Allegro Announces New Digitally Programmable Dual Full-Bridge MOSFET Driver

Allegro Announces New Digitally Programmable Dual Full-Bridge MOSFET Driver

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. announces the release of a new digitally programmable dual full-bridge gate driver suitable for driving a wide range of higher power industrial bipolar two-phase stepper motors, two-phase brushless DC motors or two brush DC motors. Allegro's A3985 is targeted at the industrial, medical and office automation markets.

Efficient Bipolar Solution with Minimal External Components

Worcester, MA, November 15, 2006 — Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. announces the release of a new digitally programmable dual full-bridge gate driver suitable for driving a wide range of higher power industrial bipolar two-phase stepper motors, two-phase brushless DC motors or two brush DC motors. Allegro’s A3985 is targeted at the industrial, medical and office automation markets.

Motor power is provided by external N-channel power MOSFETs at supply voltages from 12 V to 50 V. The A3985 provides all the necessary circuitry to ensure that the gate-source voltage of both high-side and low-side external MOSFETs are above 10 V, and the gate capacitance is quickly charged and discharged in order to reduce power dissipation during switching.