Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1437732
22 Circuit Protection for High-Speed Serial Interfaces T he original Industrial Revolution marked the transition from making things by using human and animal power to making things with machines by harnessing water and steam power. The increased connectivity that the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) brings to factory automation systems also makes these systems particularly vulnerable to electrical damage from various threats. These threats include electrostatic discharge (ESD), electrical fast transients (EFT), cable discharge events (CDE), lighting-induced surges, and system-induced voltage transients that occur when large motors turn on or off, etc. This can happen via both data and power connections (Industrial Ethernet, Power over Ethernet (PoE), Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, RS-485, Profibus/FieldBus, etc.). The ability to use electricity in the mass production of goods made the second Industrial Revolution possible. The third came as the result of the use of computers to automate production processes. The fourth Industrial Revolution marks the transition from dumb machines (assembly lines, standalone automated painters, welders, etc.) to ones that are made smarter and self-configurable by incorporating sensors and processors and, more importantly, by connecting them and to the operations center via the IIoT. Sometimes known as Industry 4.0, it aims to make production more efficient, cost-effective, and flexible and deliver a better product to the customer in less time. Engineers designing and implementing automation systems in industrial settings need to be aware of the appropriate circuit protection solutions, such as Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) Diodes, TVS Diode Arrays, Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs), and SIDACtor ® protection thyristors, that can help reduce or eliminate the risks JAMES COLBY | Littelfuse, Inc. Don't Lose CONTROL of Your FACTORY AUTOMATION The Factories of the Future Will Demand Advanced Circuit Protection Technology to Keep Everything Connected