Diodes Incorporated has introduced a new set of transistors. The ULN62003A DIODES consists of seven open-drain transistors rated at 500mA, where all their sources are connected to a common ground pin.
Capable of driving a wide variety of loads – such as solenoids, relays, DC motors and LED displays – this high-current transistor array is aimed at climate control and home appliance projects. The product can be used in washing machines, dryers, microwave ovens and air conditioners.
Made with DMOSFET output transistors, the ULN62003A has an output voltage drop of just 0.2V. This is much smaller than the bipolar devices it is pin compatible with. The resulting reduction in power dissipation not only minimizes overall power usage, but also mitigates thermal issues and improves reliability. It allows more devices to be controlled while maintaining the desired die temperature.
Furthermore, the device, with support for input voltages up to -1V, has much greater flexibility and allows the use of the GND pin to detect overcurrent situations. This feature further increases the robustness of the system and expands the applications that the ULN62003A can serve. Clamping diodes are included on each of the outputs of this transistor assembly for protection and increased reliability when driving inductive loads.