VN7007AHTR

STMicroelectronics VN7007AHTR – VIPower Automotive High‑Side Driver with Analog Current Sense

The STMicroelectronics VN7007AHTR is a single‑channel automotive high‑side driver from the VIPower family, designed to switch battery‑connected loads while providing analog current sense feedback for diagnostics and control. Offered in a compact PowerSSO‑16 package and supplied in tape‑and‑reel, VN7007AHTR targets body electronics and power distribution where robust, intelligent high‑side switching is required for resistive, inductive, and capacitive loads.

Engineers value high‑side drivers for their intrinsic short‑to‑ground tolerance, built‑in protections (see datasheet), and simplified wiring to battery‑connected loads. The VN7007AHTR combines those benefits with an analog current sense output that supports health monitoring, fault detection, and closed‑loop control in automotive ECUs.

Where the VN7007AHTR fits in your design

• Category: Automotive High‑Side Switch / Driver
• Brand / Manufacturer: STMicroelectronics
• Series: VIPower
• MPN: VN7007AHTR
• Function: Single‑channel high‑side driver with analog current sense feedback
• Package: PowerSSO‑16 (surface‑mount), 16 pins; ordering code “AHTR” denotes tape‑and‑reel

If you are building body control modules (BCMs), lamp drivers, heater controllers, solenoid/relay drivers, or general power distribution, the STMicroelectronics VN7007AHTR provides a practical way to switch loads directly from the 12 V battery rail while feeding a proportional sense signal back to your MCU or monitoring circuitry.

Key features and value drivers

• Single channel for flexible load assignment

• Ideal for point solutions where one channel per load simplifies system partitioning and diagnostics.

• Analog current sense feedback

• Provides a proportional output that enables load monitoring, fault detection, and real‑time control. Useful for lamp outage detection, jammed actuators, or abnormal current profiles.

• Drives a broad range of load types

• Suitable for resistive, inductive, and capacitive loads typically encountered in automotive environments, including bulbs, solenoids, motors, and heating elements.

• VIPower pedigree

• Part of STMicroelectronics’ VIPower family of smart power devices, designed for rugged automotive use cases and integration into modern ECUs.

• Practical packaging and assembly

• PowerSSO‑16 footprint for dense layouts and automated assembly; supplied in tape‑and‑reel for efficient SMT production.

• Streamlined diagnostics

• With an analog sense pin available, you can design thresholds in firmware to distinguish normal operation from open‑load, short‑to‑battery/ground scenarios, and thermal events (see datasheet for implementation guidance).

Note: For electrical limits, protection details, and recommended sense scaling, refer to the official VN7007AH/VN7007AHTR datasheet linked below. Only information explicitly provided is cited here.

Technical specifications at a glance

• Manufacturer: STMicroelectronics
• Series: VIPower
• Category: Automotive High‑Side Switch / Driver
• MPN: VN7007AHTR
• Channels: 1
• Feedback/Diagnostics: Analog current sense output
• Package: PowerSSO‑16
• Pin count: 16
• Mounting type: Surface mount
• Packaging: Tape & Reel (TR)

The following parameters are not provided in the supplied data and should be verified in the datasheet:

• Operating voltage range: Not specified in datasheet
• Continuous/peak load current: Not specified in datasheet
• On‑resistance (RDS(on)): Not specified in datasheet
• Sense ratio and accuracy: Not specified in datasheet
• Protections (e.g., overcurrent, thermal shutdown, clamp): Not specified in datasheet
• Diagnostic fault signaling behavior: Not specified in datasheet
• AEC‑Q qualification: Not specified in datasheet
• RoHS / environmental compliance: Not specified in datasheet
• Operating temperature range: Not specified in datasheet

Because high‑side drivers are often chosen based on on‑resistance, current capability, protection features, and sense accuracy, we recommend confirming these items on the ST product page and datasheet before finalizing your design.

Applications and use cases

• Automotive lighting and lamps

• Halogen or incandescent bulbs, DRLs, rear lamps, and interior lighting. Current sense helps detect open lamp filaments and aging.

• Solenoid and relay driving

• Door locks, latches, valves, and relays in body functions. Current sense can detect stuck or shorted solenoids.

• Heaters and motors

• Seat heaters, mirror heaters, small DC motors for comfort and convenience features.

• Body control modules (BCM)

• Consolidated high‑side outputs with per‑channel diagnostics and power distribution.

• Power distribution and load switching

• Battery‑connected distribution with protected outputs and feedback for system‑level safety and logging.

Design‑in considerations

The following guidelines are general best practices for integrating a smart high‑side driver like the STMicroelectronics VN7007AHTR. Always consult the datasheet for pin functions, recommended operating conditions, and layout requirements.

• High‑side vs. low‑side selection

• Choose high‑side switching when the load requires a grounded return and you need short‑to‑ground tolerance and simplified wiring harnesses.

• Analog current sense utilization

• The analog sense output can be routed to an MCU ADC for continuous monitoring. Implement firmware filtering and thresholds to identify abnormal load signatures (e.g., open load, short, stall). Consult the datasheet for the sense ratio, scaling components, and any recommended RC filtering.

• Handling inductive loads

• Automotive loads are frequently inductive. Review the datasheet’s guidance on energy demagnetization, clamp behavior, and any external components required for safe turn‑off during fault or normal operation.

• Power supply and transient robustness

• Automotive battery rails see significant transients (load dumps, cranking dips, ringing). Follow the recommended input decoupling, ground strategy, and surge/transient suppression from the ST reference guidance and system‑level EMC plan.

• Thermal and PCB layout

• Allocate adequate copper area and thermal vias as recommended to manage device dissipation. Keep high‑current paths short, utilize wide traces or pours, and observe pinout constraints for supply and load connections.

• EMC/ESD practices

• Place input filtering and snubbers where recommended by the datasheet/application notes to limit conducted and radiated emissions. Ground strategy and return current control are critical in automotive ECUs.

• Firmware diagnostics

• Use the analog current sense to implement health monitoring, fault logging, and predictive maintenance. Rate‑limit re‑tries after faults and respect any thermal cooldown behaviors documented by the manufacturer.

Lifecycle, availability, and compliance

• Lifecycle status: Not specified (check ST product page)
• RoHS / environmental compliance: Not specified in datasheet
• Inventory quantity: 0 (based on supplied data; check distributors for current stock)
• Replacements / drop‑in alternatives: Not specified

For the latest lifecycle, compliance, and stock status of the STMicroelectronics VN7007AHTR, consult the official product page or authorized distributors. The ordering code “AHTR” confirms the PowerSSO‑16 package in tape‑and‑reel format, which is typically preferred for automated SMT assembly.

Sourcing and procurement notes

• Verify the full ordering code

• VN7007AHTR identifies the device and packaging (TR = tape & reel). Ensure your BOM and purchase orders specify the exact code to avoid packaging mismatches.

• Align package with assembly flow

• PowerSSO‑16 is an SMT package. Confirm that your assembly house profile and pick‑and‑place setup support the tape pitch, pocket orientation, and reflow profile recommended by ST.

• Cross‑check compliance and lifecycle early

• If you require specific environmental or automotive qualifications, validate them with the manufacturer’s site before design freeze.

• Plan for lead times

• High‑side drivers are core to many ECUs; their demand can be cyclical. Engage multiple authorized distributors if your policy supports second‑sourcing by supplier.

• Build testability into the ECU

• The analog current sense output is an opportunity to implement automated production test, in‑line verification, and field diagnostics that reduce returns and troubleshooting time.

Why choose the STMicroelectronics VN7007AHTR?

• Diagnostic visibility via analog current sense

• Better insight into load behavior than simple digital fault pins, enabling sophisticated fault discrimination and logging.

• Flexible load compatibility

• Works with common automotive loads—resistive, inductive, and capacitive—so one device can service multiple functions across vehicle trims.

• Compact and production‑ready packaging

• PowerSSO‑16 in tape‑and‑reel simplifies high‑volume SMT manufacturing and reduces handling.

• VIPower ecosystem

• Supported by ST’s documentation and ecosystem, simplifying qualification and long‑term maintenance.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• What is the STMicroelectronics VN7007AHTR?

• A single‑channel automotive high‑side driver from the VIPower series with analog current sense feedback.

• What package is VN7007AHTR supplied in?

• PowerSSO‑16. The “TR” ordering suffix indicates tape‑and‑reel packaging.

• How many channels does it have?

• One.

• Does it support analog current measurement?

• Yes. It provides an analog current sense output for diagnostics and control.

• Which load types can it drive?

• Resistive, inductive, and capacitive loads connected to the automotive battery rail.

• Is this device AEC‑Q qualified?

• Not specified in datasheet (verify on the ST product page).

• What are the current and on‑resistance ratings?

• Not specified in datasheet here. Refer to the VN7007AH/VN7007AHTR datasheet.

• What protections are integrated?

• Not specified in datasheet in the provided information. See the official datasheet for details.

• How do I read the current sense output?

• Route the sense pin to an MCU ADC and follow the datasheet’s recommended scaling and filtering. The exact sense ratio is not specified here.

• Are there recommended alternatives or newer revisions?

• Not specified. Check the ST product page for related devices in the VIPower family.

Resources

• Product page: https://www.st.com/en/automotive-analog-and-power/vn7007ah.html
• Datasheet: https://www.st.com/resource/en/datasheet/vn7007ah.pdf

Summary

The STMicroelectronics VN7007AHTR is a practical choice when you need a protected, battery‑side high‑side driver with built‑in analog current sensing. Its single‑channel configuration in a PowerSSO‑16 package suits dense ECUs and targeted power distribution functions across BCMs and body electronics. Because automotive designs hinge on detailed electrical limits and protection behaviors, confirm all operating ratings—current, voltage, RDS(on), sense ratio, and protection thresholds—directly in the ST datasheet and product page before release to production. If your application demands diagnostic visibility, the VN7007AHTR’s analog current sense feedback can significantly reduce troubleshooting time and improve field reliability, making it a strong candidate for modern automotive platforms.