IPS4260LM - Quad Low-Side Intelligent Power Switch | STMicroelectronics
MPN: IPS4260LM ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.92 | $4.92 |
| 10 | $4.43 | $44.30 |
| 100 | $3.94 | $394.00 |
| 500 | $3.55 | $1,775.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.16 | $3,160.00 |
IPS4260LM Overview
An intelligent power switch (IPS) is a category of smart power IC that combines one or more power MOSFETs with protection, diagnostic, and interface logic in a single die. IPS parts sit hierarchically as: power switch -> load driver -> power management IC -> semiconductor. They are commonly used in industrial digital outputs, programmable logic controller (PLC) interfaces, and micro-controller expansion where reliable switching, fault feedback, and minimal external circuitry are required.
Key features include four independent 2 A channels, an internal charge pump generating a gate drive, integrated over-current and over-temperature protection, per-channel open-drain status flag outputs, and compatibility with 3.3 V or 5 V logic-level inputs. The device operates from 8 V to 50 V load supply, with a typical Rds(on) of 0.3 ohm per channel at 25 C, ensuring low conduction loss in industrial 24 V systems.
The IPS4260LM uses a vertical power MOSFET process with an embedded charge pump, enabling low-loss switching at high PWM frequencies up to 250 kHz. Built-in programmable current limiting, thermal shutdown with auto-retry, and per-channel diagnostics reduce MCU firmware overhead while providing robust protection against short circuits and load wiring faults.
Typical applications include industrial digital output modules (24 V solenoids, relays, valves), PLC and STM32 Nucleo expansion boards, building automation, low-side lamp drivers, and motor direction/half-bridge switch legs with paired high-side companion parts. Its 50 V absolute maximum also makes it suitable for process control and HVAC actuator interfaces.
When designing with the IPS4260LM, ensure the exposed thermal pad is soldered to a minimum 1 sq inch copper pour and place bypass capacitors within 5 mm of VCC and GND. Validate inrush behavior for capacitive loads because the internal current limit may trip; consider soft-start firmware if high-C loads are required.
Drop-in alternatives for IPS4260LM — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
IPS4260LMTR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TPL7407LHA
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
IPS4260LM Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Number of Channels | 4 |
| Switch Type | Low-side N-channel MOSFET |
| Continuous Output Current (per channel) | 2 A |
| Load Supply Voltage Range | 8 V to 50 V |
| Maximum Switching Frequency | 250 kHz |
| Rds(on) per Channel | 0.3 ohm typical |
| Logic Input Compatibility | 3.3 V / 5 V CMOS |
| Integrated Protections | Over-current, over-temperature (auto-retry), short-circuit |
| Diagnostic Output | Per-channel open-drain status flag |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C |
| Package | 20-HTSSOP (HTSSOP-20) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
IPS4260LM Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | IN1 — Logic input for channel 1 |
| Pin 2 | IN2 — Logic input for channel 2 |
| Pin 3 | IN3 — Logic input for channel 3 |
| Pin 4 | IN4 — Logic input for channel 4 |
| Pin 5 | GND — Logic and power ground |
| Pin 6 | VCC — Load supply voltage (8 V to 50 V) |
| Pin 7 | OUT1 — Channel 1 power output (open drain) |
| Pin 8 | OUT2 — Channel 2 power output (open drain) |
| Pin 9 | OUT3 — Channel 3 power output (open drain) |
| Pin 10 | OUT4 — Channel 4 power output (open drain) |
| Pin 11 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 12 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 13 | FLG1 — Open-drain fault flag for channel 1 |
| Pin 14 | FLG2 — Open-drain fault flag for channel 2 |
| Pin 15 | FLG3 — Open-drain fault flag for channel 3 |
| Pin 16 | FLG4 — Open-drain fault flag for channel 4 |
| Pin 17 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 18 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 19 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 20 | EPAD — Exposed thermal pad - solder to ground pad for thermal relief |
Typical Applications
IPS4260LM is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial 24V Digital Output Module, STM32 Nucleo Industrial Expansion Board (X-NUCLEO-OUT05A1), Building Automation Relay Driver, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Output Card, Low-Side Half-Bridge Motor Drive Leg, Automotive 12V Lamp and Solenoid Driver.
Industrial 24V Digital Output Module
The IPS4260LM drives four 24 V industrial loads from an STM32 or PLC digital output module. Each channel delivers 2 A continuous, sufficient for solenoids, valves, and indicator lamps typical in factory automation. The integrated over-current and over-temperature protection with auto-retry eliminates the fuse-and-replace cycle on field failures. Per-channel open-drain status flags wire back to MCU GPIO for fail-safe diagnostics. With a 50 V absolute maximum, the IPS4260LM tolerates 24 V industrial transients and inductive kickback from relay coils without external TVS suppression.
Recommended
STM32 Nucleo Industrial Expansion Board (X-NUCLEO-OUT05A1)
The IPS4260LM is the silicon on the X-NUCLEO-OUT05A1 expansion board that stack-mounts on any STM32 Nucleo-64. Four protected 24 V outputs appear on Arduino-compatible headers, enabling engineers to prototype industrial digital output firmware within minutes. Direct 3.3 V GPIO compatibility means no level-shifter IC is required between the MCU and the switch. ST provides reference firmware and FreeRTOS task examples for sequencing up to four loads. The HTSSOP-20 footprint exposed thermal pad also simplifies EMC-compliant 4-layer PCB layout for industrial certification.
Recommended
Building Automation Relay Driver
Building automation HVAC controllers, lighting contactors, and access-control magnetic locks all switch 24 V at currents under 2 A. The IPS4260LM drives four such relay coils with intelligent diagnostics that report stuck contacts or shorted wiring back to the controller. The 250 kHz PWM capability enables solid-state relay (SSR) emulation for silent, bounce-free switching of HVAC dampers. Operating temperature of -40 C to +125 C supports unconditioned plant-room or rooftop enclosures. A single IPS4260LM replaces four discrete MOSFETs plus four gate drivers, halving PCB area and BOM cost.
Recommended
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Output Card
Compact PLC output cards use the IPS4260LM to provide four 2 A solid-state outputs per chip, supporting 24 V DC sourcing to solenoid valves and indicator lamps. The integrated charge pump eliminates external bootstrap components, simplifying the BOM and reducing PCB height to fit DIN-rail enclosures. Per-channel fault flags feed back to the PLC scan engine to report short-circuit or open-load conditions in real time. With 50 V load supply tolerance the part survives the back-EMF of disconnected 24 V inductive loads without external snubbers.
Recommended
Low-Side Half-Bridge Motor Drive Leg
The IPS4260LM provides the low-side switch leg of a half-bridge or H-bridge when paired with a high-side driver such as the VNH7070 or STSPIN32F0. Used as two channels per leg, it handles brushed 24 V DC motors in appliance and small-robot applications under 2 A per winding. The 250 kHz PWM capability enables current-mode control and silent step-rates when used with an external chopper amplifier. Integrated current-limit and thermal shutdown protect the motor from stall conditions far more reliably than discrete sense-resistor circuits.
Recommended
Automotive 12V Lamp and Solenoid Driver
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the IPS4260LM is widely used in non-safety automotive applications such as interior lighting, seat motors, and 12 V accessory relays. Each channel switches a 12 V lamp up to 2 A with PWM dimming or soft-start, allowing LED matrix brightness control. The over-temperature auto-retry protects against wiring harness shorts, important in harsh under-dash environments. The exposed thermal pad keeps the junction within rated limits even when four channels drive a stalled solenoid simultaneously.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for IPS4260LM — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | IPS4260LMTR | TPL7407LHA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | Texas Instruments |
| Package | HTSSOP-20 (exposed pad) | HTSSOP-20 (same package) | HTSSOP-20 PowerPAD (same footprint) |
| Number of Channels | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Continuous Current per Channel | 2 A | 2 A | 0.5 A |
| Load Supply Voltage | 8 V to 50 V | 8 V to 50 V | 8 V to 40 V |
| Rds(on) per Channel | 0.3 ohm typical | 0.3 ohm | 0.6 ohm |
| Maximum PWM Frequency | 250 kHz | 250 kHz | 1 kHz |
| Per-Channel Diagnostics | Yes (status flag) | Yes (status flag) | Limited |
Key Differentiators
- 4x higher continuous current per channel than TPL7407LHA (vs TPL7407LHA)
- 10x higher PWM switching frequency (vs TPL7407LHA)
- Integrated charge pump eliminates external bootstrap (vs Discrete low-side MOSFET + gate driver)
- Per-channel status flags for predictive maintenance (vs TPL7407LHA)
Design Notes
At full 4-channel load of 2 A per channel, total conduction loss is approximately 4.8 W (estimated: 4 channels x 2 A x 2 A x 0.3 ohm). The HTSSOP-20 exposed pad must be soldered to a continuous ground copper pour of at least 1 sq inch to keep junction temperature below 125 C. Without adequate copper, thermal shutdown will activate and the part will auto-retry indefinitely.
Place a 100 nF ceramic bypass capacitor within 5 mm of the VCC pin (pin 6) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the load supply rail. Keep the ground-return path of each output directly under the IC exposed pad; do not route sensitive analog signals across the OUT pins. The exposed pad is the primary thermal relief and a primary electrical ground - poor soldering will cause both thermal shutdown and high-impedance faults.
Avoid driving highly capacitive loads (above ~1 mF) directly because the internal current limit will trip on power-up. If the application requires capacitive loads above the trip threshold, add a soft-start resistor in series with each OUT pin or use firmware-driven staggered turn-on. Pin 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 must be left floating or tied to GND; connecting them to VCC will damage the internal charge pump.
Route IN1-IN4 logic signals on the same PCB layer as the MCU to minimize loop area. The fault-flag FLG1-FLG4 outputs are open-drain and require 10 kohm pull-up resistors to the 3.3 V or 5 V logic rail. Keep output traces wide enough to carry 2 A continuous (>= 0.5 mm per ampere rule of thumb on 1 oz copper) - 1.5 mm wide traces are recommended for safety margin.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per ST product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - contact ST for automotive-grade equivalent if required. Lead-free HTSSOP-20 package.
