How does a circuit protection device change with the application environment?

To design a perfect electronic product, circuit protection technology must be inseparable. With the increasingly complex and diversified functions of electronic products, the demand for circuit protection technology is also increasing. In recent years, the demand for circuit protection devices has been steadily increasing, and how to provide safe and reliable Circuit protection devices, how to deal with the ever-changing application environment needs? Dr. Norbert Hess, CEO of the TDK-EPC Piezoelectric and Protection Device (PPD) Division, gave an answer in an interview with the actual case.

1. Please describe the business development situation of TDK-EPC protection devices in China in the past two years. Which products have performed outstandingly in the market in 2011?

Norbert Hess: In the past two years, our protection device business has seen double-digit growth in Greater China. This is mainly due to the strong promotion of the protection of the device business by local Chinese users in the highly developed Chinese market for new products and applications. In 2011, we will continue to advance our protective device business, especially the gas discharge tubes, varistors and NTC, PTC thermistors.

Photo: Dr. Norbert Hess, Chief Executive Officer, TDK-EPC Piezoelectric and Protection Devices (PPD) Division.

2. What are the current challenges in circuit protection? Compared with competitors, what are the secrets of TDK-EPC leading the industry?

Norbert Hess: The main challenge comes from how to provide a combination of performance and cost-effective products. Of course, this also provides opportunities for our future development. So far, our zinc oxide and vacuum (charged discharge tube) technology can still provide a high-performance, cost-effective solution for lightning surge induced surge protection. We are the market leader in product reliability, product feasibility and product sales in these two major areas. In the field of ESD protection, we use a forward-looking vision to focus on achieving product miniaturization and continuously develop products with high surge current capacity and protection level.

We are committed to developing innovative products for our customers and providing them with protection solutions to reduce overall costs.

3. Transient overvoltage and continuous overcurrent are the two major issues of circuit protection. What are the unique maintenance solutions and new products of TDK-EPC for these two issues? How can the circuit protection technology evolve in the future? What are the trends?

Norbert Hess: Our overvoltage products have a wide range of technologies, and are comprehensive and widely used. They involve the ESD protection of sensitive electronic devices such as smartphones and heavy direct lightning surge absorption of DC high voltage power transmission lines. We establish a good relationship with key users and work with them to develop the best protection program. The recently developed 01005 and 0201 multi-layer varistors are a good example. They can provide users with good product performance and, at the same time, save space.

Another example is overcurrent protection in telecommunications and special industrial applications. Our newly developed 1210-packaged SMD ceramic PTC thermistor provides recoverable over-current protection with an operating voltage of 265 V AC.

Now, more and more sensitive electronic products have been introduced. Moreover, broadband data service devices are getting closer and closer to end users. Therefore, we expect that the demand for protection devices will increase steadily.

In addition, over-temperature protection and surge current limiting also become an important area of ​​protection. Our product portfolio has great advantages and is ready to provide related services for these application areas.

4. In the past one or two years, what are the hot applications of TDK-EPC for protection devices? why? How does TDK-EPC seize these hot markets?

Norbert Hess: The application environment for protecting devices is changing rapidly, and new protection areas will continue to emerge in the future. For example, more and more industrial equipment and smart phones with electronic control systems may greatly promote the development of protective devices. In addition, the application of triple play, ie, telephone, cable TV and Ethernet cable, is also expanding on the same line, which means that data and power transmission on the same line need to be combined and protected on the same line. Our protection devices include signal lines and power line protection products, which can help us find a good new solution. The combination of varistors and gas-discharge tubes is adopted, and the products are produced using SMD technology, which provides miniaturization and effective protection without freewheeling. When the system is performing high-speed data transmission, the parasitic capacitance will be very small (<1.5 pF) using our newly developed SMD gas discharge tube, the EPCOS TG30.

Our passive components cover almost all markets, and we have accumulated rich experience in meeting customers' protection needs in the industrial, automotive, consumer electronics, communications, and IT fields, and can respond more quickly to new user requirements.

5. What kind of strategy does TDK-EPC adopt in the layout of various types of protection products? How to compete with mainland China and Taiwanese manufacturers?

Norbert Hess: The technology we hold today is the cornerstone of our development. Our goal has always been to continuously improve product performance while maintaining our long-term stable quality level. We believe that for the sake of users in advance, we can finally provide them with real value-added products.

The supply capacity of local suppliers is rapidly increasing and they can provide effective local services. Therefore, the key to our success in China is to make reliable, high-quality products in China. To achieve these goals, we have established two factories in Zhuhai and Xiaogan to provide competitive support. We also plan to establish production of ESD products in China.

6. What measures will TDK-EPC take to seize these opportunities in response to China's emerging applications such as car networking, industrial informatization, smart grid, new energy, and internet of things? Can you introduce some representative solutions or new products? (Similar to high dielectric strength film capacitors used in wind power plants, etc.)

Norbert Hess: We pay great attention to the dialogue with design engineers in emerging applications, do internal discussions, and actively participate in public forums. What I would like to point out in particular here is that our customers, renowned protection module suppliers for industrial and power facilities, are active in new energy and smart grid applications, and we provide the main protection components they need.

7. In the upcoming "6th International Passive Components Technology and Market Development Forum PCF2011", what new technologies will your company introduce?

Norbert Hess: At the PCF2011 forum, we will introduce our new design ideas for protection solutions based on our understanding of applications in different industries, and we will also recommend our latest innovation protection products. EPCOS varistor SNF series uses a non-flammable coating to provide overvoltage protection for home appliances, electric car chargers or power supply units. Another worth mentioning is the EPCOS cascade discharge tube. The cascading discharge tube is a compact size with an insertion height of less than 10mm, which provides a minimal protection scheme, such as a DC line in a base station power unit.