Self-protected MOSFETs integrate a power MOSFET with a complete array of protection circuits that guard against ESD, over-current, over-voltage, and over-temperature conditions. When an 'intelligent' MOSFET senses the presence of any one of these potentially catastrophic conditions, it protects both itself and the load connected to it. The integration of these protection functions therefore improves overall system reliability. The addition of features such as status flags also helps improve overall system performance by providing a diagnostics capability that can aid the isolation and rectification of faults within a vehicle.

Self-protected MOSFETs can be categorized as either low side devices, where the load is switched with reference to ground, or high side devices, where the load is switched with reference to a floating point.

Diodes Incorporated's range of low-side intelliFET self-protected MOSFETs are ideally suited to use in harsh environments where there is a need for immunity from radiated and conducted emissions. Consequently, self- protected MOSFETs are used in both automotive and industrial applications. Some of the functions IntelliFETs are deployed in are:

• Remote I/O Controller Outputs (Programmable Logic Controllers)
• Distributed I/O Modules
• Relay Driving
• Lamp Driving
• Proximity Switches
• Alarm System
• GPS System
• Relay Driving in HVAC Applications