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Top Chips From Philips Put Power in the Hands of Car Builders

17 October 2000

Top Chips From Philips Semiconductors Put Power in the Hands of Car Builders

   TOPFET2 Power Control Devices Offer Temperature and Overload Protection

    DETROIT, Oct. 16 Philips Semiconductors, a division of
Royal Philips Electronics , today announced its increased reach in
the automotive electronics market by unveiling a new range of power management
and switching devices for automotive applications. TOPFET2 is a family of
temperature and overload protected monolithic MOSFET devices and is offered in
two basic versions. High side devices are designed for driving grounded
high-power loads, such as car headlamps. Low side products are used for
switching common ground loads, such as interior car lights and solenoids.
    Philips Semiconductors has developed the new TOPFET2 family, comprising
36 individual components.  Several of these devices are already in use with
leading automotive manufacturers and rollout of the remaining products is
expected before the end of 2001.
    The devices are optimized for driving loads from 12 and 24V DC supplies,
at currents of up to 25A. Protection features, however, enable the devices to
handle transient voltages greater than their 50V rating, which often occur in
automotive electrical systems, particularly with inductive loads.  The maximum
continuous operating voltage is greater than 35V.
    Safety features of the devices include current limiting for system and
load protection. Over and under voltage protection is incorporated, as is
over-temperature protection and the ability to report load faults from low
current and open circuit.
    TOPFET is a completely monolithic technology, combining sophisticated
control and protection circuitry and the power MOSFET onto the same slice of
silicon.  All devices are manufactured in a variety of packages, ranging from
three to seven pins. The higher pin-count versions have a status feedback
output for use with an external control system such as a microcontroller.
    This second generation of Philips Semiconductors TOPFET technology has
enabled substantial cost savings due to the use of Philips Semiconductors
TrenchMOS technology, and advances in the feature size of the control
components.
    "TOPFET2 will act as a key technology platform for many of our future
products and demonstrates Philips Semiconductors growing commitment to the
advancement of all electronic technologies in the car," said Steve Sellick,
International Product Marketing Manager for the In-Vehicle Power Group. "Good
power management is essential for the development of in-car electronics.
TOPFET2 means that in-car technology will be supported by the right power
management systems well into the future."
    In addition to automotive applications, TOPFET2 devices will also be used
in industrial, medical and communications segments, where they are likely to
be used to drive DC motors, lamps, pumps, solenoids and in power supply
management.