Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has announced a significant expansion of its power protection product lineup with the introduction of the new 40V TCKE6 series of electronic fuses (eFuse ICs). This latest series consists of five advanced models—TCKE601RA, TCKE601RL, TCKE602RM, TCKE603RA, and TCKE603RL—all designed to deliver high-performance protection capabilities for a growing range of industrial and consumer applications. The company confirmed that shipments of these new devices begin today, marking an important milestone in Toshiba’s ongoing commitment to supporting robust and reliable electronic system design.
The introduction of the TCKE6 series highlights Toshiba’s efforts to address the increasing demand for compact, multifunctional power protection solutions that go beyond the limitations of traditional physical fuses. While conventional fuses typically provide basic short-circuit protection by breaking the circuit when excessive current flows, they lack the intelligence and versatility needed in today’s sophisticated electronic systems. By contrast, Toshiba’s eFuse ICs integrate a comprehensive set of protective features—such as current limiting, overvoltage protection, and thermal shutdown—functions that conventional fuses simply cannot offer.
One of the key advantages of the TCKE6 series is its ability to deliver short-circuit protection with an immediate response, mirroring the performance of physical fuses but with improved system durability and reset capability. In addition to short-circuit protection, each eFuse integrates current limiting mechanisms that automatically regulate excessive current before it reaches downstream components. This is particularly crucial in modern system architectures where sensitive power-management ICs, microcontrollers, and communication modules are vulnerable to even brief spikes in current.
Beyond current limiting, the TCKE6 series incorporates overvoltage protection—a feature that allows the eFuse IC to detect when supply voltage exceeds safe operating levels and subsequently isolate the circuit to prevent damage. Overvoltage events can occur for many reasons, including external power fluctuations, incorrect power adapter use, or system malfunctions. By providing both overcurrent and overvoltage protection, Toshiba’s eFuses help ensure that subsequent components are shielded from potentially harmful electrical conditions.
The series also features a built-in thermal protection function, which automatically shuts down the device if it detects abnormal temperature rise due to operational overload, accidental short circuits, or unexpected environmental conditions. This thermal shutdown capability enables a rapid system response that reduces the likelihood of long-term component degradation or catastrophic failure. When the eFuse detects overheating, it immediately halts conduction and, depending on the model’s settings, either retries operation automatically or awaits an external signal to reset.
Another major benefit of adopting eFuse ICs over traditional protection circuits is the simplification of system design. Many power-protection architectures commonly require multiple discrete components—such as MOSFETs, diodes, resistors, and control ICs—to achieve the level of intelligence needed for safe operation. By integrating these functions into a single compact device, the TCKE6 series reduces part count, simplifies board layout, and contributes to more space-efficient system designs. This not only lowers the overall cost of the bill of materials (BOM) but also enhances product reliability by reducing the number of individual components that could potentially fail.
All five products in the TCKE6 lineup are rated at 40V, giving them the flexibility to support a wide range of power-input scenarios. Their operating input voltage range spans 4.4V to 30V, making them well-suited for mainstream industrial and consumer power rails, including 5V, 9V, 12V, and 24V systems. These voltage levels are widely used across sectors such as factory automation, smart appliances, power tools, telecommunications equipment, and various home and office electronics. The series therefore serves as a reliable option for designers requiring durable and versatile power protection components.
In terms of conduction performance, the TCKE6 series achieves a low on-resistance of just 52 mΩ (typical). Lower on-resistance minimizes power loss during normal operation, increases overall system efficiency, and reduces thermal buildup—all of which contribute to improved long-term device performance. This efficiency is particularly valuable in compact devices or high-density boards where heat dissipation is a challenge.
The devices come in a compact TSOP6F package, measuring only 2.9 mm × 2.8 mm (typ.), which helps electronics manufacturers meet space constraints while still offering robust protection. As industrial and consumer electronics continue to evolve toward smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient designs, such compact packaging is increasingly valuable.
To address diverse application requirements, Toshiba has designed the TCKE6 series with multiple functional variations. The lineup includes products equipped with a FLAG function, which provides real-time notification of abnormal operating conditions. This output signal enables system controllers—such as MCUs or PMICs—to take responsive action, including shutting down parts of the system, switching to backup circuits, or alerting the user.
Other models in the series feature an EN (enable) function, which allows external control of the eFuse’s operation state. With the EN pin, designers can determine precisely when the device becomes active, facilitating improved coordination with system power sequencing or soft-start routines.
Additionally, Toshiba offers versions with two types of recovery mechanisms:
- Auto-retry operation, where the eFuse IC automatically attempts to resume normal operation after a fault is cleared.
- Latched shutdown, where the device remains off until it receives a manual reset signal from an external controller.
This flexibility allows engineers to choose the variant that best suits their system needs. For example, auto-retry types are well-suited for consumer electronics where minimal user intervention is desirable, while latched types offer enhanced safety for industrial systems where a controlled restart is critical.
Notably, one model in the series is designed without FLAG or EN functions but includes support for mode switching between auto-retry and latched operation using external signals. This unique option provides enhanced configurability while maintaining a minimal feature set for designs where simplicity and space efficiency are a priority.
With the launch of the TCKE6 series, Toshiba reinforces its leadership in power-protection technology and its dedication to supporting modern electronics that require both safety and efficiency. The company has stated that it will continue expanding its portfolio of eFuse ICs to meet evolving global market needs, aiming to provide power designers with tools that combine compact design, multifunctional protection, and strong reliability.
As industries push toward smarter, more connected, and more energy-efficient devices, advanced eFuse ICs like Toshiba’s TCKE6 series will remain essential in ensuring the safe and stable operation of electronic systems across a broad spectrum of applications.
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