HMI, a manufacturer of power management integrated circuits, has introduced the HL8743, an AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualified automotive single- and dual-channel low-dropout regulator (LDO) with current sensing. LDOs regulate output voltage powered from a higher input voltage and are integral in automotive applications. The HL8743 has a high-input voltage range from 4.5V to 40V, making it versatile for various systems.
With 45V load dump protection, the HL8743 provides power to low-noise amplifiers in active antennas, delivering 350mA per channel through a coaxial cable. Each channel allows an adjustable output voltage from 1.5V to 20V, with variations providing diagnostics through current sense and nERR pins. The device is also designed for general-purpose high-performance LDO functionality.
The high-side current sense circuitry enables monitoring of load current, providing proportional analog input to detect open, normal and short circuit conditions without additional calibration. This feature is designed to allow multiplexing across channels to conserve analog-to-digital converter resources. Each channel also offers flexibility to set an adjustable current limit using an external resistor connected to an individual LIM pin.
The HL8743 includes essential protections such as thermal shutdown, short-to-battery protection on the output, reverse current protection and internal inductive clamp protection during inductive switch-off. Additionally, an integrated reverse polarity diode eliminates the need for an external diode.
The HL8743 is packaged in a 16-pin HTSSOP PowerPAD package, and HMI claims that it is well-suited for automotive applications like infotainment active-antenna power supplies, surround-view camera power supplies and high-side power switches.
David Nam, CEO of HMI, explained, “The HL8743 single- and dual-channel LDO, qualified to use in automotive applications, is an ideal choice for critical automotive power supplies. It offers wide input voltage and incorporates extended protections and diagnostics.”
