STMicroelectronics has maximized the safety and efficiency of automotive electronics products with its new automotive driver product featuring a functional safety pin.

ST announced on the 30th that it has officially launched a new product, the L9026 8-channel driver, which will maximize the safety and efficiency of next-generation automotive electronics.

This product consists of a total of eight channels with six configurable high-side and low-side outputs and two dedicated high-side outputs, and is designed for a wide range of automotive applications, including body electronics, air conditioning, and fuel injection systems.

The L9026 is available in several compact packages to provide flexibility even in space-constrained applications.

A variety of options, including the HTSSOP package and the ultra-small VFQFPN32 (5 mm × 5 mm × 1 mm in size) suitable for automotive applications, provide designers with a wide range of choices.

In particular, it stands out for its enhanced safety and reliability by supporting Limp-Home mode in the event of a controller failure, ensuring that two or more channels can continue to operate even if a defect or supply voltage shortage occurs.

The product has built-in support for fail-safe operation via two additional input pins.

This allows external fail-safe pins and OR operation registers.Based on the settings, diagnostic and protection functions are activated for each channel, and open/short circuit, overcurrent, and overheating protection functions are installed to prevent risks within the vehicle's electronic system in advance.

Additionally, the SPI interface allows you to check the settings stored in the internal mapping and PWM operation registers and real-time diagnostic information, which can greatly improve the efficiency of maintenance and system verification tasks.

The L9026 is optimized for controlling multiple relays, solenoids, LEDs, and resistive loads, and can also effectively handle a variety of load characteristics such as resistive, capacitive, and inductive loads.

In addition, the Bulb-Inrush Mode function, which automatically protects against excessive power supply current, is expected to increase design flexibility and reduce the overall bill of materials (BOM) cost.

Additionally, it is receiving strong market interest for its durability, which ensures stable operation even in cranking conditions when the battery voltage drops to 3V.

For more information, please visit STMicroelectronics' official website (www.st.com/l9026-8-channel-driver).

Experts evaluated that “the L9026’s advanced diagnostic and protection features, limp home mode, and stability in extreme environments will raise the safety standards for automotive electronic control systems to the next level,” adding that “in particular, the introduction of a small package is innovative in that it can achieve optimal performance even in limited spaces inside a vehicle.”

Industry officials said that the launch of this new product is expected to reduce the design and manufacturing costs of automotive electronic devices, while also enhancing competitiveness in the global market through improved safety.

STMicroelectronics will continue to pursue sustainableTo lead the era of mobility, we will be committed to developing various solutions that combine safety and efficiency, and the launch of the L9026 is expected to be the starting point.