Psi-tronic(TM) - a highly reliable power module for high temperature applications

The automotive industry has committed to reduce the CO2-emissions to 140g/km until 2008. In 1998, one OEM started a project aiming to optimize the cooling system of the motor engine. The most promising attempt was to replace the conventional water pump by an electrically driven water pump. The on-demand system revolutionizes the belt-driven mechanical systems. The conventional water pump has a power range of about 2 kW. In comparison to the conventional version, the electrically driven water pump has a power consumption of 200 W. Psi-tronic(TM) is the trade name for a highly reliable electronic module used in the harsh automotive environments designed by AB Mikroelektronik. The mechatronic module drives a 3 phase BLDC motor which is combined with the cooling pump of the cooling system. The module is used in the first electrically driven water pump integrated into the newly launched 6 cylinder BMW engine.This lecture informs about the development, the high volume production and quality management processes of this mechatronic product.