Smart Low Side Switches with Reduced Power Loss for Automotive and Industrial Applications

8 February 2023 - 0 Comments

ROHM released a new generation of 1 channel and 2 channel 40 V Intelligent (Smart) Low Side Switches: the BV1LExxxEFJ-C and BM2LExxxFJ-C series. The two product families are ideally designed for automotive and industrial applications. They are AEC-Q100 qualified and are suitable for systems such as car body control, engine and transmission control units, LED lighting modules or industrial PLC (programmable logic controllers).

Conventional discrete solutions involving mechanical relays or MOSFETs can no longer meet these requirements and cannot provide protection against system failures. With greater demand for high integration, added safety features, build-in intelligence and diagnostic features, Intelligent Power Devices (IPD), also called smart switches, become an essential part for electronic systems in a continuously growing market.

The BV1LExxxEFJ-C and BM2LExxxFJ-C family of products are Intelligent Low Side Devices that integrated all of the above and can switch currents for any type of resistive, capacitive or inductive loads. When switching off an inductive load, the power MOSFET inside the smart switch needs to dissipate all the magnetic energy stored previously in the inductor’s magnetic field. During this time the device protects itself by actively clamping the voltage to a safe level. The power dissipated, generates heat that is distributed on the integrated power MOSFET’s surface. ROHM’s new products combine heat suppression with low ON resistance (difficult to achieve in a compact size), by optimally controlling the number of current-carrying channels using proprietary TDACC circuit and device technology. TDACC offers increased integration capability, allowing ROHM to report the 2 channel 40mΩ (ON resistance) product in the compact SOP-J8 package.

A wide range of ON-resistance values (40/80/160/250mΩ) in both 1 channel and 2 channel configurations are offered to meet diverse customer needs. Furthermore, the contact discharge tolerance of all the products in the family is higher than that of other standard products. This adds to a safer operation inside various electronic equipment types.

Application Examples

BCMs (Body Control Modules), interior/exterior lamps, engine, transmission, and other automotive electrical systems
Industrial equipment such as PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers)
Suitable for a wide range of applications in addition to the automotive and industrial systems.