Quartet of intelligent power devices focus on automotive lighting applications

Each high-side IPD is applicable for automotive lighting and other critical vehicle loads. Designed for on-board electronic control units (ECUs) typically used in head- and fog-light applications, the new devices, or power ICs, have an embedded power MOSFET for switching and a control chip for protection features in a single package. The IPDs contribute to the improvement of the ECUs' efficiency, which help designers to develop environmentally-friendly automobiles.

Using NEC Electronics' new power MOSFET Super Junction technology enables the μPD166017 IPD to reduce on-state resistance (6 mΩ) by 40 percent, compared to the already available μPD166007, μPD166009 and μPD166010 devices in the same TO-252 five-pin package. The low on-state resistance enables the IPD to drive high-current lamps and heating elements. When two conventional IPDs were previously needed for seat heaters, now only one μPD166017 device is needed. Choosing the μPD166017 IPD for diesel glow plugs also will allow the reduction of the IPD size by 50 percent compared to current IPD solutions in TO-263 packages. The low on-state resistance minimizes thermal issues, allowing system manufacturers worldwide to reduce ECUsizes. Last but not least, the μPD166017 IPD has an analog current sense coupled to a diagnostic function.

The μPD166019 IPD adopts a P-channel MOSFET as a high-side switch, allowing the removal of theinternal charge pump required for a conventional N-channel MOSFET. It allows outstanding electromagnetic noise reduction which, combined to a low on-state resistance, makes this device the ideal candidate for fast-switching applications and motor drive applications.

In addition, the μPD166019 IPD slew rate can be adjusted by an external resistor, and the device includes a diagnostic function.

Due to the rather unstable voltage supply delivered by car batteries, applications driven by PWM increase to improve the lifetime of light bulbs. NEC Electronics' answer to the growing demand in faster switching devices are the μPD166020 and μPD166021 IPDs, which offer optimized on- and off-switching characteristics and reduced power losses and a reduction in overheating. Both devices also have an analog current sense and a diagnostic function.

Availability

Designed to replace mechanical switches and relays on ECUs, NEC Electronics' IPDs, using its state-of-the-art technologies, have been available since 2006 to address the increasing demand for smaller ECU with improved functionalities. Samples of the new (IPDsμPD166017, μPD166019, μPD166020 and uPD166021) are available now. Mass production of these new products is scheduled to begin in Q1 of 2011 and is expected to reach a monthly production of 5,000,000 units by 2011.

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NEC Electronics' IPDs