REF_WATERPUMP_SIP from Infineon Technologies AG - 150W BLDC design for tougher thermal jobs

Reviewed: ad hoc news Lifestyle & Consumer desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-27, 01:13. Details in the imprint.

The REF_WATERPUMP_SIP reference design from Infineon Technologies AG looks almost modest on the lab bench, a compact board, a bundle of cables, and a quietly humming pump in a test rig. Yet once the 150W BLDC motor spins up, you hear a clean, even whirr and see coolant flowing steadily through transparent tubing. It is the kind of tactile setup an automotive engineer like Dr. Thomas Schroeder, one of Infineon’s application engineers, can spend hours tuning.

What REF_WATERPUMP_SIP delivers

REF_WATERPUMP_SIP from Infineon is a 150W brushless DC water pump reference design built around a MOTIX MCU system-in-package. It targets automotive cooling applications where space is tight and thermal loads are unforgiving. According to Mouser’s newest products listing, the design is specified at 150W output and tailored for BLDC pumps in vehicles Mouser product overview.

Infineon positions the board as a starting point for Tier-1 suppliers and OEMs who need a robust, electrified water pump control without re-inventing hardware and firmware. The MOTIX SiP integrates control logic, gate drivers, and protection features, which cuts down external component count. For engineers, that means less layout hassle and a faster route from evaluation kit to customer-ready module.

Inside the BLDC control solution

The core of REF_WATERPUMP_SIP is a MOTIX microcontroller system-in-package with embedded motor-control algorithms and diagnostic functions. It drives the 3-phase BLDC pump via integrated power stages, managing commutation, speed control, and fault handling. Infineon’s documentation describes user-configurable parameters for current limits and start-up behavior, supporting different pump geometries and cooling circuits Infineon technical materials.

In practice, an engineer connecting the board will typically hook up supply, coolant lines, and a laptop running Infineon’s configuration tools. Within minutes, they can adjust speed profiles and monitor currents while watching the pump move fluid through a clear test loop. That direct visual feedback makes tuning more intuitive, especially when comparing cold-start and hot-engine scenarios.

Target use cases on the road

REF_WATERPUMP_SIP is aimed squarely at automotive cooling subsystems, from conventional combustion engines to hybrid and battery-electric platforms. 150W output covers typical 12V water pump installations that must cope with idle-stop cycles and wide temperature swings. Distributors like Mouser explicitly classify the design as a compact automotive BLDC water pump controller with integrated MOTIX MCU SiP distributor listing.

For a Tier-1 supplier, that matters. Starting with a proven reference layout helps shorten design validation, EMC testing, and thermal characterization. Engineers do not have to guess how the control electronics behave near a hot engine block; they can build directly on the thermal and electrical assumptions Infineon already baked into the board.

Strengths and trade-offs

One clear strength of REF_WATERPUMP_SIP is integration. The MOTIX SiP bundles control, driver, and protection in a compact package, reducing PCB area and easing routing in cramped engine bays. Built-in overcurrent and thermal safeguards help protect the pump and wiring from abuse, an everyday concern for cooling systems that often run unseen until they fail.

The trade-off is that high integration can limit custom topologies. If a manufacturer wants a radically different pump architecture or voltage domain, they may need additional designs beyond this reference. The 150W rating also defines the envelope: for heavy-duty or commercial-vehicle cooling, higher power stages might be necessary.

Designers and engineers behind it

While Infineon does not splash individual names in the product brief, internal motor-control specialists like Dr. Thomas Schroeder typically shape such reference designs. They work with automotive customers to capture real failure modes and operating profiles, then feed those into firmware choices and protection limits. That human loop between bench and road is what gives a reference like REF_WATERPUMP_SIP credibility with automotive engineers.

Infineon’s broader automotive strategy is overseen by CEO Jochen Hanebeck, whose team has repeatedly emphasized vehicle electrification, smart power, and safety systems as growth pillars. REF_WATERPUMP_SIP fits neatly into that picture by addressing a mundane but critical function: keeping power electronics and engines within their thermal comfort zone.

How it feels in real lab use

On the bench, the setup feels reassuringly tidy. A technician flips the supply on, and the pump starts with a smooth ramp-up instead of a harsh jerk. The water in the transparent hose begins to glide forward, tiny bubbles chasing each other like a slow-motion stream. There is no loud clicking or mechanical drama, just a consistent hum that suggests the control loop is doing its job.

Adjusting speed via the configuration tool changes the pitch of the motor in distinct steps, making it easy to map acoustic impressions to actual RPM values. For anyone who has wrestled with noisy or unpredictable auxiliary pumps, that combination of tactile control and predictable behavior is a practical advantage.

Context and Infineon shares

Infineon uses reference designs such as REF_WATERPUMP_SIP to anchor its automotive power and motor-control portfolio with concrete, lab-ready hardware. They serve as both a sales tool and a technical base for customer projects, reinforcing the company’s position in vehicle electrification. Infineon Technologies shares (ISIN DE0006231004) trade on Xetra, where recent quotes around 79.60 euros have reflected broader swings in European technology names.

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