The BridgeSwitch integrated half-bridge (IHB) motor-driver IC family now supports applications requiring up to 400W. The ICs feature high- and low-side advanced fast recovery diode FETs (FREDFETs) with integrated lossless current sensing, resulting in inverter efficiency up to 99.2% in brushless DC (BLDC) motor-drive applications. The IC’s distributed thermal footprint provided by the IHB driver eliminates the need for a heatsink, which reduces both system cost and weight.

The 400W BRD1167 and BRD1267 BridgeSwitch ICs deliver up to 1.33A RMS, 11.5A DC output peak current. They are self-powered and available in the same compact InSOP-24C surface mount package used for the rest of the family. Devices can drive single- or multi-phase high-voltage, synchronous or asynchronous motors, and support all popular microcontroller and motor control algorithms, says the company. The ICs also feature cycle-by-cycle hardware-based over-current, over/under-voltage and over-temperature protection features to eliminate the software component protection to simplify IEC 60335 and 60730 certification, adds the company.

The latest ICs in the family feature built-in device protection and system monitoring and a robust single-wire preventive maintenance interface which enables communication between the motor microcontroller and up to three BridgeSwitch devices. Each may be configured with different high- and low-side current limits, eliminating microcontroller and external circuitry in protecting the system from open or shorted motor windings.

Target applications are for applications with higher RMS current and thermally challenging requirements, such as oven hoods, compressors, fans and pumps.

Samples of BRD1167 & BRD1267 BridgeSwitch ICs will be available in May 2020.