Solid State Automotive Power Distribution Module with eFuse

Renesas provides an efficient power distribution network solution based on Intelligent Power Device (IPD) technologies. The intelligent protection and diagnostic functions of the IPDs increase the safety level over mechanical relays. This solution optimizes wiring harnesses and improves reliability by adding current monitoring capabilities.

System Benefits​:

• Reduce the size and weight of a fuse box by integrating 10 output channels on a compact-sized board, aligning with the smart eFuse (electronic fuse) concept.
• eFuses offer maintenance-free load and wire protection that can be configured and adapted to a variety of cables. Significant higher accuracy of the eFuses reduces the weight of the wire harness.
• The software-based eFuse is activated from the current-sense feedback of the IPD to the MCU. The MCU is programmed to implement the fuse function.
• A safe parking mode^*1 can be emulated by switching on the IPD and setting the MCU into a low-power mode.

*1 Parking mode represents a car parking situation where selected channels need to be active with minimum power consumption.