The TPD12S520 is a single-chip electrostatic dischare (ESD) solution for the high-definition multmedia interface (HDMI) receiver port. In many cases, the core ICs, such as the scalar chipset, may not have robust ESD cells to sustain system-level ESD strikes. In these cases, the TPD12S520 provides the desired system-level ESD protection, such as the IEC61000-4-2 (Level 4) ESD, by absorbing the energy associated with the ESD strike.

While providing ESD protection, the TPD12S520 adds little or no additional glitch in the high-speed differential signals (see and ). High-speed transition minimized directional signaling (TMDS) lines add only 0.8-pF capacitance to the lines. In addition, monolithic integrated circuit technology ensures excellent matching between the two-signal pair of the differential line. This is a direct advantage over discrete ESD clamp solutions where variations between two different ESD clamps may significantly degrade the differential signal quality.

The low-speed control lines offer voltage level-shifting to eliminate the need for an external voltage-level shifter IC. Control-line ESD clamps add 3.5-pF capacitance to the control lines.

The 38-pin DBT package offers a seamless layout routing option (see ) to eliminate the routing glitch for the differential signal pair. DBT package pitch (0.5 mm) matches HDMI connector pitch. In addition, the pin mapping follows the same order as the HDMI connector pin mapping. This HDMI receiver port protection and interface device is designed specifically for next-generation HDMI receiver-interface protection.