STMicroelectronics Releases Highly Integrated Smart High-Side Driver for Automotive

     STMicroelectronics has launched a new generation of automotive intelligent switch modules VN9D30Q100F and VN9D5D20FN, which are the first driver chips on the market that add a digital current detection loop to the on-chip full digital diagnostic function, specially designed for high-side connections in 12V battery-powered automotive systems. Simplifies electronic control unit (ECU) hardware and software design and enhances system reliability.

     Leveraging ST's next-generation VIPower* M0-9 technology, the new device integrates a high-efficiency 40V trench vertical MOSFET with 3.3V digital logic and high-precision analog circuitry in a 6mm x 6mm QFN package for its compact size and high integration Compared with existing similar driver chips on the market, the circuit board area can be saved by up to 40%.

     The VN9D30Q100F has two 33 mW and two 90 mW output channels; the VN9D5D20FN has two 7.6 mW and two 20 mW output channels. Each product has up to six output channels and a 4-wire SPI interface, reducing the number of I/O pins required for the microcontroller to interact with the driver chip. Both products also have built-in 0.1% resolution pulse-width modulation (PWM) generators that provide convenient and precise control signals at each output to handle functions such as lamp dimming.

     The diagnostic circuitry has a continuously operating 10-bit resolution, 5% accurate analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that provides digital measurements of load current and case temperature, eliminating the need for an ADC on the main microcontroller. The ADC task manager is synchronized with the driver's PWM engine, ensuring that each output channel is automatically diagnosed within the appropriate time frame without microcontroller intervention. The new product also has two one-time programmable (OTP) inputs that can put the automotive system into a limp emergency mode in the event of a system failure causing the overall functionality of the main MCU to lose control.

     In addition to minimizing dissipated power and board design complexity, reducing hardware costs for customers, these two new products provide a sophisticated solution that drives operation independent of the application, simplifying AUTOSAR product compliance certification, Reduce the difficulty of software development.