Voltage regulator fits into compact LIN tranceiver

NXP Semiconductors has introduced the TJA1028 LIN transceiver family that has integrated low-drop voltage regulator in a very small 3x3 leadless package. The voltage regulator is designed to power an automotive Electronic Control Unit (ECU), integrating the major peripheral functions around the microcontroller of a typical LIN-networked ECU into a single chip. The combination of voltage regulator and bus transceiver makes it possible to develop compact yet powerful slave nodes in LIN bus systems.

The TJA1028 can handle low-speed data communication in vehicles and is suitable for various LIN slave applications such as rain-light sensors, mirror modules, window lifters and switch panels. Designed specifically to meet the stringent requirements of vehicle OEMs, such as Volkswagen, Audi, Daimler, BMW, Ford, GM, Chrysler, and Renault, the TJA1028 offers strong Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) performance with bus output designed to withstand high voltages, enabling robust automotive designs.

The TJA1028 system basis chip family can deliver up to 70mA and is available in 3.3V and 5.0V variants. To minimize current consumption, the TJA1028 supports a sleep mode wherein the LIN transceiver and the voltage regulator are switched off while still having wake-up capability via the LIN bus. It offers a low-power standby mode, in which the LIN transceiver is switched off while the voltage regulator is still supplying the microcontroller.

To enable smaller, lighter and more environmentally friendly LIN2.1 modules, the TJA1028 transceiver is available in a leadless HVSON8 package that measures only 3x3mm. Compared to an SO8 package, the HVSON8 reduces board space by up to 70 percent and enables smaller ECU sizes. The HVSON8 package features better thermal characteristics and improved heat dissipation compared to standard solutions, allowing the voltage regulator to deliver up to 70mA , which is 40 percent higher than the current industry standard.

The TJA1028T/xxx/20 ensures secure data communication up to 20kBaud, the maximum specified in the LIN standard. The TJA1028T/xxx/10 versions are optimized for a transmission speed of 10.4kBaud, as specified in SAE J2602. By providing a flexible networking and power management solution in a single small-sized package, the TJA1028 family provides full PCB design flexibility.