TDK AVRH Multilayer Varistors: Compact Automotive ESD Protection for LIN and CAN

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TDK’s AVRH series is a family of automotive-grade multilayer chip varistors for protecting communication and electronic circuits from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and other transient disturbances. The February 2024 additions highlighted in TDK’s product announcement are the single-line AVRH10C220YT201MA8 for automotive LIN and the two-channel AVRH16A2C270KT200NA8 for CAN and CAN-FD.

Both parts are specified for −55°C to +150°C, are identified as AEC-Q200 compliant, and carry a stated 25 kV IEC 61000-4-2 ESD withstand/contact-discharge claim. That 25 kV figure is a test-stress rating—not a continuous operating voltage, clamping-voltage guarantee, or automatic promise of system-level EMC compliance.

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What a multilayer varistor does

A multilayer varistor is a voltage-dependent protection component. At normal circuit voltage it presents relatively high resistance; when a transient raises the voltage, its resistance falls sharply and it diverts current away from more vulnerable circuitry. In an automotive interface, the part is typically placed close to a connector or transceiver entry point so the discharge current has a short, low-inductance path.

Protection effectiveness is a board- and vehicle-system property, not just a component property. PCB placement, ground-return geometry, trace inductance, connector and harness construction, transceiver robustness, and the applied ESD waveform all affect the result. TDK’s product information establishes intended applications and headline ratings, but does not prove that every layout will pass an OEM’s immunity test (TDK announcement; AVR/AVRH catalog).

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The two highlighted AVRH devices

Values are reported by TDK and Mouser in the product announcement and related product information (press-information PDF; TDK announcement).

AVRH10C220YT201MA8 for LIN

The LIN-oriented part uses a 1.0 × 0.5 × 0.5 mm body and has a stated 16 V maximum allowable circuit voltage and 200 pF capacitance. Its value proposition is a very small footprint for a single communication line, helping reduce board area and material use in compact modules.

AVRH16A2C270KT200NA8 for CAN and CAN-FD

The CAN-oriented part measures 1.6 × 0.8 × 0.6 mm and is specified for a 19 V maximum allowable circuit voltage and 20 pF capacitance. Its two-in-one construction places protection for the two differential conductors in one package. The specified channel capacitance difference of no more than 1.0 pF is intended to limit imbalance between the lines.

That matching specification is useful, but it does not make the bus electrically transparent. Total protection capacitance, trace and connector parasitics, termination, common-mode components, transceiver characteristics, and CAN or CAN-FD bit timing still need to be checked in the complete design. Mouser lists this ordering code in a JIS 1608 / EIA 0603 package and shows a 10% tolerance on its distributor listing (Mouser product page).

Shared environmental and ESD claims

• ESD: TDK states a 25 kV withstand/resistance claim under IEC 61000-4-2 testing.
• Temperature: the stated operating range extends from −55°C to +150°C.
• Qualification: the AVRH family is identified as AEC-Q200 compliant.

AEC-Q200 is a passive-component qualification framework. It does not certify a complete ECU, guarantee an OEM’s EMC or reliability approval, or replace program-specific PPAP, traceability, functional-safety, and validation requirements. Likewise, the 25 kV number describes the reported IEC test stress; it does not specify the voltage left at an IC, clamping voltage at a particular current, absorbed energy for every surge, or system-level pass result (Mouser AVRH family information; Mouser product listing).

Where the AVRH family fits in a vehicle

TDK and Mouser position the broader AVRH family for automotive communication and electronic functions including:

• LIN, CAN and CAN-FD networks
• FlexRay and automotive Ethernet-related interfaces
• Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS)
• In-vehicle infotainment
• Distributed electronic control units (ECUs)

The two highlighted ordering codes have narrower stated associations: the AVRH10C220YT201MA8 is for LIN, while the AVRH16A2C270KT200NA8 is for CAN and CAN-FD. A family listing does not mean every AVRH code is qualified for every bus; selection is ordering-code-specific (family applications; catalog).

How to decide whether an AVRH part fits

1. Confirm the normal voltage. Compare the bus’s nominal and worst-case DC voltage, including supply tolerance, with the selected code’s maximum allowable circuit voltage. The 16 V and 19 V figures are not breakdown or clamping voltages.
2. Define the transient. Identify the expected ESD waveform, peak current, pulse duration, repetition, and energy at the protection location. Check the ordering-code datasheet for clamping and pulse capability at those conditions.
3. Check signal loading. Evaluate capacitance against bus speed, rise and fall times, termination, transceiver limits, and total harness and PCB capacitance. For CAN/CAN-FD, include the specified channel mismatch and layout asymmetry.
4. Verify leakage and failure behavior. Check leakage at maximum operating voltage, degradation after repeated events, short- or open-circuit behavior, and any required diagnostic response.
5. Check mechanical and manufacturing details. Confirm package land pattern, soldering profile, board clearances, inspection method, and assembly constraints.
6. Validate the system. Test the actual ECU, connector, harness, grounding, and enclosure against the relevant OEM, ISO, ESD, EMC, load-dump, and other transient requirements.

The generic family description is not a substitute for the exact datasheet and delivery specification for the ordering code you intend to release (AVR/AVRH catalog).

Layout guidance that determines real-world protection

• Place the varistor as close as practical to the exposed connector or entry point.
• Keep the discharge and return paths short, wide, and low-inductance.
• Minimize loop area and prevent unprotected traces from running alongside protected nodes.
• Provide a deliberate return path to the appropriate chassis, ground, or reference structure.
• Separate the “dirty” connector side from the protected transceiver side so the transient cannot bypass the component.

These are design practices, not a TDK-tested guarantee for every board. A long path between connector, protector, return, and transceiver can dominate the voltage seen by the IC even when the component’s laboratory rating is high.

When another protection technology may be better

AVRH is a compact shunt ESD option, not a universal replacement for other EMC parts.

• Automotive TVS diodes: may be preferable when higher surge-energy handling or a more explicitly characterized clamping response is required.
• Common-mode chokes: address common-mode noise and filtering; they do not perform exactly the same function as a shunt ESD protector.
• Ferrite beads and filters: help control high-frequency noise but are not direct substitutes for a dedicated ESD clamp.
• Integrated CAN/LIN protection ICs: can reduce component count but may have different capacitance, voltage, cost, and architecture constraints.

An AVRH part may be a poor fit when parasitic capacitance must be extremely low, transient energy exceeds the specified capability, tightly controlled clamping is essential, the dominant threat is load dump or reverse battery, or an OEM mandates another approved topology.

Obtaining datasheets and production quantities

Mouser lists the AVRH16A2C270KT200NA8 with datasheet access and packaging options such as cut tape and reel (product page). The family page is the practical starting point for locating other ordering codes, including the LIN-oriented device (AVRH family page).

Current price, stock, lead time, minimum order, and regional availability vary by distributor, quantity, packaging, and account. Verify those details directly before a production commitment; a distributor listing does not prove immediate availability in every country.

Bottom line

TDK’s AVRH10C220YT201MA8 and AVRH16A2C270KT200NA8 are targeted, compact automotive ESD-protection choices: the former for single-line LIN and the latter for two-line CAN/CAN-FD. Their stated 25 kV IEC 61000-4-2 withstand claim, −55°C to +150°C range, and AEC-Q200 qualification make them relevant for demanding vehicle electronics. Choose one only after checking the exact code’s voltage, capacitance, transient, leakage, package, and qualification requirements and validating the complete PCB, connector, harness, and EMC design.

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