Toshiba Electronics Europe has introduced a new automotive photorelay designed for high-voltage EV applications. The TLX9161T device delivers 1500V output withstand voltage in a compact SO12L-T package, targeting battery management systems in modern electric and fuel-cell vehicles.
The photorelay addresses demanding requirements in automotive battery control systems, which monitor voltage and detect mechanical relay faults and ground faults. The component can also serve as a replacement for traditional mechanical relays in these applications.
The TLX9161T combines an infrared LED optically coupled to a photo-MOSFET, providing electrical isolation between control and switch sides. The device offers 5000Vrms isolation voltage, enabling safe switch control across varying electrical potentials. With a trigger current of 3mA maximum, the component minimizes system energy consumption, while its off-state current reaches just 100nA maximum at ambient temperature.
Toshiba achieved a significant size reduction by shrinking the built-in MOSFET chip, allowing the TLX9161T to fit in a package approximately 25% smaller than its predecessor’s SO16L-T housing. The new SO12L-T package measures 7.76mm × 10.0mm × 2.45mm, helping reduce overall battery unit size and enabling cost savings. Despite the smaller footprint, the device maintains the same pin pitch and layout as the larger package, allowing circuit board designs to remain compatible.
The component achieves a reaction time of 1ms maximum for both turn-on and turn-off operations. Both the IR LED forward current and the detector element’s on-state current are rated at 30mA ambient temperature.
Safety compliance remains central to the design. The TLX9161T uses resin with a Comparative Tracking Index exceeding 600, meeting Material Group I classification under international standard IEC60664-1. This standard covers insulation coordination for systems up to 1000VAC or 1500VDC. The normally open device features creepage and clearance distances of 8mm minimum, maintaining effective isolation across operating temperatures from -40°C to +125°C. The component meets AEC-Q101 Grade 1 automotive standards.
The TLX9161T targets battery management systems that require reliable high voltage switching while minimizing space and power consumption in EV applications.
