Rugged AEC-Q101 MOSFETs offer guaranteed repetitive avalanche performance

Nexperia has launched a new AEC-Q101-qualified ASFET portfolio concentrated on powertrain applications. The technology has been tested to one billion avalanche cycles and may be employed to control automotive inductive loads including solenoids and actuators. Also providing a faster turn-off time (up to 4X), designs can be simplified through a smaller BOM count.

MOSFET-based power schemes for solenoid and actuator control in automotive powertrains are commonly built around boost, free-wheel diode or active clamp topologies. A fourth option is a repetitive avalanche design that disperses energy from the inductive load by employing the MOSFET’s ability to constantly handle current from the inductive load through switch off. Providing comparable efficiencies to active clamp alternatives, such designs remove the requirement for diodes and other devices to minimise component count and circuit complexity. They also help faster switch-off times, a factor that can boost the reliability of electromechanical components such as solenoids and relays. When compared to boost topologies, they can simplify designs by delivering up to 30% component footprint efficiency due to a potential decrease of up to 15 board components.

Fully automotive qualified to AEC-Q101 at 175C, the new MOSFETs are offered in 40V and 60V options with typical RDS(ON) ratings from 12.5mOhm to 55mOhm. All of the devices are provided in the company’s space-saving LFPAK56D (Dual Power-SO8) copper-clip package technology. The robust package provides gull-wing leads for increased board level reliability and improved manufacturability, including AOI.

Explains Nexperia’s product manager, Richard Ogden “Typically, engineers looking to implement repetitive avalanche topologies have had to rely on devices that use older, planar semiconductor technologies. Offering automotive-qualified devices with guaranteed repetitive avalanche capabilities that are based on higher performance silicon structures will increase the number of powertrain designs that can take advantage of repetitive avalanche functionality.”