NEC intros four intelligent power devices for automotive lighting apps

KAWASAKI, JAPAN & SANTA CLARA, USA & DUESSELDORF, GERMANY: NEC Electronics announced four new intelligent power devices (IPDs), the µPD166017, µPD166019, µPD166020 and uPD166021.

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 strongly contribute to the improvement of the ECUs’ efficiency, which help designers to develop environmentally friendly automobiles.

Each new IPD features unique characteristics:

µPD166017 IPD, improved drive performance with low on-state resistance
Using NEC Electronics’ new power MOSFET Super Junction technology enables the µPD166017 IPD to reduce on-state resistance (6mΩ) by 40 percent, compared to the already available µPD166007, µPD166009 and µPD166010 devices in the same TO-252 five-pin package. This 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 ECU sizes. Last but not least, the µPD166017 IPD has an analog current sense coupled to a diagnostic function.

µPD166019 IPD, reduced parasitic noises, ideal for high-frequency applications
The uPD166019 IPD adopts a P-channel MOSFET as a high-side switch, allowing the removal of the internal charge pump required for a conventional N-channel MOSFET. It allows outstanding electromagnetic noise reduction which, combined with 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.

µPD166020 and µPD166021 IPDs, optimized drive performance enabling lower pulse-width modulator (PWM) losses
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, reduced power losses and a reduction in overheating. Both devices also have an analog current sense and a diagnostic function.

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 ECUs with improved functionalities. Samples of the new IPDs (µPD166017, 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 in 2011.