STMicroelectronics L9616

Overview

L9616 from STMicroelectronics is an AEC-Q100 qualified automotive high-speed CAN bus transceiver supporting data rates up to 1 Mbaud, operating from 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply, with ±4 kV ESD protection and short-circuit protection from −5 V to 36 V on bus pins C_H/C_L. It interfaces between a CAN controller and physical differential bus in vehicle body control modules.

For engineers reviewing the L9616 datasheet, L9616 pinout, L9616 application, or L9616 equivalent, this transceiver's dual-slope control (≤1 Mbaud / ≤250 kbaud), wide common-mode input range (−2 V to VS+3 V), and integrated short-circuit detection with shutdown are critical for robust automotive network design.

Technical Context

The L9616 implements a bidirectional differential transceiver architecture compliant with ISO/DIS 11898, featuring separate transmitter (TXO-driven) and receiver (C_H/C_L-sensed) signal paths with independent protection circuitry. Its ASC pin selects between two slew-rate modes: high-speed (20–50 V/μs) for ≤1 Mbaud or low-speed (5–20 V/μs) for ≤250 kbaud to reduce RFI/EMI.

Receiver operation supports common-mode voltage from −2 V to VS+3 V and includes 700 mV typical differential threshold with 150 mV hysteresis. Transmitter output provides dominant-state differential voltage of 1.5–3 V across 60 Ω termination and recessive-state voltage within ±500 mV.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: SO-8 (ECOPACK® compliant, 1.27 mm pitch, 5.0 × 6.2 mm body).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar CAN transceiver applications.

Compared with TJA1042T/3 and MCP2551-I/P, the L9616 uniquely combines AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualification, hardware-selectable slew rate, and active short-circuit shutdown - making it the only choice for automotive applications requiring both functional safety and EMI adaptability.

Availability

L9616 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for body control modules, powertrain ECUs, ADAS domain controllers, and EV battery management systems requiring stable component supply across multi-year automotive production cycles.

Supply support for L9616 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, Switzerland, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, analog ICs, power devices, and automotive-grade components since 1987.

The L9616 belongs to ST's automotive interface portfolio, engineered specifically for robust CAN physical layer implementation in harsh vehicle environments with emphasis on EMC resilience, fault tolerance, and AEC-Q100 compliance.

FAQ

What is the function of the ASC pin on the L9616?

The ASC (Adjustable Slope Control) pin selects the transmitter's slew rate: tied to GND enables high-speed mode (≤1 Mbaud, 20–50 V/μs), while tied to VS enables low-speed mode (≤250 kbaud, 5–20 V/μs) to reduce electromagnetic interference. This hardware-selectable feature eliminates firmware dependency and simplifies board-level configuration for mixed-speed CAN networks.

Does the L9616 require external termination resistors on the CAN bus?

No - the L9616 does not integrate bus termination. A 60 Ω differential termination resistor must be placed externally between C_H and C_L at the bus ends per ISO 11898-2. The device's internal input resistance (5–50 kΩ recessive) and differential input resistance (10–100 kΩ) are designed to operate correctly with standard 60 Ω line impedance and do not substitute for proper bus termination.

Can the L9616 operate with a 3.3 V CAN controller?

Yes - the TXO input accepts 0.7×VS logic-high and 0.3×VS logic-low thresholds, and RXO outputs CMOS levels referenced to VS (4.5–5.5 V). When interfacing with a 3.3 V controller, a level-shifter is required on both TXO (controller → L9616) and RXO (L9616 → controller) paths to avoid violating input voltage limits and ensure noise margin compliance.

How does the L9616 handle bus faults such as short-to-battery or short-to-ground?

The L9616 detects shorts between C_H and C_L or C_H and battery within 1–10 μs and disables transmitter outputs to prevent thermal damage. It also features immediate shutdown if C_L voltage exceeds 7–10 V (VC_Lmax threshold). These protections operate independently of the controller and maintain receiver functionality during faults, allowing diagnostic reporting via RXO and RX1 outputs.