• Eaton
• Vishay
• Maxim Integrated
• Thinking Electronics Industrial Co. Ltd.
• NIC Components Corp.
• ON Semiconductor
• INPAQ