Melexis announces new automotive-grade fan driver ics for small applications

     Melexis announces new auto-grade fan driver ics for automotive and other applications requiring high-reliability, ultra-small size solutions. The US168KLD and US169KLD are automotive grade single-chip solutions for driving single-coil brushless DC fan motors. Thanks to soft-switching technology, these solutions ensure that EMI and acoustic noise are kept low, making them ideal for in-car applications such as sensor fans and other applications such as cooling fans for wireless chargers, computing, audio and multimedia devices.

     Both devices are full-bridge drivers that drive motors with current up to 300mA and supply voltages ranging from 1.8V to 5V, and they incorporate highly sensitive Hall effect sensors. With built-in reverse voltage protection, rotor lock protection and thermal protection, the drive is stable and reliable even in demanding applications.

     Both devices come in a very small UTDFN6 package with a height of just 0.4mm and take up only 3mm2 of PCB area, making them ideal for integration into ultra-thin fans. Among them, the US168 uses the tachometer (FG) output signal, while the US169 uses the alarm (RD) output signal. Both fan drivers are AEC-Q100 compliant, so they operate reliably even in the most demanding applications.

     Commenting on the new product launch, fan Drive product line manager DirkLeman said: "Cooling has always been a booster factor for innovation, helping to push the limits of CPU computing power and prevent power overheating. With the increasing number of integrated electronic products in the car, the demand for car fans is also increasing. The new drivers from Melai Core ensure that the fans operate quietly and reliably, in line with consumer expectations for in-car applications. These fully integrated automotion-grade devices do not require the use of any external components, allowing customers to now use soft-switching technology even in extremely small fan applications."