Enhanced Gate Drivers Lead to Economic Advantage for Brushless DC Motors
STMicroelectronics Launches Compact Integrated Gate Drivers for Motor Control
STMicroelectronics has introduced the STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH, two integrated gate driver ICs designed specifically for three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) and permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM). These new gate drivers simplify the design of motor control systems, offering protection, efficient gate driving, and fault diagnostics.
Key Features
The STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH integrate six high- and low-side gate drivers for controlling three half-bridges used in three-phase motor control. They are designed to handle typical motor supply voltages, up to 48V or higher, depending on the variant, and have a high peak current capability suitable for driving power MOSFET gates efficiently, ensuring fast switching and low losses.
These gate drivers come with built-in protection features such as undervoltage lockout (UVLO) for supply rails, overcurrent and overtemperature protection, and shoot-through prevention circuitry. Fault indication pins or signals notify the system controller of any fault conditions, such as overcurrent or overtemperature. Inputs are compatible with common logic levels, making them suitable for direct interface with microcontrollers or digital signal processors.
The STDRIVE102BH includes advanced fault management with enhanced diagnostic capabilities and sometimes offers temperature sensing and more robust protections tailored for harsher environments.
Typical Applications
The STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH are suitable for a wide range of industrial and consumer motor control applications. They are extensively used to drive small to medium power BLDC motors in various industrial, automotive, and consumer applications. They are also suitable for PMSM drives requiring precise gate driver management.
In industrial automation, these gate drivers drive motors in robotic arms, conveyor belts, pumps, fans, and other factory automation equipment that require reliable motor control. They are employed in washing machines, HVAC systems, and other household devices needing efficient motor control.
In the realm of e-mobility, the STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH can be part of the electronic drive system, though typically for lower voltage applications. They are also integrated motor control for cordless and corded power tools.
These gate drivers are available in compact packages designed to save PCB space and simplify the motor driver design. The STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH are available in 5- × 5-mm or 6- × 6-mm QFN packages. Each gate driver integrates charge-pump circuitry capable of sustaining unlimited on-time of the high-side MOSFETs.
The pricing for 1,000 pieces of the STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH is $1.20 each. The STDRIVE102H is designed for single-shunt control, while the STDRIVE102BH is for three-shunt control. Both gate drivers feature extensive protection against electrical and thermal hazards. The availability of the STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH is now.
These gate drivers also have a low-current standby mode to preserve battery life. Developers can use ST's EVLDRIVE102H and EVLDRIVE102BH evaluation boards and the STM32 motor-control software development kit (MCSDK) for system development. These kits come with motor back-EMF sensing and inputs for motors equipped with position sensors.
In conclusion, the STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH are robust, integrated gate driver ICs that simplify the design of three-phase BLDC and PMSM motor drives by incorporating protection, efficient gate driving capability, and fault diagnostics, making them suitable for a wide range of industrial and consumer motor control applications.
- The introduction of STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH, the compact integrated gate drivers by STMicroelectronics, marks a significant advancement in technology, as they simplify the design of motor control systems.
- These motor control systems, enabled by the STDRIVE102H and STDRIVE102BH, are increasingly being employed in multiple industries, including automotive, consumer goods, industrial automation, and e-mobility, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of technology in these sectors.
