Tim Patel, Technical Marketing Manager, Electronics Business Unit of Littelfuse, Inc explains more in below Q&A
1. What are the typical causes of Fuse failure?
Fuses are designed to protect circuits from abnormal over-current conditions, such as short-circuit or overload conditions. When the correct fuse is used, there will be no failure of the fuse, and it will safely open this circuit when an over-current event exceeding the rating of the fuse occurs. Fuses may fail when incorrectly applied in a circuit. For example, if a fuse is rated for a specific voltage and interrupting rating (or breaking capacity), use of that fuse in a circuit with higher voltage and/or higher prospective current may result in failure of a fuse.
2. Tell us about your current limiting fuses and its key features?
Current-limiting fuses are typically power fuses installed in power distribution branch circuits. A current-limiting fuse is a special type of fuse that actually helps to limit the prospective current from a power source when subjected to a short-circuit condition. As the fuse opens during the short-circuit condition, its impedance typically increases to limit the amount of fault current in the circuit. Littelfuse offers a range of current-limiting fuses under the POWR-GARD® brand.
3. What are the particular AC applications you are focusing on?
LED lighting, LCD/LED display, smartphone and tablet chargers, power adaptors and smart home automation systems
4. What is Time lag parameter you introduced in your product? What is the significance?
A “time-lag” fuse as it is called globally, or a “time-delay” fuse as it is called in North America, is a fuse that has a special construction so that the fuse element melts and opens at a slower rate than a standard or fast-acting fuse. Such fuses are ideal for circuit applications where inrush currents are expected, such as the starting of a motor. Inrush currents may have magnitudes that exceed the nominal fuse current rating, but these currents last for a short-duration of time, so fuses used in these applications must be able to withstand this short-duration over-current condition without causing unwanted opening (or “nuisance tripping”).
5. Discuss the new trends you are working?
As in the overall electronics industry, the trend in circuit protection is to provide enhanced capabilities in smaller packages. New fuse technologies include new constructions where the voltage ratings and interrupt ratings that were achievable in larger form factors are now being implemented in smaller surface mount devices. Additionally in over-voltage protection the surge handling capabilities of larger varistor products are now being achieved in smaller form factors and even in surface mount. In the Indian market, we are working on smart home systems and high-power smart phone chargers where specific fuses are needed to ensure product & user safety.
6. What are your latest achievements and about your awards?
In 2014, Littelfuse won the China Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) award for High-Performance Component of the Year with the LSP Surge Protection Modules. These modules are designed to provide robust surge protection for LED Lighting applications.
About Tim
Tim Patel is the Technical Marketing Manager for the Electronics Business Unit. He joined Littelfuse in 2013 after being involved in testing and certification services in his previous role at Underwr
iters Laboratories (UL). Tim’s current responsibilities include development of marketing collateral material, management of marketing activities for new product launches, and performing market studies and feasibility analyses for new product ideas. He received his BSEE from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois. Tim can be reached at tpatel@littelfuse.com
