Infineon introduces the PROFET™ Load Guard 12V, a new gauge level intelligent high-edge switch portfolio

     Today, nearly every new car comes with Advanced Driver assistance systems (ADAS), and the auto industry is working toward a higher level of automation. Such safety-critical systems require both a reliable and intelligent board and network architecture and more comfortable features, resulting in an increasing number of loads. The E/E architecture therefore requires a reliable and intelligent solution to protect sensitive loads from current overloads and ensure rapid isolation of the distribution system from failures.

     To meet these needs, Infineon Technologies AG has launched the PROFET™ Load Guard 12V, a new vehicle gauge intelligent high-edge switch portfolio. The combination of tunable overcurrent limit and capacitive load switch (CLS) mode can flexibly respond to the various requirements of modern secondary distribution and provide protection mechanism for safety-critical ADAS integration.

     The new PROFET Load Guard 12V dual and single channel devices offer A wide current limiting range from 0.3 A to 8.7 A, depending ON on-off resistance (RDS(ON)). This feature allows you to set protection levels based on system requirements without microcontroller involvement. Not only does it avoid peak current that endangers the load, it also provides rapid fault isolation for the distribution side in case of overload due to load failures such as sensor fusion boxes. High capacitive loads such as ADAS and display modules can also be quickly started using the capacitive load switch (CLS) mode of the device.

     The CLS mode allows several millimeters of capacitors to be charged within the safe workspace (SOA) of the intelligent high-edge switch, thus improving the robustness of the entire system. In addition, the PRO SIL™ ISO26262-ready device simplifies use in functional safety-related applications by providing a Safety-Application-Note. In addition, industry-leading low-current detection accuracy enables precise module diagnosis and monitoring.

     The PROFET Load Guard 12V series offers a wide operating voltage range from 3V (2.7V at startup) to 28V, which, combined with adjustable overcurrent limits and CLS mode, provides extremely high load flexibility. If the load or system requirements change, such as variable handling, the simulated overcurrent limit threshold can be easily adapted to the new conditions by simply changing the resistance connected to the OCT pins. In addition to flexibility, this feature provides hardware-based line protection for time-independent loads. The CLS mode further expands the load potential to respond to an increasing number of capacitive loads, such as modules.

     Rated for current 2A to 3A, the series includes two 90 mΩ and two 50 mΩ devices, both available as single-channel and dual-channel automotive intelligent high-side switches. The proven PG-TS-DSO 14 package is highly compatible with other SMART7 devices such as PROFET +2 12V. The integrated CLS mode easily meets loads with a high capacitance share, enabling fast charging of large capacitors within the PROFET Load Guard 12V safe workspace (SOA). Industry-leading High current Detection Accuracy (kILIS) tolerances enable high precision current detection in the low current range.

     To support the design process of the PROFET Load Guard 12V device, the family is integrated into the PROFET Guard tool provided by the Infineon developer community. This tool allows you to evaluate the system protection capabilities of the PROFET Load Guard 12V components for a given line and load. It can also calculate the correct resistance value for the adjustable overcurrent limit.