Toshiba Releases Automotive Photorelay in a Small Package that Achieves Output Withstand Voltage of 1500V for Automotive Battery Systems

KAWASAKI, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 20, 2025--

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation ("Toshiba") has launched an automotive photorelay [1], " TLX9161T," in a small SO12L-T package, that achieves an output withstand voltage of 1500V (min), the level required to support high voltage automotive batteries. Volume shipments start today.

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Key challenges in popularizing electric vehicles include reducing charging times and improving cruising range. Addressing these requires efficient operation of the battery system. This is done by the battery management system (BMS), which monitors the battery’s charge status to enable high-efficiency system operation, and also monitors isolation between the battery and the vehicle body to ensure the safe use of high-voltage batteries. Electrically isolated photorelays are used in BMS that handle high voltages.

Toshiba’s new product, a high-voltage photorelay with an output withstand voltage of 1500V (min), is a miniaturized version of Toshiba's TLX9160T photorelay. Miniaturizing the TLX9160T’s built-in MOSFET chip has achieved integration into the SO12L-T package, which has a mounting area approximately 25% [2] smaller than the TLX9160T’s SO16L-T package. This size reduction also contributes to miniaturization and cost reduction of the BMS. The pin pitch and pin layout are the same as those of the SO16L-T, enabling use of the same circuit board pattern design.

The new photorelay uses a resin with a Comparative Tracking Index (CTI [3] ) exceeding 600, which is classified under Material Group I [4] of the IEC 60664-1 [5] international standard. The pin configuration ensures a creepage distance of more than 5mm [6] on the detector side. This realizes compliance with IEC 60664-1, supporting an operating voltage of 1000V.

Toshiba will continue to expand its lineup of automotive photorelay products and provide solutions that address the challenges in popularizing electric vehicles, aiming to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.

Notes:
[1] Photorelay: The primary (control) and the secondary (switch) sides are electrically isolated. Switches connected directly to the AC line, and switches between equipment that differ in ground potential, can be controlled through insulating barriers.
[2] Comparison of SO16L-T package size (10.3×10.0×2.45 mm) with SO12L-T package size (7.76×10.0×2.45 mm).
[3] Comparative Tracking Index (CTI): An index that indicates the voltage withstand capability of an insulating material before an electrical track (conductive path) forms along its surface.
[4] Material Group I: A classification of molded materials in IEC 60664-1 that refers to materials with a Comparative Tracking Index (CTI [3] ) of 600 and more.
[5] IEC 60664-1: The standard that specifies principles, requirements, and test methods for insulation coordination for systems up to AC 1000V or DC 1500V.
[6] More than 5mm: The required creepage distance for an operating voltage 1000V, material group I, pollution degree 2 (the degree of pollution of the operating environment where electrical equipment is used; pollutants are entirely non-conductive, but could potentially be rendered conductive by condensation.)

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TLX9161T

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Isolators/Solid State Relays

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Automotive Devices

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About Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced semiconductor and storage solutions, draws on over half a century of experience and innovation to offer customers and business partners outstanding discrete semiconductors, system LSIs and HDD products.

Its 19,400 employees around the world share a determination to maximize product value, and to promote close collaboration with customers in the co-creation of value and new markets. The company looks forward to building and to contributing to a better future for people everywhere.

Find out more at https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/top.html

Toshiba: "TLX9161T," a new photorelay with an output withstand voltage of 1500V, housed in a small package.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Days before the U.S. military operation that removed Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from power, Trump administration lawyers blessed the action by saying it would “not rise to the level of war in the constitutional sense” and would serve “important national interests,” according to a legal opinion that articulates a muscular view of presidential power.

The heavily redacted version of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel opinion, released this week, sheds new light on how the administration came to conclude that it was legally permitted to oust Maduro as Venezuela's president in a stunning middle-of-the-night military operation Jan. 3.

The opinion, dated Dec. 23, was prepared for the legal adviser for the White House National Security Council. The 22-page document was drafted by lawyers at the Office of Legal Counsel, which is historically called upon to resolve thorny questions of law for the executive branch.

In this instance, the opinion wrestles with the question of whether President Donald Trump could order the military to aid law enforcement in removing Maduro from power so he could face criminal prosecution in the United States.

The answer, the opinion said, was yes. It cited five separate reasons, including what it said were “severe” allegations against Maduro contained in a drug-trafficking conspiracy indictment; the “numerous other highly dangerous activities" that he and his associates were alleged to be involved in; the possible need of military force to protect civilians in Venezuela and abroad from Venezuela; and the potential that U.S. personnel would encounter an “armed resistance” protecting Maduro.

“Here, we were told to assume that there were as many as 200 armed guards in a literal fort who have been sent from and armed by another country purely to ensure Maduro’s safety,” the opinion said. “This level of expected armed resistance supports the need for military forces to provide security for law enforcement personnel carrying out the rendition.”

Though the opinion does identify what it said were significant risks in the military operation, depending in part on Maduro's precise location at the time of the action, administration lawyers judged a low likelihood that it would lead to an all-out war that would require congressional approval.

Republican leaders have said they had no advance notification of the raid to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Facing pressure from Trump, Senate Republicans voted to dismiss a resolution Wednesday that would have limited his ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela.

“While we cannot speculate as to any presidential decision in response to the significant loss of U.S. servicemembers, we were assured that there is no contingency plan to engage in any substantial and sustained operation that would amount to a constitutional war,” the opinion said.

“We were further assured that there is no contingency plan that would involve using U.S. forces occupying Venezuela should the removal of Maduro result in civil unrest in that country. Based on that assessment of U.S. intentions, we do not currently plan any action that would amount to a constitutional war,” it added.

The legal opinion also says the fact that a president “can lawfully authorize the operation does not by itself render any and all use of force in its completion lawful.” The personnel involved, the opinion said, “must implement his lawful order in a reasonable way.”

President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine listen as Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)