ISO6520: Input pin clamp diode current ratings

Dan Wheeler

Part Number: ISO6520

Tool/software:

Can these structures be relied upon to steer a small amount of continuous current, limited by a PW resistor (say 1mA to 5mA), should INx exceed Vccx+0.5?

2 days ago

+1 Aaditya V. 2 days ago

TI__Genius 17915 points

Hi Dan,

Thanks for reaching out.

The diodes you see in the above diagram are used for very short ESD transients. This means that these diodes protect the device from very short transients or overvoltage. The ESD voltage rating that the device supports is listed out in datasheet. Since the diode is not designed to be operated with a continuous current, it doesn't have a continuous current rating defined. If you have a continuous current present that will go into the input of the device, please keep external resistors to keep the current less than 1mA. This allows for the ESD diodes to not be as stressed.

This E2E provides a similar explanation:https://e2e.ti.com/support/isolation-group/isolation/f/isolation-forum/1001045/iso7742-q1-what-is-the-current-rating-of-esd-bypass-diode-at-input-pin/3698252?tisearch=e2e-sitesearch&keymatch=continuous%252525252525252520current#

Regards,
Aaditya V

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ISO6520: Input pin clamp diode current ratings