Easy to obtain standard certification such as safety standard UL60730
Replacing IC combinations and discrete circuits
Power SO-8 device package
STMicroelectronics launched the programmable electronic power circuit breaker 'STPW12' on the 8th, providing an integrated solution that safely and quickly disconnects faulty loads from a 12V bus.

The STPW12 is inserted between the power rail and the load, featuring a low-resistance (50 mΩ) power switch and a precision circuit for load current sensing. When a user-defined programmable threshold is exceeded, the switch turns off, and a signal on the dedicated Monitor/Faulty pin notifies the host system. During normal operation, this output provides an analog voltage proportional to the load current, enabling continuous status monitoring.

The STPW12 simplifies safety design with a built-in auto-restart function after a user-defined delay time, as well as programmable PWM masking time to prevent problems caused by inrush currents. It also facilitates standard certification, such as UL60730, which is a safety standard for abnormal operation.

This integrated solution can replace discrete circuits or combinations of ICs such as current-sense amplifiers, hot-swap controllers, and MOSFET switches, improving accuracy and reducing board space and the bill of materials (BoM) for each individual load being protected.

The power threshold and masking time can be individually programmed using resistors. An external capacitor sets the auto-retry delay. The circuit can be completed with only the input and output capacitors as external components.

Direct PWM mode provides the flexibility to control the internal power switches with external signals, with programmable masking time capability to regulate load energy.

It also includes extensive protection features, including Under-Voltage Lockout (UVLO), over-temperature shutdown, and short-circuit current limiting.

The STPW12 is currently in production and is available in a power SO-8 device package.