Allegro introduces Grade 0 Automotive gate driver portfolio for advanced 48V automotive systems

Allegro MicroSystems, a global leader in sensing and power solutions for motion control and energy saving systems, introduces the industry's most powerful 80V motor drive portfolio, ideal for advanced 48V automotive systems. Allegro's 48V motor drivers efficiently meet the urgent need for flexible and reliable solutions for electric vehicles. The new fully integrated gate driver family is based on Allegro's decades of industry experience, with optimized architecture and performance. It directly benefits in terms of reducing vehicle weight, improving battery/fuel efficiency and driving safety.

The newly released grid drivers deliver the robust design and performance customers have come to expect from any load configuration requirements, including half-bridge to three-phase brushless direct current (BLDC) control with independent high-side and low-side outputs. Developed with high-voltage process technology specifically for 48V systems, these devices are fully compliant with the ISO 26262 process and provide world-class ASIL diagnostics and diagnostic validation.

New devices in this release include:

● AMT49100 and AMT49101:80V safety three-phase gate drivers for electric power steering (EPS) and other safety-critical systems

● AMT49502:80V safety half-bridge gate driver with actuator and solid state relay

● A89503:80V safety half-bridge gate driver with separate high and low side output loads for floating load applications such as seat heaters and catalytic heaters

● A89500:100V high-power half-bridge gate driver in an ultra-compact DFN package for distributed systems, 48V power inverters, golf carts and e-bikes, among others.

These devices are packaged in an ultra-small package, while providing more functionality and reducing PCB footprint to meet the stringent requirements of the automotive market.

Optimized solutions for 48V applications

Allegro's complete 48V gate driver solution is reliable, rugged and offers increased flexibility. Enhanced performance for EV applications, these devices offer a variety of topologies to support a wide range of loads (up to 10kW) from catalytic heaters and actuators to electric power steering (EPS) and braking applications.

Steve Lutz, Product Line Director, Allegro, said: "The benefits of the 48V system are clear, and engineers can now improve vehicle efficiency, reduce system weight and design size, and achieve a more accurate, higher performance driving experience. With the rapid development of the electric vehicle market, our 48V portfolio is also expanding rapidly, and these innovative solutions integrate the most suitable features for the various applications of electric vehicles, while being among the safest and smallest products on the market."

Market-leading diagnostics for critical safety systems

Allegro understands the importance of automotive electronic systems and driver safety, so the new 48V motor portfolio is designed to meet the automotive needs of today and tomorrow. These 80V automotive gate drivers have been designed and developed in accordance with the ISO 26262 process to provide the best diagnostic capabilities in the industry. Allegro's ASIL gate drivers include more than 20 diagnostic functions that enable customers to diagnose and verify, as well as take specific action on failures, making them ideal for safety-critical systems.

Vijay Mangtani, Vice President of Power Products at Allegro, said: "Engineers and system designers can now be confident that the Allegro 48V motor drives they are using can build a wide range of market-leading diagnostic functions. Allegro is committed to developing smarter solutions that move the world toward a safer, more sustainable future. These new launches help advance this vision and give our customers an even greater competitive advantage in the marketplace."