Pierre Chassard

Design and Test of an HV-CMOS Intelligent Power Switch With Integrated Protections and Self-Diagnostic for Harsh Automotive Applications

The design and characterization in high-voltage (HV)-CMOS technology of an innovative intelligent power switch (IPS) for harsh automotive applications is proposed in this paper. To safely handle the ordinary and extraordinary automotive electrical and environmental conditions, a systematic design flow is followed: several design solutions are presented at the architectural and circuital level, integrating on-chip self-diagnostic capabilities and full protection against the high voltage and reverse polarity, the effects of wiring parasitics, and the over-current and over-temperature phenomena. Moreover, the current slope and soft start integrated techniques ensure a low electromagnetic interference, and the IPS is also configurable to efficiently drive different interchangeable loads. The innovative IPS has been implemented in a 0.35-μm HV-CMOS technology and has been embedded in mechatronic third generation brush-holder regulator system-on-chip for an automotive alternator. The electrical simulations and experimental characterization and the testing at component and on-board system levels prove that the proposed design allows a compact and smart power switch realization facing the harshest automotive conditions.

An high voltage CMOS voltage regulator for automotive alternators with programmable functionalities and full reverse polarity capability

This paper presents an innovative and effective approach to design and test a regulator for an automotive alternator with programmable functionalities. The prototype system consists of two different parts: an integrated circuit (IC) and a FPGA. The IC, implemented in austriamicrosystems HVCMOS 0.35 µm technology, includes all the high voltage parts and a power switch with very low ON resistance. It is able to manage full reverse polarity on every pin, including the reverse battery condition, and over voltages up to 50 V. The programmability is guaranteed through the FPGA. This prototype system can be used to develop a new type of intelligent smart and flexible regulators which implement many additional programmable functions that give the car maker a better control and allow to reduce vehicle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In the demonstrator all the implemented functions, including regulation, can be changed during the development phase and many properties, including loop stability, can be checked before releasing a final version of the regulator. The proposed system is also included in a standard brush-holder that can be mounted on Valeo Engine and Electrical System mechatronic alternator and verified directly in a real application.

ATHENIS_3D: Automotive tested high-voltage and embedded non-volatile integrated SoC platform with 3D technology

The ATHENIS_3D FP7 EU project aims at providing new enabling technologies (analog, digital and power components) for high-voltage and high-temperature applications, tested for power systems of new hybrid/electrical vehicles. Innovation is exploited at process/device level (3D chip stacking, wafer level packaging, trench capacitors and TSV-inductors integrated in the interposer, high-reliable non-volatile Magnetic RAM), circuit-level (inductorless high-voltage DC-DC converter, high-temperature 28nm System-on-Chip platform) and system-level (compact 3D embedded power mechatronic system). Enabling high integration levels of complex systems, operating in harsh environments, in a single packaged 3D device, ATHENIS_3D allows for one order of magnitude area reduction vs. today PCB-based power and control systems. Integration costs will be consequently reduced in key industrial sectors for Europe where high-voltage/temperature operations are mandatory (vehicles, avionics, space/defense, industrial automation, energy).

DC/DC converter integrated architecture for 48V supplies in micro/mild hybrid vehicle electrical engine control module

The paper shows the design in low-cost HV-CMOS technology of an integrated DC/DC converter for a 48 V electrical belt system generator-alternator used in micro/mild hybrid vehicles. Aiming at interfacing the 48 V power domain with a lower voltage domain, but without using cumbersome inductors and transformers, difficult to integrate in CMOS technology, the DC/DC converter exploits a multi stage architecture. Each stage is a switched capacitor unit. Multiple voltage outputs are supported with a configurable regulation factor, so that the same converter acts in step down or step up mode sustaining an input voltage variation from 6 V (in case of cranking) up to 60 V.