Bourns launches RC networks

Electronic News, August 11, 1997

Riverside, Calif.--Bourns, expanding its integrated passive component thrust begun last year, last week launched MiniNet resistor-capacitor (RC) networks. They address the applications of integrated resistors and capacitors, which can be used in designs such as AC termination and EMI/RFI filtering for digital data transmission.

"These thin-film-on-silicon-based components are ideal for applications requiring passive component technology, which provides space-saving, high frequency performance," Bourns claimed. "With thin-film-on-silicon, a single silicon chip could contain nearly all the passive functions required to support the most sophisticated ICs in today's chipsets. The new Bourns' MiniNet RC passive networks offer integrated resistors and capacitors to provide cost-effective and space-efficient noise filtering solutions, assisting designers in meeting EMI/RFI emission and susceptibility regulations."

Last year around this time (EN, July 29, 1996), Bourns jumped into the market for integrated thin film silicon passive component networks, challenging California Micro Devices (CMD), which pioneered the passive networks, and other firms, including other traditional passives houses moving into the more semiconductor-related technology to defend their turf. Later this year, Bourns plans to extend the family with resistor/capacitor/diode networks, and next year will add inductors and transformers. "We will be sampling the resistor/capacitor/diode networks in the fourth quarter," said Michael F. Ehman, president of Bourns Microelectronics division.

Meanwhile, "Bourns' technology leadership, applied to its new line of MiniNet RC products, gives design engineers solutions that address their evolving product development requirements," claimed Larry Eslinger, VP of marketing, Bourns Microelectronics division. "In addition to standard, off-the-shelf MiniNet RC solutions, Bourns global design and application support teams assist customers with custom RC product designs wherever required." The firm has set up MiniNet design centers at several worldwide locations.

In a sample of total installed price based on high volume usage, the firm indicated one of its newest MiniNet RC offerings would have component cost of $0.490 plus installation cost of $0.025.

Bourns' MiniNet RC networks meet standard AC termination requirements and are available in a range of standard values and configurations. Bourns' family of RC filter devices are available in miniature JEDEC packages including SOIC, QSOP, TSSOP and SOT23. "With the inherent stability of their tantalum nitride on silicon thin-film technology, these passive networks offer the best electrical performance in the most space-efficient packages available," the firm claimed. Standard products include RC filters in tapped and T configurations, and the IEEE 1284 standard termination circuit where pull-up termination resistors are included.

The firm added that "as end products continue to shrink to previously unimaginable geometries, ceramic-based chip-resistors and capacitors, even in their smallest format (0402), cannot keep pace with the demands of portable and mobile applications. Additionally, with operating frequencies rapidly climbing to levels where parasitic capacitances and inductances become increasingly significant, the limitations of thick-film components are self-evident. Recognizing both the functional and geometrical advantages of thin-film-based passive devices, Bourns has pioneered the availability of this advanced technology for applications where circuit board real estate is at a premium and high frequency performance is a critical consideration."