Toshiba Electronics Europe has released the TLX9161T automotive photorelay designed for high-voltage electric vehicle battery systems and fuel cell applications. The device targets battery management systems requiring precise voltage monitoring, mechanical relay fault detection, and ground fault isolation in modern automotive powertrains.

The TLX9161T achieves a minimum output withstand voltage of 1500V with maximum switching times of 1ms for both turn-on and turn-off operations. The photorelay architecture employs an infrared LED optically coupled to a photo-MOSFET, providing electrical isolation between control and switching circuits with 5000Vrms isolation voltage capability.

Power consumption characteristics include a maximum trigger current of 3mA and an off-state leakage current specification of 100nA maximum at ambient temperature. Both the IR LED forward current and detector on-state current are rated at 30mA under ambient conditions.

Package miniaturization represents a significant advancement over the previous TLX9160T device. The new SO12L-T package measures 7.76mm × 10.0mm × 2.45mm, representing approximately 25% size reduction compared to the SO16L-T package used in predecessor devices. Despite the smaller footprint, pin pitch and layout remain identical to the larger package, enabling direct PCB layout compatibility and reducing design migration complexity.

The device incorporates resin materials with Comparative Tracking Index values exceeding 600, meeting Material Group I classification under IEC60664-1 standards for insulation coordination in systems up to 1000VAC or 1500VDC. Creepage and clearance distances measure 8mm minimum, ensuring isolation integrity across the specified operating temperature range of -40°C to +125°C.

Manufacturing qualification follows AEC-Q101 Grade 1 automotive standards, addressing the reliability requirements for automotive electronic components in high-stress environments. The normally-open contact configuration provides 1-Form-A switching functionality suitable for safety-critical battery management applications.

The TLX9161T addresses the industry trend toward higher voltage battery architectures while reducing component size and system cost. The photorelay technology eliminates mechanical wear mechanisms associated with traditional electromagnetic relays while providing faster switching response and improved reliability in vibration-prone automotive environments.

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