Infineon introduces automotive smart high-side power switch portfolio PROFET™ Load Guard 12V.
The combination of an adjustable overcurrent limitation and the capacitive load switching (CLS) mode provides protection mechanisms for safety-critical ADAS integration, claimed the company.
The PROFET Load Guard 12V dual- and single-channel devices offer a wide current limitation range between 0.3A and 8.7A, depending on the R DS(ON). This feature allows the protection level to be set according to the system requirements without microcontroller involvement. It avoids peak currents that endanger loads and provides fast fault isolation to the power distribution side in the event of overload conditions due to failures in loads, for example, in the sensor fusion box. Loads with high capacitive share, such as ADAS or display modules, can also be quickly switched on using the devices’ CLS mode, claimed the company.
The CLS mode allows several millifarads to charge while remaining within the safe operating area (SOA) of the smart high-side power switches, increasing the overall system robustness. Providing a safety application note, the PRO SIL ISO26262-ready devices simplify the use in functional-safety related applications. In addition, the claimed best-in-class low current sense accuracy enables accurate module diagnostics and monitoring.
The PROFET Load Guard 12V family’s wide operating voltage range from 3V (cranking: 2.7V) to 28V, combined with the adjustable overcurrent limitation and the CLS mode, provides maximum load flexibility. If load or system requirements change, such as variant handling, the analogue overcurrent limit threshold can be easily adapted to the new conditions. This is accomplished by simply changing the resistor connected to the OCT pin. This feature also allows for hardware-based wire protection for time-independent loads. The CLS mode further expands the load potential and responds to the increasing number of capacitive loads such as modules.
Rated at 2-3A, the family consists of two 90 mOhm and two 50 mOhm devices, both available as single- and dual-channel automotive smart high-side power switches. The proven PG-TS-DSO-14 package provides high compatibility with other SMART7 devices such as the PROFET +2 12V. Loads with high capacitive share can be easily addressed via the integrated CLS mode, allowing large capacitors to be rapidly charged within the SOA of the PROFET Load Guard 12V. The best-in-class high current sense accuracy tolerance (kILIS) in low current ranges enables the highly accurate current sensing.
The family is integrated into the PROFET Guard Tool, which is available in the Infineon Developer Center. This tool supports the evaluation of the system protection capability of PROFET Load Guard 12V devices with a given wire and load profile. It also calculates the correct resistor value for the adjustable overcurrent limitation.
