Advantages of System Level Testing and Modelling for Automotive Smart Power Switches

With rising complexities within automotive power distribution networks rapid prototyping and model based design become more and more important for the automotive sector. This paper introduces a overall concept how the demand for multi domain physical system simulation models could get covered and how such models could get validated on a very concrete example. The process starts with the modelling of SMART power switches. To validate these device models, already existing SPICE models can be used. On the other hand, the system level validation requires a different approach. Based on the developed device models a modern power distribution topology is simulated. For the validation of the system level simulation results a hardware system test-bench is introduced. Furthermore, the scope of required conditions as well as the advantages and necessity of system level testing are discussed.