Working Principle of TVS Diodes (Transient Voltage Suppressors)

TVS stands for “Transient Voltage Suppressor,” a device used for overvoltage protection and ESD protection.

TVS diodes are designed to protect downstream ICs from unexpected overvoltage and surges caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) and power fluctuations.

While rectifier diodes and Schottky barrier diodes utilize the forward characteristics of diodes, TVS diodes, like Zener diodes (ZD), leverage the reverse characteristics.

As shown in the diagram below, when a TVS diode is connected in parallel with an IC, it remains in the OFF state during normal circuit operation, consuming only a small leakage current.

However, when subjected to overvoltage such as a surge, the TVS diode switches to the ON state, diverting the pulse current through itself. This clamps the overvoltage and protects the downstream IC.

Polarity of TVS Diodes (Unidirectional & Bidirectional)

The polarity of a TVS diode is a factor related to circuit performance.

A unidirectional TVS can serve as a protective device for unipolar circuits (such as LH), but it is not suitable for protecting bipolar circuits.

A bidirectional TVS can protect both positive and negative polarities, making it suitable for bipolar circuits and data lines (such as CAN).

Additionally, a bidirectional TVS can also be used to protect unipolar circuits.

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