Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. Introduces New Full-Bridge MOSFET Pre-Driver IC

Worcester, MA ¨C April 28, 2009 ¡ª Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. has added a new full-bridge MOSFET pre-driver IC with fault diagnostics and reporting to their existing family of full-bridge controllers. Allegro¡¯s A4940 contains a flexible input interface, bootstrap monitor circuit, wide operating voltage (5.5 to 50 V) and temperature (40¡ãC to +150¡ãC) ranges, in a very small profile package. It is designed for automotive applications with high-power inductive loads such as brush DC motors.
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A unique charge pump regulator provides full (>10 V) gate drive for battery voltages down to 7 V and will allow the A4940 to operate with a reduced gate drive down to 5.5 V. A bootstrap capacitor is used to provide the above battery supply voltage required for N-channel MOSFETs. A unique bootstrap charge management system ensures that the bootstrap capacitor is always sufficiently charged to supply the high-side gate drive circuit.

Each of the power MOSFETs are controlled independently but are protected from shoot-through by resistor programmable dead time. Integrated diagnostics provide an indication of under voltage and over temperature faults.

The A4940 is supplied in a 24-pin TSSOP power package with an exposed thermal pad (package type LP). This package is available in lead (Pb) free versions, with 100% matte-tin leadframe plating (suffix ¨CT).

About Allegro

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. is a leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing high-performance power integrated circuits and integrated Hall-effect magnetic sensors. Allegro¡¯s innovative solutions serve high-growth applications within the automotive, communications, computer/office automation, consumer and industrial markets. Allegro is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts (USA) with design and applications centers located in North and South America, Asia, and Europe. Further information about Allegro can be found at www.allegromicro.com.

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