Next gen low-voltage analog switches for automotive and industrial system design

Nexperia has introduced a new series of four- and eight-channel analog switches developed to monitor and protect 1.8V electronic systems. This series of multiplexers includes AEC-Q100-qualified variants designed for use in automotive applications and as standard versions appropriate for a wider range of consumer and industrial applications, including sensor monitoring and diagnostics, enterprise computing and domestic appliances.

When using analog switches, designers typically need additional voltage translators because the control circuitry cannot operate from the voltage level used to supply power to the switch. By contrast, the control pins in the NMUX1308 and NMUX1309 switches work independently of their power supply voltage range, negating the necessity to use extra components to perform level-shifting, therefore saving board space and reducing costs.

The company has developed this series of switches to include extra features which improve overall system safety. Fail-safe logic permits control pins to be biased before system power-up and remain biased even after the system has powered down. This eradicates the necessity for power sequencing between the analog switch and the system MCU. A power-off protection feature allows analog pins to be biased prior to system power-up and to remain biased after system power-down. This removes the restrictions associated with power sequencing for the analog switch and various power rails which support analog signals and ADC circuitry further down the signal-chain. The combination of these features in the NMUX130X prevents back-power of the supply rail through any pin of the analog switch.

These devices combine injection current control circuitry, limiting output voltage shifts on the active channel to under 5mV when an overvoltage event happens on disabled signal channels. This eradicates the necessity for external diode and resistor networks, saving board space and reducing cost.

The switches include eight-channel and dual four-channel devices, in standard (-40C to +85C) and automotive-qualified (-40C to +125C) versions and are obtainable in leaded and leadless options, including a leadless package which support AOI for automotive applications.