Absolute Maximum Ratings
Absolute Maximum Ratings (AMR) are specified physical limits for storage, handling and application of electronic or electrical products. They are specified and published by the manufacturer of these products. They should not be exceeded by the user (customer) of these products under the worst probable conditions, in order to ensure serviceability of these products. - In this connection, products are all goods of manufacturers provided for customers.
Reference
The Absolute Maximum Ratings are defined by the standard IEC60134.
Consequences
- AMR are not necessarily limited to voltages. AMR can be defined by any physical limit, e.g. voltage, current, power, energy, temperature or mechanical stress.
- AMR cannot be measured. They are defined by the manufacturer of the respective product. There are various procedures for a reasonable definition of AMR. The collection of statistical measurement data on the respective product is not necessarily required for this purpose.
- AMR, that are specified independent of time, apply for any stress duration. However, AMR are not necessarily independent of time. They can depend e.g. on the stress duration or on more complex stress conditions and they can apply to single or repetitive events. AMR, that are not independent of time, are not "transient" (i.e. temporary), but time-dependent.
- AMR are instructions of the manufacturer for the user (customer) of the product, to protect it from malfunction or damage. Therefore, AMR apply only to the user (customer) of a product, not to its manufacturer.
- Any physical limit specified by the manufacturer of a product, that should not be exceeded by the user (customer), represents an AMR.
Analogy
| Subject | Motor Traffic | Electronic / Electrical Product |
|---|---|---|
| Instructions cannot be measured | Speed limits cannot be measured | AMR cannot be measured |
| Physical quantities can be measured | The speed of a car can be measured | Electrical stress can be measured |
| Physical limits can be measured | The maximum speed of a car can be measured | The failure threshold of a product can be measured |