CMD-LuxGuard: ESD Protection for UHB LEDs

The LuxGuard family of protection solutions includes both LED submounts that deliver robust ESD protection and enhanced thermal management capabilities and side mounts which offer superior ESD protection for customers that utilize ceramic submounts. A pioneer in the development of ESD protection circuits for high power ultra high brightness (UHB) LED applications, CMD has shipped more than 300 million units to customers since 2001. Leveraging a significant foundation of application knowledge, CMD's LuxGuard solutions are being offered with popular design options that enable customers to optimize the products for seamless integration in the UHB LED lighting module.

The market for high power, UHB LEDs has expanded beyond traditional market segments such as status and alphanumeric display markets into a wider range of lighting applications, including handset display and keypad illumination , automotive, signage , residential and commercial lighting. "Improvements in performance, efficiency, cost and reliability for UHB LEDs have been important contributing factors to their rapid penetration, accounting for over 15 percent of the total market in 2008, up from 10 percent in 2007,"said Jagdish Rebello, Ph.D. Principal Analyst for LED markets at iSuppli Corporation. "iSuppli forecasts the revenue for UHB LEDs to increase from $1.5 billion in 2009 to $3.9 billion in 2012 at a compound annual growth rate of 47 percent."

"High power LEDs are more ESD sensitive than their lower power counterparts, and require external ESD protection for enhanced reliability. Improved thermal management in a silicon based submount at a lower cost than more expensive ceramic submounts creates significant customer value," said Kyle Baker, vice president of marketing for California Micro Devices. "LuxGuard submounts and diodes address these exacting requirements for ESD performance and thermal management for UHB LEDs."

LuxGuard Design Options:
CMD offers two types of LuxGuard products for HB LEDs: silicon submounts and side mount TVS diodes. LuxGuard sub mounts provide integrated ESD protection at levels exceeding 15kV HBM (Human Body Model). The submount also helps to cushion the LED from stress due to thermal expansion coefficient differences between the LED and the lead frame, while the option of an aluminum top coat provides improved reflectivity.

CMD also offers TVS diodes mounted next to the LED die within the LED fixture. ESD ratings vary based on die size, and are typically between 8kV and 15kV HBM.

CMD offers a wide variety of product options, including:
• Single direction or bidirectional TVS solutions,
• Varying breakdown voltage levels to support single or multi-LED products,
• Avariety of submount and TVS die sizes to accommodate different HB LED applications,
• Various metallization options to meet most manufacturing requirements.

The LuxGuard Advantage:
With a number of design options, LuxGuard products leverage CMD's significant process, design and application knowledge and provide customers superior value of application specific solution, while enjoying the lower costs associated with higher volume, general customer solutions. To find out how to realize the LuxGuard Advantage for your next design, please go to: www.cmd.com/products/luxguard/

About California Micro Devices Corporation:
California Micro Devices Corporation is a leading supplier of application specific analog and mixed signal semiconductor products for the mobile handset, digital consumer electronics and personal computer markets. Key products include protection devices for mobile handsets, digital consumer electronics products such as digital TVs, and personal computers as well as analog and mixed signal ICs for mobile handset displays. Detailed corporate and product information may be accessed at http://www.cmd.com/.