Space saving transistor package Richard Wilson
Motorola is about to launch a space saving plastic moulded package for its discrete transistors which will fit in standard chip component pick and place machines.
The first device in the new ?Surf package will be a small signal transistor, which is expected to be available in the new year.
The package is commercially viable because it combines silicon processing and plastic body moulding in the one manufacturing operation. According to the company, it is inexpensive to produce. It also fits on the same footprint as a standard 0402 chip resistor or capacitor surface mount component so that it can be dispensed in standard surface mount pick and place machines.
The first ?Surf packaged devices will be small signal transistors in a single three-pad package.
However, Motorola says it is not limited to single devices and multi-transistor versions are also planned. The intention is to retain the SMD compatibility, so larger packages will be on standard footprints such as 0603.