Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, has moved into mass production with its new range of TOPFET2 power management and switching devices for all automotive protected power applications. These devices offer significant performance and cost-saving benefits over similar products currently on the market. Based on Philips Semiconductors’ innovative, field-proven, TrenchMOS technology, these new devices enable designers to address a wide range of sophisticated applications, including motor driving and vehicle lighting. For example, in lighting applications, these smart power solutions enable fully protected driving of front and rear lamps and offer feedback of fault conditions to the main controller. Philips Semiconductors has now released 15 devices of a family which will ultimately consist of more than 40 individual components. TOPFET2 devices come in two basic versions: high side devices for driving grounded high-power loads, such as those found in car headlamps and low side products for switching battery connected loads, such as interior car lights and solenoids. The range provides an upgrade path for the first generation of TOPFET products so no redesign is required.
