STMicroelectronics components selected for Toyota Prius

Semiconductor company STMicroelectronics has announced that its 32-bit automotive microcontrollers and power MOSFETs have been selected by Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) for the DC-DC converter in Toyota’s fourth-generation Prius hybrid-vehicle platform.

The DC-DC converter underlies the power control unit, the heart of a hybrid electric vehicle, along with the inverter and the variable-voltage system. ST provides 32-bit automotive MCUs for the new Prius’s DC-DC converter, which controls the voltage reduction of the current generated from the battery or generator that is used by the vehicle’s 14 V subsystems, such as the car radio, lighting and wipers.

The components’ integration with TICO’s software enables highly efficient voltage conversion and low heat dissipation, and contributes to the miniaturisation of the power control unit. The automotive-grade microcontrollers are based on PowerPC architecture and are manufactured using ST’s in-house embedded Flash technology.

The DC-DC converter also uses two ST power MOSFETs. Spanning breakdown voltages from 500 to 1500 V, the power MOSFETs combine low gate charge and low on-resistance with state-of-the-art packaging to deliver a highly efficient power-handling capability.

“The ST-powered DC-DC converter, developed by TICO for the new fourth-generation Prius, establishes a new benchmark in efficiency and technology features and is a prime example of the industry trend towards smart driving,” said Marco Cassis, executive vice president, Japan & Korea Region, STMicroelectronics. “We are pleased to contribute to this technology innovation by providing the automotive microcontrollers and power-conversion devices with no compromises and robust performance.”