Atmel Launches Highly Integrated Automotive Driver IC ATA6026

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Atmel Launches Highly Integrated Automotive Driver IC ATA6026 [Copy link]

On May 2, Atmel announced the launch of the highly integrated ATA6026 automotive driver integrated circuit (IC), which is the first member of the new upcoming automotive driver family. The design of the ATA6026 is based on the Atmel high-voltage BCDMOS process and is ideal for use in harsh environments. Due to the optimized communication interface, the integrated circuit is very suitable for large-capacity DC automotive applications, such as windshield wiper systems, door locks or seat adjusters. The ATA6026 is used to drive continuous current vehicles in a full half-bridge (H-bridge) configuration and supports PWM and direction control drives of four different power MOSFETs.

The ATA6026 includes a differential SCI transceiver to reduce radiation and improve EMC performance. Since the device is usually close to the car radio equipment, it is very important to improve EMC performance. In the dual front wiper system, an ATA6026 motor driver is used for the left wiper, and the other driver is used for the right wiper. Since the SCI interface takes care of the coordination between the left and right wipers, no mechanical connection between the two wipers is required, which is also important for everyday wiper systems, resulting in a significant reduction in noise and reduced space consumption. The SCI transceiver is a differential device that can operate in single-ended mode for systems with only one wiper. The SCI function makes the ATA6026 very similar to a LIN device; however, the data rate of the ATA6026 is faster than that of the standard LIN interface, reaching 100 Kbaud.

The gate driver IC is highly integrated, including a 5V/100 mA regulator and a window watchdog, which reduces the number of external components and requires a smaller PCB area for the design, which is a key issue for automotive applications. Motion control is performed by the IC, so this function does not require more memory in the microcontroller. Due to the integration of the regulator, motion control and watchdog single chip into a small QFN32 package, the overall system cost is reduced while maintaining the flexibility of the output stage for plug-and-play use in almost all automotive drive applications without the need for adapters.

Low-power and low-drop on-chip regulators are used for the supply of internal and external voltages. External transceivers help reduce power consumption. When in standby mode, the device's sleep mode ensures a low quiescent current of typically 35 microamperes. In permanent use (100% PWM, bootstrap function not available), a fully integrated charge pump supplies the gate of the external power MOSFET for the high-side driver. In addition, the external power NMOS gate for reverse battery protection is supplied by the charge pump output.

The ATA6026 offers many protective features such as thermal shutdown, overload, overvoltage and undervoltage protection, as well as full protection against short circuits. The device also meets stringent automotive quality requirements (conducted interference protection, EMC and ESD protection) and can withstand transients as specified in ISO/TR 7637/1.

Samples of the ATA6026 gate driver IC are now available in a lead-free QFN32 package, with a starting price of $1.99 per unit in quantities of 10,000. Additional family members, including devices for high-temperature applications up to 150 degrees Celsius ambient, will be introduced in the third quarter of 2006.

Footnotes:

BCDMOS = Mixed-Signal Technology with Bipolar, CMOS and DMOS ComponentsEMC
= Electromagnetic CompatibilityESD
= Electrostatic DischargeLIN
= Local Interface
NetworkMOSFET = Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect TransistorNMOS
= N-Channel Metal Oxide
SemiconductorPCB = Printed Circuit BoardPWM
= Pulse Width ModulationQFN
= Flat No-Pb
PackageSCI = Serial Communications Interface