Diodes meets demand for driving battery-powered BLDC motors with latest gate driver ICs

Diodes Incorporated has launched two high-frequency gate-driver ICs for driving two external N-channel MOSFETs in a half-bridge configuration.

The DGD0506 and DGD0507 have been designed with a 50V rating that will suit a wide range of motor driving requirements, especially brushless DC (BLDC) motors, which are being used in battery-powered applications such as drones, fans, e-cigarettes, and cordless power tools.

Logic level inputs (from 2.5V) allow the drivers to be controlled directly from 3.3V MCUs, while the output steps up to the Vcc supply (8V to 14V) to ensure the MOSFET is fully enhanced to reduce conduction losses. With 1.8A source and 2.5A sink current capability, both drivers reduce switching time of very low RDS(ON) MOSFETS, increasing overall system efficiencies.

The DGD0506 and DGD0507 integrate a bootstrap diode to reduce component count and, along with a small form-factor of 3mm x 3mm, are suitable for both space- and weight-constrained applications.

Requiring only a single input, the DGD0506 half-bridge reduces MCU GPIO pin count while providing the design flexibility to program deadtime from 70ns to 420ns. For shorter deadtimes, the DGD0507 has separate high- and low-side inputs enabling higher switching frequencies with a 35ns max propagation delay that is matched within 5ns. This, along with cross-conduction prevention logic, protects the MOSFETs by ensuring that the high and low outputs are not both on at the same time.

Undervoltage lockout (UVLO) circuitry also protects the MOSFETs against a loss of supply.

In the DFN3030 package, the DGD0506 and DGD0507 offer a pin-for-pin alternative to popular industry types.