MIL-Qualified Plastic TVS Devices for Aerospace Protection

Microchip Technology has released a new family of transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diodes qualified to MIL-PRF-19500, extending military-grade surge protection to non-hermetic plastic packages for aerospace and defense electronics.

Plastic-Packaged TVS Devices Qualified to MIL-PRF-19500
Microchip Technology has introduced the JANPTX family of unidirectional TVS devices, marking the first reported qualification of a plastic-encapsulated TVS diode under the MIL-PRF-19500 specification. The devices are intended for aerospace and defense systems where transient suppression, mass reduction, and controlled manufacturing are key design constraints.

The JANPTX series addresses applications such as airborne avionics, power distribution networks, and mission-critical electronic subsystems exposed to lightning-induced surges, electrostatic discharge, and switching transients. By using a non-hermetic surface-mount package, the devices reduce component weight to approximately 0.25 grams while maintaining military qualification requirements typically associated with hermetic packages.

Electrical Performance and Protection Mechanisms
The JANPTX devices provide a peak pulse power rating of 1.5 kW using a 10/1000 µs waveform, consistent with established surge test conditions for transient protection components. Internal measurements indicate clamping response times below 100 picoseconds, supporting fast suppression of high-energy, short-duration voltage spikes before downstream semiconductor damage can occur.

The product family covers a working voltage range from 5 V to 175 V and consists of 84 qualified variants, allowing integration across low-voltage signal lines and higher-voltage power rails within the same digital supply chain. The devices are designed to mitigate effects from lightning transients, induced RF disturbances, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), and secondary lightning events.

Standards Compliance and System Integration
In addition to MIL-PRF-19500/716 qualification, the JANPTX devices are designed to support system-level compliance with IEC 61000-4-2 (ESD), IEC 61000-4-4 (electrical fast transients), and IEC 61000-4-5 (surge immunity). Surface-mount compatibility enables automated assembly in high-reliability manufacturing flows while preserving traceability and controlled process requirements.

Equivalent hermetic TVS devices remain available for designs that require sealed packages or through-hole mounting, enabling direct comparison of mass, cost, and packaging trade-offs within an automotive data ecosystem or aerospace electronics platform.

Design Support and Availability
To support circuit-level validation, the JANPTX family is accompanied by SPICE models for transient behavior simulation, reducing reliance on iterative physical prototyping. The devices are available in production quantities through Microchip’s standard distribution channels, supporting long-term supply for qualified defense and aerospace programs.

By extending MIL-PRF-19500 qualification to plastic-packaged TVS devices, the JANPTX family introduces an additional design option for engineers balancing electrical robustness, system weight, and lifecycle cost in high-reliability electronic systems.

www.microchip.com