STMicroelectronics EV-VND7E040AJ

Overview

EV-VND7E040AJ from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board for the VND7E040AJ dual-channel high-side smart power switch, designed to drive 12 V automotive grounded loads with CMOS-compatible 3 V/5 V control, featuring analog current sense, thermal shutdown, and configurable latch-off via FaultRST pin - used in headlamp and ADAS sensor supply applications.

For engineers reviewing the EV-VND7E040AJ datasheet, EV-VND7E040AJ pinout, EV-VND7E040AJ application, or EV-VND7E040AJ equivalent, this board enables rapid prototyping of VIPower M0-7 based high-side driving with pre-assembled PowerSSO-16 IC, on-board diagnostic multiplexing (SEL0/SEL1), CurrentSense output, and thermal vias optimized for junction-to-ambient R_thj-amb ≤ 39 °C/W.

Technical Context

This board implements the VND7E040AJ in PowerSSO-16 package with dual independent high-side outputs (OUT0/OUT1), each supporting up to 38 A current limit and operation down to 2.85 V supply during cold cranking. It integrates a proportional current mirror for ±5% load current sensing and supports OFF-state open-load detection via IN_PullUP.

The board provides dedicated routing for all diagnostic pins - CurrentSense (multiplexed for load current, supply voltage, and die temperature), S_EN (sense enable), FaultRST (active-low fault reset), and dual input channels (IN0/IN1) with hysteresis - all CMOS-compatible and isolated from system ground per ST's VIPower architecture.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV-VND7E040AJ is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive lighting validation, ADAS sensor power qualification, and cold-cranking robustness testing requiring stable component supply and traceable evaluation hardware.

Supply support for EV-VND7E040AJ 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-VND7E040AJ belongs to ST's VIPower M0-7 evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate validation of smart power switches in harsh automotive environments - especially where deep cold cranking (≥2.85 V), precise current monitoring, and fault-resilient latching are mandatory.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the IN_PullUP connector on J3 pin 5?

Pin 5 of J3 (IN_PullUP) provides a connection point for an external pull-up resistor to enable OFF-state open-load detection. When the controlled load is disconnected while the driver is off, this resistor allows the internal diagnostic circuitry to detect the open condition by measuring voltage at the IN pin, complying with ISO 16750-2 requirements for automotive diagnostics.

Can the CurrentSense pin report both load current and chip temperature simultaneously?

No - the CurrentSense pin is multiplexed and reports only one parameter at a time, selected via SEL0/SEL1 logic states. Valid combinations are: SEL0=0/SEL1=0 → load current; SEL0=1/SEL1=0 → supply voltage; SEL0=0/SEL1=1 → die temperature. Each mode delivers a proportional current output scaled per the external sense resistor value.

Is a sense resistor included with the EV-VND7E040AJ board?

Yes - the board ships with a through-hole sense resistor pre-installed across test points TP1–TP2. Users may replace it with a custom-value through-hole or SMD resistor (mounted on dedicated pads per Figure 5) to adjust current-sense gain, enabling calibration for specific load ranges or accuracy targets per application requirements.

How does the FaultRST pin affect latch-off behavior during overtemperature events?

When FaultRST is held low, the VND7E040AJ enters auto-restart mode and automatically recovers after fault clearance. When pulled high, latch-off remains active until FaultRST is pulsed low - allowing controlled, user-initiated reset after thermal shutdown or overload, preventing unattended re-engagement in unsafe conditions.