Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has announced the release of a new automotive-grade photorelay, model TLX9165T, housed in a 10-pin SO16L-T package. The component features an output withstand voltage of at least 1800V and is now available for volume production.
As the electric vehicle (EV) market grows, improving battery efficiency is essential to enable faster charging and extended driving ranges. Key to this improvement is the battery management system (BMS), which monitors battery status and ensures electrical isolation from the vehicle body — a critical safety function for high-voltage power sources. These systems often rely on photorelays with electrical isolation to manage high-voltage environments.
Similar requirements apply to energy storage systems (ESS) used in renewable energy infrastructure. Like EVs, ESS solutions operate at high voltages and demand reliable isolation components like photorelays. Most EVs currently use 400V battery systems, but industry trends point to a shift toward 800V platforms to reduce charging times and enhance range.
To support these systems, isolation devices must withstand voltages around twice the system level — at least 1600V for 800V batteries. The newly released TLX9165T photorelay meets this requirement, offering a minimum withstand voltage of 1800V through a proprietary high-voltage MOSFET design.
The device’s 10-pin SO16L-T package uses a high-insulation resin with a Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) of 600 or more, placing it in material group I according to the IEC 60664-1 international safety standard. The layout ensures a creepage distance of at least 7.5mm on the light-receiving side, allowing for an operational voltage of up to 1500V in compliance with global safety requirements.
The pin configuration matches existing SO16L-T designs, enabling reuse of established PCB layouts and simplifying integration.
Toshiba plans to continue expanding its lineup of photorelays for both vehicle battery systems and industrial energy storage applications, reinforcing safety and reliability across sectors.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation delivers advanced semiconductor and storage technologies, backed by more than 50 years of industry expertise. With a global workforce of approximately 19,400 employees, the company focuses on high-performance discrete devices, system LSIs, and hard disk drives, while maintaining strong partnerships with customers to drive innovation and create new market opportunities.
