Electronic fuel-injection reference design targets small engines

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

STMicroelectronics has partnered with Arrow Electronics to offer a complete reference design electronic control unit (ECU) for electronic fuel injection (EFI). The SPC5-L9177A-K02 ECU Reference Design  targets small engines for motorcycles, scooters, and three wheelers, which must meet upcoming emissions regulations, including Euro 5, Bharat Stage VI (BSVI), and China IV. It also can be used for generators, nautical engines, and agricultural engines equipped with EFI ECU.

Key components include ST’s SPC572L Line 32-bit Power Architecture automotive-powertrain microcontroller (MCU) and L9177A high-integration IC hosting power supplies, interfaces, and load actuators. Other devices include the STGD18N40 IGBT and L9616 CAN interface IC.

The SPC572L Line  is part of ST’s 32-bit Performance Series automotive MCUs designed to manage up to four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines in addition to chassis, transmission, steering, and braking systems. Key features include the generic timer module (GTM), an intelligent complex timer module; 16-input and 56-output channels, 1.5-MB read-while-write (RWW) flash memory with EEPROM emulation, 64-KByte general-purpose data SRAM, two deserial/serial peripheral interface (DSPI) modules, an enhanced analog-to-digital converter system, and self-test capability.

The L9177A  contains the power supplies and actuators for combustion engines up to two cylinders. This chip leverages ST’s proprietary BCD process to combine logic and power circuitry on a single die. It integrates a 300-mA 5-V regulator with thermal shutdown, a 5-V tracking regulator with short-to-battery protection, two low-R_DS(ON) injector drivers, a driver for the stepper motor typically used to control engine idle speed, an oxygen-sensor heater output, and comprehensive diagnostic features.

The reference design provides the SPC5Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which includes low-level drivers, a GTM configurator for the SPC572L Line, and powertrain libraries for engine crank position sensor and actuations. It also includes a basic application software developed in association with ST Partner eMoticom to help users start and manage a single-cylinder engine. The SPC5-L9177A-K02 board can be ordered at www.arrow.com .