Infineon BTS50020-1TAD: High-Current Smart Switch for Automotive and Industrial Applications

The demand for robust, intelligent power management solutions continues to grow across the automotive and industrial sectors. Addressing this need, Infineon Technologies introduces the BTS50020-1TAD, a high-current PROFET™ (Protected MOSFET) smart switch engineered for superior performance and reliability in demanding environments.

This device is a single-channel, high-side switch based on an advanced N-channel power MOSFET technology. Its core capability is the ability to control and protect loads up to 42A continuous current. This makes it an ideal solution for a wide array of applications, including:

Automotive: Driving high-power loads such as heating elements, motors, and solenoid valves. It is also perfectly suited for reverse polarity protection and as a main switch in 24V battery systems.

Industrial: Managing heavy-duty actuators, pumps, and industrial automation systems where high inrush currents are common.

A key strength of the BTS50020-1TAD lies in its integrated protection and diagnostic features, which significantly enhance system safety and reduce design complexity. These include:

Overload and Short-Circuit Protection: The device automatically limits the output current in fault conditions, safeguarding both the switch and the load.

Overvoltage Protection (including load-dump): It can withstand transient voltage spikes common in automotive environments.

Overtemperature Shutdown: The chip is monitored and shut down in case of excessive junction temperature, restarting automatically upon cooling.

Advanced Diagnostic Functions: It provides precise current sense feedback proportional to the load current, enabling microcontroller-based monitoring for predictive maintenance and fault detection. Status flags are also available for indicating overtemperature and open-load conditions.

Housed in a TO-263-7 package, the BTS50020-1TAD offers an excellent power-to-volume ratio and is designed for easy PCB mounting to efficiently dissipate heat. Its very low typical on-state resistance (RDS(on)) of just 2.0 mΩ minimizes conduction losses, leading to higher system efficiency and reduced thermal stress.

ICGOOODFIND: The Infineon BTS50020-1TAD stands out as a highly integrated and robust solution for high-current switching. Its combination of high power handling, comprehensive embedded protection, and detailed diagnostic capabilities makes it a superior choice for designers aiming to build more efficient, reliable, and compact systems in the automotive and industrial fields.

Keywords:

1. PROFET™ Smart Switch

2. High-Current Switching

3. Integrated Protection

4. Diagnostic Features

5. Automotive Grade