Employing Reliable Protection Methods for Automotive Electronics
Automotive systems continue to become more sophisticated with the introduction of new, modified and improved features every year. Each feature must be powered, protected and connected to its respective interface within the overall automotive system. Direct current (DC) to DC converters are necessary to convert the main 12 V automotive battery supply to a range of voltage levels required for operation of these various features. DC-DC converters are used to provide DC power to heavy loads in hybrid and electric vehicles, and for lighting, displays, infotainment and any other electronics in all types of vehicles. Once powered and operating, the automotive electronics are subject to various transient events and must be tested to ensure they comply with standards such as ISO 7637. With protection in place, the electronics can be connected to the system using various standard interfaces such as CANbus. It is important to ensure the system reliability of these interfaces in terms of Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Common Mode Noise (CMN). The protection of the system has to be re-examined after all interfaces are in place to ensure adequate isolation and protection. Finally, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) considerations must be made since the electronics are subject to ESD events beginning as early as circuit assembly and continuing throughout the lifetime of the vehicle.
