First IC of its kind maintains hifi sound while car engine is off
1 min read
STMicroelectronics has unveiled a new generation of chips that allow in-car entertainment equipment to operate without interruption as the engine is turned off and restarted. The first of these is the TDA7850LV, a 4x50W audio power amplifier which ST says is the first start/stop-compatible IC of its kind in production.
Start/stop technology shuts down the engine when a vehicle is stopped and restarts as the driver prepares to move off. According to ST, in cars fitted with start/stop, the supply voltage for onboard electrical equipment can fall to as low as 6V when the engine is turned off and restarted and only the battery is supplying electrical power. Switching between battery power and alternator power can generate 'pop and click' noise and left unaddressed, these effects can cause noticeable distortion in the audio system's output. Hybrid-electric vehicles present similar challenges to electronic equipment designers.
The TDA7850LV incorporates ST's Flexiwatt power package and a variety of configurations are available, including vertically or horizontally mounted packages.
Features include a 4x50W mosfet output stage, a 2 Ohm output driver and hifi class distortion with low output noise.
Fabio Marchio, Automotive Product Group vice president and general manager of ST's Automotive Infotainment Division. "We call this new wave of products 'green power,' meaning that we are totally committed to design ICs that can help our customers implement environment friendly systems. We now aim to build on our leadership as demands for start/stop and hybrid technologies continue to ramp up."
