AC Switches for Home Appliances from ST Microelectronics

19th September 2006

ES Admin

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Datasheet

STMicroelectronics has introduced a new generation of AC Switches to control the numerous AC loads employed by appliance applications. Designed to drive pumps, fans, valves, relays, dispensers, door locks, and micro-motors in appliances such as dishwashers, air conditioners, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, and freezers, the new ACSes provide designers with higher voltage capability while ensuring overall system reliability and efficiency.

The 600V-rated ACS family of switches is built with ST’s proprietary Application Specific Devices process technology, which enables the integration of both over-voltage protection circuitry, and RC-snubber external components. The ACS family helps users save space within electronic
boards while meeting the requirements of the latest home-appliance energy-saving and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard for testing and measurement techniques such as IEC 61000-4-5.

Other major benefit of these ACS devices is the crowbar structure, which starts to protect the system at a higher voltage level than the previous version. As a result, the devices’ robustness has been
re-qualified to enable the switches to safely sustain a higher level of energy.

Designers using the new ACSes will be able to cut the cost of their appliances by reducing component count up to 80% and by avoiding external over-voltage suppressors. Appliance design will also be simplified by enabling the ACSes to be directly driven from microcontrollers.

The ACS102 is available in both TO-92 and SO-8 ECOPACK® packages, while the ACS108 is assembled in TO-92 and SOT-223 ECOPACK® packages.

In production now, the ACS102 and ACS108 cost $0.23 and $0.25, respectively, in 10,000 unit quantities.