Toshiba Corporation has introduced ‘TB9081FG’, a brushless motor pre-driver IC suited to be integrated with electric power steering systems (EPS) for achieving functional safety.
The new IC integrates runs three-phase pre-driver circuits, fail-safe relay pre-driver circuits and motor current detection circuits, in addition to different failure detection circuits. It also features an initial diagnosis circuit to detect latent glitches in failure detection circuits.
While sample shipments of the product will begin next week, mass output is slated to commence in August 2017.
EPSs have been stated to be instrumental towards meeting the requirements of ASIL-D, an automotive safety integrity level laid down in ISO 26262, "Road Vehicles - Functional Safety."
As for its failure detection circuits, it has built-in VB over/under voltage detection circuit, VCC over/under voltage detection circuit, over temperature detection circuits, and short detection circuits.
It also has a built-in fail-safe relay pre-driver circuits that drive the semiconductor relay connected between the motor and MOSFET(driver) and between the power-supply side and MOSFET (driver).
In the event of a voltage drop set off by cranking after idling reduction, it can be remedied by enhancing battery operation voltage range down to 4.5V (min).
Besides, users can also customize the system to detect failures through input setting of the SPI communication.
Image:Brushless motor pre-driver IC for EPS. Photo: courtesy of Business Wire.
