Infineon Introduces SPOC Wire Guard 12V eFuse

Infineon Technologies AG has expanded its automotive power distribution portfolio by introducing the SPOC™ Wire Guard BTS80009 SWPx 1ES, a highly integrated 12V automotive eFuse equipped with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). As the inaugural member of a new smart power switch family, the device integrates a protected high-side switch with built-in I²t wire protection, software configurability, and advanced diagnostic capabilities, catering directly to modern electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures that implement software-defined vehicle (SDV) concepts and over-the-air updates.

Core Performance and Technical Features
The eFuse delivers ultrafast failure isolation within microseconds and precise current sensing, eliminating the need to overdimension wire diameters compared to conventional melting fuses. It provides rapid failure isolation while ensuring high power supply availability with freedom of interference. The device features a dedicated idle mode for permanently powered loads, consuming only a few microamps while maintaining full protection. It utilizes a 24-bit SPI interface capable of daisy-chaining to mitigate microcontroller I/O port constraints. Software configurability allows configuration and protection parameters to be adjusted via software across different vehicle variants, encouraging platform reuse. Finally, the switch delivers real-time status updates and pre-warning indicators to enhance vehicle availability and lifecycle optimization.

Safety Architecture and Scalability
Designed to accommodate Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and enable fail-operational capabilities for levels L2++ to L5, the device serves as a Safety Element out of Context (SEooC) for systems up to ASIL-D compliance under ISO 26262. It features an integrated non-volatile memory (NVM) to establish an application-specific safe state, reacts autonomously to supply-voltage drops caused by load faults, and utilizes a single-channel architecture to prevent fault propagation across outputs. The initial family member, the BTS80009 SWPx 1ES, is available in four variants featuring a scalable feature set (A, I, P, and F) and supports currents up to 34.5 A. This capability allows the eFuse to replace gate-driver ICs, MOSFETs, and shunt combinations, resulting in substantial printed circuit board (PCB) space savings.

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement.

In the transition toward vehicle zonal architectures, traditional mechanical fuses and electromechanical relays are rapidly being phased out in favor of semiconductor-based smart power distribution centers (PDCs). Devices like Infineon's SPOC Wire Guard family—featuring very low on-state resistance (RDS(on) ranging down to 1.1 mΩ)—compete directly with intelligent high-side switches from competitors such as STMicroelectronics (VIPower technology) and NXP. A primary engineering advantage of incorporating programmable I²t wire protection combined with SPI-based digital feedback is the elimination of heavy harnesses and oversized copper wiring, which directly reduces vehicle weight and harness costs. Furthermore, implementing ISO 26262 ASIL-D compliance natively inside the power switch shifts diagnostic overhead away from the central domain controller, allowing autonomous driving subsystems to maintain localized fail-operational safety compliance even during partial power network anomalies.

Edited by Lekshman Ramdas, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.infineon.com