Fuji Electric's semiconductor devices have been widely used for automobile electronic control since transistors, diodes, and hybrid ICs were used in the ignition system. The application of pressure sensors contributed to low-pollution cars and recent MOSFETs and intelligent power switches have developed electronic control highly.
The company will raise the level of car control systems by improving these intelligent devices and will contribute to motor control and electric automobiles by improving characteristics of insulated-gate bipolar transistors.

High-grade automobile electronics has been demanding small, light, advanced-function power devices.
Fuji Electric has developed MOS output high-side intelligent power switches of two types each with 60V/3A and 80V/3A rating, which have a drive circuit, various protective circuits, and a function of communication with CPU and are improved in size, weight, efficiency, and reliability.

We have fabricated and tested the prototype of an automotive low-side intelligent power switch (IPS). The IPS, F5002L, molded in TO-220F-5pin package, rated at 60V-10A-50Ω max, has protective circuits against overheat, overcurrent, and overvoltage, an open-load detection circuit, and a dynamic clamping circuit. It also has a driving circuit and status output function to realize direct drive by a microcomputer. F5002L, characterized by low on-state resistance, high surge immunity, and a novel current limiting function, is realized on a single silicon chip with a 60V junction-isolated CMOS/DMOS process developed for automotive IPSs.

There are strong needs for pressure sensors that can maintain accuracy and reliability under server environment and yet are small, light, and cheap. To meet these needs, Fuji Electric has developed a mini semiconductor pressure sensor with the pressure sensing part and signal processing circuit integrated on a chip. Characteristic adjustment and temperature compensation were accomplished by on-chip laser trimming of them film resistance. Metal package or dual-in package can be selected according to use. The trial manufacture provedits good characteristics and reliability.

With electronics application to automobiles, many electronic components have come into use, which require the high performance and accuracy of batteries and AC generators. The IC regulator built in the AC generator for the purpose of control demands high reliability to endure noise, vibration, and temperature change in the engine compartment.
To meet these requirements, Fuji Electric has developed automobile-use regulator IC chips using CCB (solder bump mounting) technology of highreliability.

With electronics application to automobiles, the improvement of electronic system reliability has become an essential subject. Particularly the improvement of semiconductor device reggedness against electrostatic discharge (ESD) is strongly demanded these days.
Fuji Electric has developed ESD-proof rectifier diodes for automobile use from rectifier diodes used a lot for relay control, solenoid surge suppression, etc. by improving ruggedness against ESD substantially. The diodes are available in 8 types including a surface mount type.

With solid-state circuit application to automobile electric apparatus, MOSFETs have come into wide use owing to the advantage of low on-state loss. The special environment such as automobile use requires that installed electronic components should have high reliability.
This paper introduces an outline of a power MOSFET with higher Avalanche ruggedness and higher ESD ruggedness that was newly developed to meet the requirepment.

Fuji Electric has developed third-generation IGBT modules. The 600-V class module has characteristics of average on-state voltage 2.0V and fall time 0.1μs, which approaches the limit of the IGBT. It was achieved by the technological breakthrough of the ration between power dissipation loss and short circuit capability. It is expected that the new IGBT modules can reduce power dissipation loss by about 40% in PWM inverter applications compared with second-generation IGBTs.

This paper describes a series of power transistors developed for application to battery fork lifts. This series is characterized by high DC current gain hFE to reduce base drive current, and by high breakdown voltage and high Avalanche ruggedness to simplify snubber circuits. The power transistor in this series is built in a non-isolatoin package, which simplifies power wiring and reduces cooling fins in actual battery fork lifts.

To optimize automobile engine control, an advanced ignition system (distributorless ignition, DLI) based on electronics application has been put to practical use. This paper introduces a resin mold type high-voltage diode that was developed for the advanced ignition system, DLI. This new high-voltage diode achieved as good performance as glass mold type diodes by application of working voltage design, high-surgeproof design, and heatproof design in view of automobile use.

The Hall ICs have attracted public attention since it was effectively used for rotation sensors indispensable to automotive electronics because of its high reliability and small size.
Siemens AG, Germany, has been developing various types of Hall ICs that meet the severe operating conditions of automobiles and has supplied several ten million pieces.
This paper gives an outline of the Hall ICs of switch type, differential type, and linear type.

This paper describes plans for quality assurance of automotive electron devices used in very severe working conditions. It contains a summary of customers' needs, market trends, supposed working conditions, and inspection items; conceptions and procedures for quality assurance and Fuji Electric's quality assurance system; considerations in reliability assurance and examples of fault analyses. Closer cooperation with system makers is required toward higher performance and quality assurance to meet increasing electronics application for advanced functions.