The devices have been developed to meet the needs of modern cars featuring numerous advanced driver assistance systems that require a power distribution system that will enable energy to flow from a source to various loads in the car in a secure and controlled manner, as well as addressing issues of cost, length, weight and the complexity associated with the wire harness.
This gate driver features two output channels for two different MOSFET structures, either back-to-back common source plus a pre-charging path or common drain. The enhanced driver capability to turn-on and turn-off allows it to easily scale up the amount of MOSFETs to manage larger load currents. Even up to several hundred amps, it ensures fast switch-off within microseconds while classical fuses only disconnect in the range of milliseconds. Furthermore, this device can be operated down to 3 V. Such low voltages can occur in a short circuit until the faulty load is disconnected.
The EiceDRIVER 2ED2410-EM has three analogue measurement interfaces and four integrated comparators for protection purposes. This enables flexible and versatile solutions for various requirements including adjustable I-t wire protection, overcurrent protection, over/undervoltage protection and others. Currents can be measured in both directions and the drain-source-voltage is monitored to identify conditions such as an open load at the output.
The adjustable wire protection feature helps select the smallest possible wire cross section for the corresponding load behaviour. In the past, wires had to be designed with a diameter margin of up to 30 percent compared to the actual requirements, in order to consider the tolerance and aging effect of classical fuses. To minimise the discharge of the battery when the vehicle is parked, the device comes with a very low quiescent current consumption of only a few tenths of µA.
The 2ED2410-EM is in production now.
