With the GMF05C and GMF05LC products, up to 5 signal- or data-lines (L1 to L5) can be protected against voltage transients. With pin 2 connected to ground and pin 1; pin 3 up to pin 6 connected to a signal- or data-line which has to be protected. As long as the voltage level on the data- or signal-line is between 0 V (ground level) and the specified maximum reverse working voltage (VRWM) the protection diode between data-line and ground offer a high isolation to the ground line. The protection device behaves like an open switch.
As soon as any positive transient voltage signal exceeds the break through voltage level of the protection diode, the diode becomes conductive and shorts the transient current to ground. Now the protection device behaves like a closed switch. The clamping voltage (VC) is defined by the breakthrough voltage (VBR) level plus the voltage drop at the series impedance (resistance and inductance) of the protection device.
Any negative transient signal will be clamped accordingly. The negative transient current is flowing in the forward direction of the protection diode. The low forward voltage (VF) clamps the negative transient close to the ground level.
Due to the different clamping levels in forward and reverse direction the GMF05LC-HSF, GMF05LC-HS3, GMF05C-HSF and GMF05C-HS3 clamping behaviour is bidirectional and asymmetrical (BiAs).