Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. Introduces a New Four-Channel High-Side MOSFET Control/Driver IC High flexibility for automotive engine control systems

Worcester, MA ¨C June 17, 2008 ¡ª Allegro® introduces a new four-channel high-side MOSFET control/driver IC to complement their existing automotive MOSFET pre-driver family. Allegro¡¯s A3942 is designed to drive four N-channel MOSFETs in a high-side configuration with gate drive outputs that utilize a current-source topology. By using this topology, the A3942 eliminates the need for gate resistors and bootstrap capacitors. This new device contains the necessary blocks required to provide an efficient interface between the system controller and various high current loads typically found in automotive engine control systems. Allegro¡¯s A3942 is designed to operate over a very wide voltage range (4.5 V to 60 V) and over the full automotive temperature range, making it an excellent choice for both 12 V and 24 V engine control systems.
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The four outputs can be controlled with either four parallel input lines or through an integrated serial peripheral interface (SPI). The serial interface greatly increases the flexibility of the IC by allowing software control of channel specific blanking times for short-to-ground detection. The serial port is also used to output a wide range of diagnostics to the controller via a serial-data-out pin.

Multiple A3942 devices can share an SPI interface by either connecting them in parallel or in a daisy-chained series using the chip select pin to address the appropriate IC. A sleep mode is provided to reduce the quiescent current draw to less than 10 µA.

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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