Circuit & System Protection


Intelligent high-side power switches

25 September 2002 Circuit & System Protection

The highly integrated miniPROFET (protected field-effect transistor) switch from Infineon Technologies incorporates a broad range of smart functions that makes it suitable for a wide variety of automotive and industrial applications. miniPROFETs are designed to be controlled directly from a single microcontroller output pin.

With a typical quiescent current of less than 10 mA, they are positioned as a high-side switch of choice for battery-powered systems. They have built-in safety features that protect both the device and the application. miniPROFETs require fewer components than discrete solutions and therefore enable more compact, robust application designs. This reduces board space and costs. The tightly integrated design also reduces wiring and connector requirements.

The most important protective function of a miniPROFET is to safeguard the application from destruction in the event of a short circuit. This is achieved through a combination of both current limitation and thermal shutdown in the event of excess temperature. By combining switching and protective functions in a single device, it eliminates the need for fuses, thus presenting a more cost-effective and robust alternative to standard relay and fuse solutions.

miniPROFETs are suited to automotive applications such as general body control modules, instrument clusters, dashboard lighting and motor controls. Industrial applications include relay and fuse replacement, lamps, solenoids, DC motors, power control in appliances and portable tools, various automated designs in robotics, and industrial control.

General features are: overload/short protection; current limit; thermal shutdown; past demagnetisation of inductive loads; 3 V CMOS and TTL-compatible input; loss of ground and loss of supply protection; and ESD protection.



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