Melexis has launched its next-generation MLX81334 LIN motor driver. It is designed to optimize electric vehicle (EV) thermal valves for battery temperature control and expansion valves in the heat pump refrigeration loop to achieve longer range for EVs. The gen-3 driver also cuts material costs in automotive applications.
The 1-A rated, all-in-one driver targets automotive mechatronic thermal applications up to 10 W, and can drive small BLDC, stepper and DC motors via sensored or sensorless field-oriented control (FOC) algorithms. The 64 KB on-chip memory provides sufficient capacity for the use of sophisticated software. Each IC has an embedded microcontroller, four FET half-bridge drivers, data conversion circuitry and LIN or serial interfaces. The MLX81334 also supports over-the-air updates.
Providing high-power operation in a small form factor, the motor driver allows for implementation into the most space-constrained deployments. Application examples include small stepper/BLDC flap or valve, up to 1 A per phase and small DC flap or valve, or single-coil fan, up to 1.4 A. Over-temperature, over-current, over-voltage and under-voltage protection functions are included.
Available now, the automotive AEC-Q100-qualified MLX81334 drivers are housed in 5 × 5-mm 32-pin QFN packages. They are suitable for use in 12-V and 24-V automotive systems and are designed for safety applications according to ASIL-B (ISO 26262).