Infineon Introduces LinearFET Technology for Automotive Power Distribution Applications

Infineon Technologies AG has launched LinearFET, a new MOSFET technology designed to simplify the development of next-generation solid-state power distribution systems for electric vehicles and software-defined vehicles. Announced on 27 October 2026 in Munich, Germany, this technology addresses important engineering challenges associated with modern automotive electrical power distribution. Its primary objective is to enable automotive manufacturers to develop more compact, cost-efficient, reliable, and safer power distribution architectures while reducing system implementation complexity.

The introduction of LinearFET comes as traditional automotive power distribution architectures face increasing limitations due to vehicle electrification and the transition toward software-defined vehicle platforms. Modern vehicles require increasingly advanced electrical distribution systems, and engineers must address several challenges when designing these architectures. Infineon identifies three particularly important technical requirements: safely connecting multiple MOSFETs in parallel to increase current capability, controlling high inrush currents during capacitor charging, and maintaining robust operation during short-circuit events. These challenges can require additional circuitry, sophisticated control strategies, or over-dimensioned components, increasing system complexity, board space requirements, costs, and development effort.

LinearFET addresses these three challenges directly at the MOSFET device level by integrating solutions for current sharing, inrush current control, and short-circuit robustness. Its current-sharing capability enables predictable current distribution when multiple MOSFETs are connected in parallel, supporting scalable high-current designs. Another important capability is controlled charging of large capacitive loads without external limiters, which manages high inrush currents during capacitor charging. The technology also delivers enhanced short-circuit robustness, helping automotive manufacturers address demanding safety requirements.

By integrating these three capabilities into the power device, Infineon aims to remove important technical barriers that have limited the broader adoption of solid-state power distribution architectures in modern vehicles. LinearFET is intended for several automotive power distribution applications, including power distribution units, battery disconnect switches, solid-state fuse systems, and zonal power architectures. Infineon states that products are available, enabling automotive designers to implement more compact and cost-efficient systems with significantly lower implementation complexity while maintaining high reliability and safety standards.

Source Link: Press Release

Specifications

Key Features

• Device-level MOSFET technology: LinearFET integrates important power distribution capabilities directly into the MOSFET technology, addressing engineering challenges that would otherwise require additional system-level circuitry or control measures.
• Predictable parallel current sharing: The technology enables predictable current distribution when multiple MOSFETs are connected in parallel. This supports scalable high-current automotive power distribution designs.
• Support for scalable current capability: By addressing current sharing when paralleling MOSFETs, LinearFET addresses one of the key challenges involved in increasing current capability in automotive power distribution systems.
• Integrated inrush current control: LinearFET provides controlled charging of large capacitive loads without requiring external limiters, addressing high inrush currents during capacitor charging.
• Enhanced short-circuit robustness: The technology delivers enhanced short-circuit robustness to help automotive manufacturers meet demanding automotive safety requirements.
• Three challenges addressed together: Current sharing, inrush current control, and short-circuit robustness are addressed directly at the MOSFET level through the LinearFET technology.
• Reduced additional circuitry requirements: By integrating these capabilities into the power device, LinearFET reduces the need for additional circuitry that would otherwise increase system complexity.
• Reduced dependence on complex control strategies: The technology addresses challenges that traditionally require complex control strategies, helping simplify automotive power distribution system design.
• Reduced component over-dimensioning: LinearFET addresses the need for over-dimensioned components associated with conventional approaches to managing automotive power distribution challenges.
• Compact and cost-efficient system development: Infineon states that the technology enables automotive designers to implement more compact and cost-efficient systems with significantly lower implementation complexity.
• Reliability and safety: The integrated capabilities are intended to improve system robustness and safety while maintaining high reliability and safety standards.
• Support for software-controlled power distribution: LinearFET supports the automotive industry's transition from conventional fuse-box architectures toward software-controlled electrical power distribution networks.

Applications

• Automotive power distribution units: LinearFET is suited for power distribution units used in next-generation automotive electrical architectures.
• Battery disconnect switches: The technology is identified for battery disconnect switch applications within automotive power distribution systems.
• Solid-state fuse systems: LinearFET is suitable for solid-state fuse systems, supporting the development of automotive power distribution architectures moving beyond conventional fuse-box arrangements.
• Zonal power architectures: The technology is intended for zonal power architectures, which are explicitly identified as one of its automotive application areas.
• Electric vehicles: LinearFET is designed to simplify the development of next-generation solid-state power distribution systems for electric vehicles.
• Software-defined vehicles: The technology supports software-defined vehicle architectures and the transition toward software-controlled power distribution networks required in future vehicles.
• Next-generation solid-state automotive power distribution: LinearFET addresses the current-sharing, capacitive-load charging, and short-circuit challenges involved in implementing solid-state power distribution architectures in modern vehicles.

Avaliablity

Infineon Technologies AG has announced that LinearFET products are available for automotive power distribution applications. The technology is designed to support next-generation solid-state power distribution systems, including power distribution units, battery disconnect switches, solid-state fuse systems, and zonal power architectures. Interested customers, automotive manufacturers, and engineers can explore Infineon's OptiMOS™ 7 40V LinearFET offering for further product information, technical details, and availability updates.