Tokyo: Toshiba Electronic Devices and Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has launched the “TLX9161T”, an automotive photorelay engineered for electric vehicle (EV) battery systems, with volume shipments having begun.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, with a minimum output withstand voltage of 1500 volts (V), the new product meets the stringent requirements for high-voltage EV batteries. The photorelay, built in a compact SO12L-T package, offers a 25 percent smaller mounting area than its predecessor, the TLX9160T SO16L-T package. The reduced footprint contributes to more compact and cost-efficient battery management systems (BMS), which are crucial for optimizing EV battery performance and safety.

Photorelays like this are critical in BMS applications, where they manage isolation between the vehicle body and battery, a key safety feature in high-voltage environments. By miniaturizing the internal MOSFET chip, Toshiba has maintained compatibility with existing circuit board designs while enhancing performance.

The new photorelay uses a resin with a Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) exceeding 600, which is classified under Material Group I of the IEC 60664-1 international standard. It also ensures over five millimeters of creepage distance, aligning with global safety standards for 1000V operations. Toshiba will continue to expand its lineup of automotive photorelay products and provide solutions that address the challenges in popularizing EVs, aiming to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.