STMicroelectronics EV-VN7140AS

Overview

EV-VN7140AS from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board pre-assembled with the VN7140AJ-E single-channel smart high-side driver in PowerSSO-16 package, designed for automotive 12 V grounded loads. It supports 3 V/5 V CMOS-compatible control, delivers MultiSense analog feedback (load current, VCC, TCHIP), and integrates fault detection including short-to-ground, short-to-VCC, open-load, and thermal shutdown.

For engineers reviewing the EV-VN7140AS datasheet, EV-VN7140AS pinout, EV-VN7140AS application, or EV-VN7140AS equivalent, this board enables rapid prototyping of VIPower® M0-7 high-side switching with configurable latch-off, active power limitation, and precision current sensing via external Rsense - all without external component design.

Technical Context

The board implements ST's VIPower® M0-7 technology to validate real-time diagnostic and protection behavior of the VN7140AJ-E IC under automotive supply conditions (4–28 V VCC, up to 40 V transient). It routes dedicated pins - FaultRST (active-low fault reset), S_EN (MultiSense enable), SEL0/SEL1 (multiplexer address), and MultiSense (current-mode analog output) - to J3 header for direct MCU interfacing.

Thermal performance is supported by FR4 PCB (25 mm × 41.5 mm, 2-layer, 35 µm Cu) with thermal vias (0.5 mm Ø, 1.1 mm pitch) and R_thj-amb = 39 °C/W, enabling stable operation during sustained 12 A load current testing with active thermal shutdown management.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV-VN7140AS is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body electronics validation, ECU functional safety prototyping, and high-side driver qualification requiring stable component supply, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle continuity.

Supply support for EV-VN7140AS 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, specializing in automotive, industrial, and power management solutions with vertical manufacturing and IP ownership across silicon technologies.

This evaluation board belongs to ST's VIPower® M0-7 product line - engineered specifically for robust, intelligent high-side switching in automotive applications where diagnostics, protection, and low-power standby are mandatory.

FAQ

What load types can be validated using the EV-VN7140AS board?

The board supports resistive (e.g., lamps), inductive (e.g., solenoids, relays), and capacitive (e.g., ECU input filters) 12 V automotive loads. Its VN7140AJ-E driver handles fast inductive flyback with integrated clamp, and its MultiSense feedback enables real-time current profiling during turn-on/turn-off transients.

How is MultiSense feedback configured and read on this board?

SEL0 and SEL1 pins on J3 select between load current, VCC, or chip temperature modes; S_EN enables the multiplexed analog output on J3 Pin 8. The current-mode signal requires an external shunt (mounted at TP1–TP2 or SMD pads) and is read as voltage across a receiver resistor - scaling is 1 mA per amp of load current.

Does the board support latch-off recovery without microcontroller intervention?

Yes - holding J3 Pin 7 (FaultRST) low forces auto-restart mode, automatically re-enabling the output after fault clearance. For latched operation, a brief low pulse on FaultRST resets the fault flag and restores output, enabling controlled recovery in safety-critical systems.

Can the EV-VN7140AS be used with 24 V commercial vehicle systems?

No - the onboard VN7140AJ-E is rated for 4–28 V VCC and 40 V transients, matching 12 V automotive systems only. For 24 V applications, ST's VN7050AJ (36 V max VCC) or VN7E001AJ (41 V max) evaluation boards are required; this board lacks voltage scaling or isolation for higher bus voltages.