Integrated Half Bridge Motor Controller IC

TESSENDERLO, Belgium, July 20, 2011 -

Melexis today launches the MLX80151 Half Bridge Motor
Controller IC including extensive application specific firmware
libraries.   The MLX80151 is a new member in
Melexis‘ portfolio of DC and BLDC automotive motor
controller solutions, which enables DC motor suppliers to introduce
on-demand control, required by emissions legislation, with minimum
development effort.

The MLX80151 OTP Half Bridge Motor Controller is an automotive
qualified solution for high current DC motor applications like
Engine Cooling Fans, HVAC blowers and Fuel Pumps.  Extensive
motor control peripherals combined with an auto-sequence ADC allows
real time control and diagnostics functions while minimizing the
interrupt load on the 16bit embedded MCU.

For low cost implementations the MLX80151 can be configured with
a low side or high side freewheeling diode.  Thermally
constrained applications can be addressed with synchronous
rectification of high side and low side NFETs. Thus offering the
flexibility to populate the pcb for different power ranges with the
most cost effective NFETs.  Finally, compared to smart P/N
half bridge solutions of competitors, the MLX80151 allows designers
to get the maximum current from the PCB for a given cooling
capacity. It extends the nominal current range achievable on the
pcb using accurate current control combined with the 3X lower sheet
resistance of NFETs. The pre-driver, with double charge pump.
allows high side and low side operation of standard NFETs from 5V
up to 28V battery voltage. Reverse polarity protection using an
NFET can be applied to high side or low side. Shunt based current
sensing is also supported on either high or low side.

Its PWM communication interface is wake-up capable and can be
configured for single wire as well as 2-wire applications.
 Finally a state of the art RC oscillator saves the cost of a
ceramic resonator thanks to its +/- 1.5% tolerance over the full
temperature range.

The extensive diagnostics capabilities combined with the high
integration level is ideal for achieving very low system level FIT
rates, and makes it ideal for applications requiring highest
reliability, even meeting ISO26262 SIL3 standards.  

For development a pin compatible Flash variant (MLX80152) is
available.  The user friendly development kit includes
evaluation boards and a PWM master with USB interface.  The
parameterized firmware can be configured and operated using a
PC-GUI for fast system prototyping.  Open source libraries
(C-code) are available to jump start custom firmware
development.

Dirk Leman, Product Line Manager for motor control products at
Melexis says:” Although the long term trend for automotive pump and
fan applications is headed towards Brushless (BLDC), Brushed DC
control still has a significant market share today and will remain
the most cost effective solution in many cases for the next years.
 The MLX80151 together with the forthcoming MLX80251 (bldc)
completes our offering of motor control solutions with PWM
communication, as a complement to our existing LIN based motor
controller ICs: MLX81150 (dc) and MLX81200 (bldc). “

The MLX80151 will be qualified in TSSOP24 exposed pad package
for operation up to Tj=150C. Start of production of the OTP version
is planned for mid 2012. Development samples and tools are
currently available for qualified customers and applications.
Contact our sales organization for a consultation on these motor
control solutions.

Contact: Rik Moens - +32-13-670-780 - rmo at melexis.com