Tyco Electronics Introduces Industry's First Reflowable Thermal Protection (RTP) Device

MENLO PARK, CA, USA, November 11, 2010—Tyco Electronics today announced the launch of a breakthrough technology that allows manufacturers to incorporate surface-mount thermal protection devices into their RoHS compliant standards. Reflow assembly process. Manufacturers will save a lot of money by transitioning from manual assembly to a cost-effective surface mount device (SMD) process. This Reflowable Thermal Protection (RTP) device uses industry-standard component placement and lead-free reflow equipment, allowing the device to be quickly and easily installed. The unique feature of the RTP device is that it can withstand multiple reflows with peak temperatures well in excess of 200°C, but when it detects a temperature in excess of 200°C in real applications, it will open.

The first device in this launch of the RTP product line is the RTP200R120SA (RTP200), which helps meet some of the most stringent requirements of the AECQ specification adopted by automotive electronics. The RTP200 device can be used to replace long redundant devices such as power FETs, relays, and heavy-duty heatsinks commonly used in automotive designs, while also providing a powerful feature for IT servers, communications power supplies, and other industrial applications. solution. The RTP device helps to prevent heat-loss damage caused by the breakdown and failure of capacitors, integrated circuits (ICs), resistors and other power components, or to prevent thermal effects caused by any corrosion.

The RTP200 device has a low series resistance of only 1.2mOhm (typical), and high current DC interrupt ratings of 200A at 16V DC and 100A at 32V DC. This thermal protection device is used to help meet reliability requirements in various automotive power electronics systems, including ABS, cooling fans, and power steering. The 200°C open temperature of the RTP200 device helps prevent false trigger actions and improves system reliability because this temperature is above the normal operating range of most normally functioning electronic products but is below the melting point of a typical lead-free solder. . Therefore, if the surrounding components are operating within their target temperature range, the RTP200 device will not be disconnected, but it will cause an open circuit until the temperature rises to the point where one component will be desoldered to create a potential risk of accidental short circuiting.

In order to enable it to be disconnected at 200°C in practical applications, the RTP device uses a one-time electronic activation program to make it thermally sensitive. Before activation, it can withstand 3 lead-free solder reflow steps without breaking. The electronic activation time node is determined by the user and can be automatically implemented during system startup or system testing.

The device's thermal sensitivity is of great benefit because in some cases, a failed power supply assembly may not produce a complete short-circuit over-current condition, but it may generate a resistor short circuit, in which case the conventional fuse It cannot be disconnected. This type of event may actually reduce the load current but still can cause unsafe thermal runaway conditions. The RTP200 device helps prevent damage caused by complete short circuits and resistive short-circuit conditions.

The RTP200 device withstands shock, vibration, temperature cycling, and moisture conditions. It has also been tested to meet or exceed some of the most stringent automotive AECQ environmental and life testing requirements. To simplify installation, increase system reliability, and optimize thermal coupling to printed circuit boards (PCBs), the standard SMD process can be used to mount the reflowable RTP 200 device without any special tools or manual installation. In a cost-effective design, the device also helps save valuable board space.

This lead-free RTP200 device is also halogen-free, RoHS compliant and supports conformal coatings. Based on this new scalable technology, follow-up products including a 0.6mOhm RTP device will continue to expand Tyco's product line of electronic circuit protection solutions.

About Tyco Electronics

Tyco Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in engineering electronic components, network solutions, special products and submarine communications systems. The company had sales of 12.1 billion U.S. dollars in fiscal year 2010 and customers in more than 150 countries worldwide. We design, produce, and sell products for a variety of customers in a wide range of industries. Our customers include automotive, data communications systems, consumer electronics, telecommunications, aerospace, defense and marine, medical, energy, and lighting. We have about 7,000 engineers and have global production, sales, and customer service capabilities. Tyco Electronics is committed to the interests of its customers.