STMicroelectronics EV-VNQ5E160K

Overview

EV-VNQ5E160K from STMicroelectronics is a pre-assembled evaluation board for the VNQ5E160K-E quad-channel high-side driver IC, designed for automotive grounded-load control. It integrates the PowerSSO-24 packaged VIPower M0-5 device with thermal heat-sinking, 4.5–28 V operating range, 160 mΩ max R_ON, 10 A typical current limitation, and per-channel diagnostic status outputs.

For engineers reviewing the EV-VNQ5E160K datasheet, EV-VNQ5E160K pinout, EV-VNQ5E160K application, or EV-VNQ5E160K equivalent, this board enables rapid prototyping of automotive body electronics, smart power distribution, and fault-diagnosable load switching-especially where CMOS-compatible 3 V/5 V microcontroller interfacing and thermal management are critical.

Technical Context

The EV-VNQ5E160K implements a dedicated hardware interface for the VNQ5E160K-E high-side driver, supporting all four output channels via dual 12-pin headers (J1/J2) with routed VCC, GND, INPUTx, STATUSx, STAT_DIS, and OUTPUTx connections. It provides PCB-level thermal vias (0.3 mm diameter, 1.2 mm spacing) and 2-layer FR4 construction (38 × 43 mm, 1.6 mm thickness) to sustain junction-to-ambient thermal resistance ≤30.5 °C/W under defined test conditions.

This board does not include external protection components (e.g., reverse-battery diodes, TVS), requiring user addition per UM1556 design guidelines. Its layout follows AN4212 recommendations for PowerSSO-24 evaluation, enabling direct integration into existing prototype circuits without custom PCB design.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV-VNQ5E160K is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body control modules, industrial PLC I/O expansion, smart lighting controllers, and battery-powered vehicle subsystems requiring stable component supply and validated reference hardware.

Supply support for EV-VNQ5E160K 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, delivering silicon solutions for automotive, industrial, and consumer applications with emphasis on safety, reliability, and energy efficiency.

The EV-VNQ5E160K belongs to ST's VIPower evaluation board family, developed specifically to accelerate adoption of their high-side drivers in automotive-grade load-switching systems with integrated diagnostics and thermal robustness.

FAQ

Does EV-VNQ5E160K include the VNQ5E160K-E IC?

Yes. The board ships fully assembled with the VNQ5E160K-E quad high-side driver pre-soldered in its PowerSSO-24 package. No additional IC mounting is required for basic functional evaluation.

What external components must be added to use EV-VNQ5E160K in a working circuit?

Per UM1556 and AN4212, users must add reverse-battery protection diodes, input ESD clamps, output TVS devices, and decoupling capacitors. The board provides footprints and routing for these but does not populate them.

Can STAT_DIS be used to daisy-chain multiple EV-VNQ5E160K boards?

Yes. Pulling STAT_DIS high disables all channel STATUS outputs, enabling wired-OR connection of STATUS pins across multiple boards for consolidated fault reporting-consistent with VNQ5E160K-E's documented diagnostic architecture.

Is EV-VNQ5E160K qualified for automotive production use?

No. This is an evaluation board-not a production-grade module. While it hosts the AEC-Q100 qualified VNQ5E160K-E IC, the board itself lacks automotive qualification (e.g., vibration, thermal cycling, EMC testing) and is intended solely for lab-based development and proof-of-concept.