Robust MOSFETs suitable for automotive applications

Five years ago, the company introduced the world’s largest range of automotive-qualified Power-SO8 MOSFETs. Now Nexperia is expanding this portfolio to include ultra-low RDS_(on) parts that address the ever-increasing demand for higher power density in many typical automotive applications. The new Trench 9 devices are all qualified to AEC-Q101, and exceed the requirements of this international automotive standard by as much as two times on key reliability tests including temperature cycling, high temperature gate bias, high temperature reverse bias and intermittent operating life.

LFPAK56E is the latest innovation in the family of automotive LFPAK packages from Nexperia. LFPAK56E is an enhanced version of the popular LFPAK56 package, with an optimised lead frame and package design that results in an improvement in RDS_(on) and power density of up to 30%. This improvement in power density enables the Trench 9 LFPAK56 MOSFETs to be used in applications previously only possible with D2PAK and D2PAK-7, delivering PCB space-savings.

Moreover, Nexperia’s superjunction technology offers an improved avalanche and SOA (safe operating area) capability when compared to competing technology ensuring critical devices survive even in fault conditions. Traditionally, most suppliers won’t recommend TrenchMOS technologies for single shot or repetitive avalanche applications. However, Trench 9 is specifically designed to offer exceptional single shot and repetitive avalanche performance for demanding application and fault conditions, and Nexperia’s Trench 9 MOSFET datasheets – as with all the company’s previous TrenchMOS generations - include single-shot and repetitive avalanche ratings.

Norman Stapelberg, Nexperia’s Product Marketing Manager for Automotive MOSFETs, commented: “To facilitate autonomous driving, automotive manufacturers are requesting dual-redundant circuits for many critical applications such as power steering and braking. The challenge for tier 1 subsystem suppliers is to add the additional power components to their modules without increasing the overall PCB or module size. The unique combination of our Trench 9 superjunction technology with our LFPAK56 and LFPAK56E packaging capability gives Nexperia a performance and reliability advantage, and the reduction in footprint allows customers to add the additional devices required for dual-redundancy without significantly increasing the total PCB area.”

Applications include brushed and brushless motor control for power steering, transmission control, ABS, ESC, pumps (water, oil and fuel), fan speed control, reverse battery protection and DC/DC converters. Devices are sampling now.