Atmel's Unique System IC for Automotive DC Motors Boosts Integration Level

Industry's Only Device Integrating Voltage Regulator, Window Watchdog, and LIN Transceiver in One Package

HEILBRONN, Germany, Sept. 4 -- Atmel(R) Corporation announced today the availability of its new ATA6823 H-bridge driver IC designed using Atmel's state-of-the-art 0.8-um BCD-on-SOI technology (SMARTIS(TM)). The ATA6823 provides industry's highest integration level and includes all functional blocks needed for a complete microcontroller-controlled DC motor system in H-bridge configuration. The ATA6823 extends Atmel's broad driver family and is designed to control a large variety of external power N-MOSFETs. The device can be used with currents ranging from just 1.5A to over 100A, and this flexibility makes suitable for many different applications.

The ATA6823 is not just a simple driver IC. In fact, it is a complete system IC that, in addition to the driver stages, includes the following functional blocks: a pin-adjustable 5V/3.3V voltage regulator that supplies the external microcontroller; a programmable window watchdog, which works independently from the microcontroller's clock; and the same LIN transceiver IP as found in Atmel's stand-alone LIN2.0 transceiver ATA6662. No other device available on the market includes all these functions in one package.

The ATA6823's control logic takes over timing functions normally handled by the microcontroller. These timing functions are used to protect external transistors by preventing cross-conduction. As a result, use of the ATA6823 reduces programming efforts of system designers as only two microcontroller functions, motor direction and PWM mode, need to be programmed. This facilitates faster, more stable designs, and a shorter time to market.

The IC also provides a very low current consumption, less than 45 microamps in sleep mode, which reduces current consumption for battery-powered systems.

Like all Atmel's driver ICs, the ATA6823 offers a broad range of protection features (undervoltage, overvoltage, short circuit and overtemperature). It also meets strict automotive qualification demands (protection against conducted interference, EMC, and ESD protection) and can withstand transients as specified in ISO/TR 7637.

Availability and Pricing

Samples of the ATA6823 driver IC are now available in RoHS-compatible 7 mm x 7 mm QFN32 packages with pricing starting at US $2.25 for 10k quantity. An application board for development support can be ordered at US $130.

  Footnote
  BCD = Mixed Technology: Bipolar CMOS DMOS
  DC = Direct Current
  EMC = Electro Magnetic Capability
  ESD = Electrostatic Discharge
  LIN = Local Interconnect Network
  PWM = Pulse Width Modulation
  QFN = Quad Flat No Leads
  RoHS = Reduction of Hazardous Substances
  SOI = Silicon on Insulator

  About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with complete system solutions focused on consumer, industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets. (C) 2007 Atmel Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Atmel(R), logo and combinations thereof, and others are registered trademarks, SMARTISTM and others are trademarks of Atmel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other terms and product names may be trademarks of others.

Information

Product information on Atmel's new ATA6823 H-bridge driver IC may be retrieved at: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=4210

Press Contacts

Dr. Susanne van Clewe, Marcom Manager Communications and Automotive Products

  Phone: +49 7131 67-2081, Email:  susanne.van-clewe@hno.atmel.com
  Helen Perlegos, Public Relations
  Phone: +1 408 487-2963, Email: hperlegos@atmel.com