Microchip Technology, a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, announced the MCP8063—a highly integrated, cost-effective, automotive AEC-Q100-qualified motor driver that delivers superior performance in a small, 8-pin, 4x4 mm DFN package. It is also the world’s first to combine all of those features with 1.5A peak phase current for the 180-degree sinusoidal drive of a variety of three-phase brushless DC motor and fan applications. This integration reduces cost and PCB area, and the high sinusoidal-drive performance provides high efficiency, low acoustic noise and low mechanical vibration for energy savings and quiet operation. Additionally, the MCP8063 includes safety features such as thermal shutdown, over-current limiting and lock-up protection.
The designers of a broad range of motor applications in markets such as the automotive, IT, industrial and home-appliance sectors are faced with increasing regulatory and consumer demands for continued reductions in cost, space, noise and power consumption; with better performance and safety. The integrated features of the MCP8063 motor driver solve these problems cost effectively, while providing a wide operating temperature range of -40 to +125 degrees Celsius. Additionally, it supports the sensorless driving of BLDC motors, which eliminates the cost and space of a Hall sensor.
“Customers requested a compact, high-performance motor driver with high current and a wide temperature range, while adhering to the AEC-Q100 quality standard,” said Bryan J. Liddiard, marketing vice president of Microchip’s Analog and Interface Products Division. “Our new MCP8063 delivers on that request, providing a complete single-chip solution for a wide variety of three-phase, brushless DC applications at attractive price points.”
The MCP8063 motor driver works stand-alone or in conjunction with Microchip’s large portfolio of PIC® microcontrollers and dsPIC® digital signal controllers. This offers a high degree of flexibility for everything from simple voltage control to closed-loop motor speed control using high-performance algorithms, such as sinusoidal sensorless drive.
Development Support
To enable development with the new MCP8063 motor driver, Microchip also announced the MCP8063 12V 3-Phase BLDC Sensorless Fan Controller Demo Kit (part # ADM00575), which is available for $49.99 each. Additionally, this tool comes with a user-friendly configuration GUI. Microchip also supports its motor control and driver portfolios with a full range of development solutions, including firmware, algorithms, application notes, development tools, evaluation boards and reference designs. Visit Microchip’s Motor Control and Drive Design Center at http:// to access the complete repository.
Pricing and Availability
The MCP8063 motor driver is available today for samples and volume production, at the attractive price point of $1.12 each in 5,000-unit quantities.
