STMicroelectronics EV-VN5E025AJ

Overview

EV-VN5E025AJ from STMicroelectronics is a pre-assembled evaluation board for the VN5E025AJ-E single-channel VIPower® high-side driver IC in PowerSSO-12 package, rated for 41 V max supply, 25 mΩ R_ON, and 60 A current limitation, designed to prototype 12 V automotive grounded-load control with integrated diagnostics and thermal management.

For engineers reviewing the EV-VN5E025AJ datasheet, EV-VN5E025AJ pinout, EV-VN5E025AJ application, or EV-VN5E025AJ equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of VN5E025AJ-E's load driving, analog current sensing, overtemperature autorestart, short-circuit detection, and CMOS-compatible 3 V/5 V interface in automotive-grade prototyping environments.

Technical Context

The EV-VN5E025AJ implements a dedicated hardware interface for the VN5E025AJ-E high-side driver, featuring a 38 × 38 mm double-layer FR4 PCB with 70 µm copper, thermal vias (0.3 mm diameter, 1.2 mm spacing), and integrated heat-sinking capability. It supports full diagnostic functionality via dedicated pins: CURRENT SENSE, CS_DIS, and INPUT.

Board-level connectivity includes dual VCC tabs (J1 and J2), GND, OUTPUT (6 parallel pads), and isolated signal routing for INPUT, CURRENT SENSE, and CS_DIS - all mapped directly to the PowerSSO-12 pinout of the mounted VN5E025AJ-E IC, preserving its native protection and sensing architecture.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV-VN5E025AJ is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body electronics prototyping, industrial PLC output stage validation, and embedded motor/load control development requiring stable component supply and repeatable thermal performance.

Supply support for EV-VN5E025AJ includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power ICs, sensors, and automotive-grade analog devices.

The EV-VN5E025AJ belongs to ST's VIPower® evaluation board product line, developed specifically to accelerate design-in of high-side drivers for 12 V automotive loads with integrated protection, diagnostics, and thermal robustness.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the CS_DIS pin on the EV-VN5E025AJ board?

The CS_DIS pin disables the internal current sense amplifier of the mounted VN5E025AJ-E IC when pulled high. This allows sharing of an external sense resistor across multiple identical high-side drivers on the same PCB, reducing component count and enabling synchronized diagnostic feedback in multi-channel systems without signal crosstalk.

Does the EV-VN5E025AJ board include protection against load dump or reverse battery?

No - the EV-VN5E025AJ board itself does not integrate load dump clamping or reverse-battery protection circuitry. These functions must be implemented externally per UM1556 design guidelines. The board routes only the VN5E025AJ-E's native protections: overtemperature shutdown with autorestart, current limiting, and short-circuit detection to VCC or ground.

Can the EV-VN5E025AJ be used for continuous 60 A operation?

No - while the VN5E025AJ-E IC is rated for 60 A typical current limitation, the EV-VN5E025AJ board's thermal performance (R_thj-amb = 30.5 °C/W) supports sustained operation up to ~15 A at 25 °C ambient without forced airflow. Continuous 60 A requires external heatsinking and active cooling, as specified in AN4210 and UM1556.

Is the PowerSSO-12 footprint on the EV-VN5E025AJ compatible with other ST VIPower devices?

Yes - the board uses the standard PowerSSO-12 land pattern defined in ST's packaging documentation. However, pin functions differ across devices (e.g., VN5E010AJ has different diagnostic pin assignments), so direct IC substitution without schematic and firmware review is not supported. Always verify pin mapping against the target device's datasheet.