Safety-critical automotive systems, such as EPS (electric power steering) systems, need to meet ASIL-D (Automotive Safety Integrity Level), to minimise the risk from system failures. It is vital, says the company, for these devices to offer comprehensive redundancy and protection systems. The TB9081FG integrates protection functions such as three-phase pre-driver circuits, fail-safe relay pre-driver circuits, motor current detection circuits, together with failure detection circuits to detect latent faults. An initial diagnosis circuit detects latent faults in the failure detection circuits to increase levels of functional safety.

The company can provide customers with documentation, such as FMEDA (Failure Modes Effects and Diagnostics Analysis). Built-in fail-safe relay pre-driver circuits drive the semiconductor relay between the motor and MOSFET and between the power-supply side and MOSFET. The fail-safe relay pre-driver circuits have five channels, three for the motor side and two for the power-supply side. Both have dedicated input terminals, making independent control possible.

Housed in a LQFP64 package, the IC measures 12.0 x 12.0 x 1.6mm. It will be entering mass production in 2017, with samples available later in 2015.