Power Integrations introduces IC products that enhance the performance level of motor drive applications

     Power Integrations further enhances brushless direct current motor (BLDC) solutions with the introduction of a new high-voltage integrated half-bridge (IHB) motor driver IC product line, the BridgeSwitch™ 2, for applications up to 1 HP (746W). With integrated upper and lower tube drives and two enhanced FREDFETs, the new IC uses lossless current detection internally to deliver up to 99% inverter efficiency. The IHB architecture eliminates centralized hot spots in the system, improves design flexibility and reliability, and can significantly reduce the number of components and save PCB area. Bridgeswitch2 is powered by Power Integrations' MotorXpert™ software suite, which includes single-phase ladder control and three-phase sensorless field oriented control (FOC) modules to accelerate inverter development.

    The BridgeSwitch-2 can handle anomalies during operation in hardware and can use the IEC 60730 Class A secure software, which can shorten the product certification time by several months. The brushless DC inverter can be set to sleep mode when not working, thus reducing the power consumption of the drive to less than 10mW; This means that under specified standby power consumption limits, more power can be available for circuit loads that implement functions such as network access and monitoring.

     Cristian Ionescu-Catrina, Product Marketing Manager at Power Integrations, said: "The motor drive based on BridgeSwitch-2 has a very low standby power consumption, enabling designers to meet the requirements of the newly introduced EU ERP regulations. The BridgeSwitch-2 IC is also much more efficient than the IGBT-based IPM module over the entire load range." He continued, "From startup to performance optimization, MotorXpert's GUI-based tool 'Terminal Emulator' and MISRA C-compliant code base greatly simplify the design process, optimizing the motor working architecture in real time without the need for repeated firmware updates. The BridgeSwitch-2 works with any microprocessor and is easy to adopt in existing systems - which is important for engineers to update designs to meet stricter standby regulations."

     With a power range of 30W to 746W (1HP), the BridgesWITCH2 IC has a wide range of applications, including heat exchanger fans, refrigerator compressors, fluid circulation pumps, gas boiler combustion fans, washing machine rollers, and kitchen mixers and stirrers. Compared to the discrete design, the IHB architecture eliminates current detection resistors and associated signal adjustment circuits, reducing the number of components by 50% and reducing PCB space by 30%. In addition, the detection resistance loss is eliminated, further improving efficiency. Precise motor control is achieved through the built-in real-time reporting of phase current (IPH) information. Through the precise control of the gate switch drive signal and the use of a body diode with soft recovery characteristics, its typical EMI characteristics perform 10dB lower than existing drivers, so a smaller EMI filter can be selected.

     With built-in DC overvoltage protection and current limiting, the BridgeSwitch-2 IC protects inverters and systems without relying on system software. Choose from error flags or comprehensive fault bus reporting to meet various system requirements. With highly accurate built-in IPH information and comprehensive reporting via fault busbars, emerging applications such as fault prediction can now be used. The BridgeSwitch 2 motor drive features built-in hardware-based overcurrent protection for both lower and upper tubes, complying with IEC 60335-1 Class A requirements. In addition, the BridgeSwitch-2 can operate without an auxiliary power supply, further reducing the PCB area and the number of components.