Toshiba Launches Power System ICs for Electric Vehicles with Enhanced Monitoring Functions

On October 15, 2015, Toshiba introduced the system power IC “TB9042FTG” for motor control systems such as pure electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The new product integrates two DC-DC converter circuits and three series regulator circuits into a single chip.

The new product is characterized by enhanced monitoring functions in order to reduce the potential risks that threaten the safety of motor control systems. Equipped with 3 monitoring functions. First, real-time monitoring of power circuits. Can monitor high voltage and low voltage, over current, overheat, and switching frequency. Second, MCU real-time monitoring capabilities. Watchdog timer function, MCU alert function, MCU operation function, and communication error monitor function are provided. Third, self-diagnosis function. The monitored information can be notified to the external MCU via the SPI interface.

The TB9042FTG has an input voltage range of +7 to 20.1V and an absolute maximum input voltage of +40V (1 second). Both DC-DC converter circuits are buck-type. One of the circuits has an output voltage of +6V, a maximum output current of 1A, and the other circuit has an output voltage of +1.5V or +1.2V and a maximum output current of 1A. Two of the three series regulator circuits are LDO (Low Drop Out) type, one of which has an output voltage of +5V, a maximum output current of 400mA, another output voltage of +5V, and a maximum output current of 100mA. . There is also an ordinary series regulator circuit with an output voltage of +5V or +3V and a maximum output current of 10mA. The package uses a 52-pin HQFN with an external size of 8mm x 8mm x 0.9mm. The price was not announced. (Special Contributor: Yamashita is better than himself)