TI's Grade 0 BLDC driver shrinks 48-V motor-drive systems by as much as 30%

TI’s motor driver helps enable MHEV systems requiring functional safety up to ASIL D and achieves the industry’s highest gate-drive current.

Texas Instruments (TI) has introduced a highly integrated Grade 0 brushless DC (BLDC) motor driver for 48-V high-power motor control systems, such as traction inverters and starter generators in mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs).

The new DRV3255-Q1 can help designers shrink their motor system size by as much as 30% while providing the industry’s highest gate-drive current for increased protection and output power. Meeting the most stringent safety requirements, the new motor driver was designed according to TI’s TÜV SÜD-certified functional safety development process, helping enable up to Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) D.

To help decrease greenhouse gas emissions, globally, automobile manufacturers are increasing the production of MHEVs, which use 48-V motor-drive systems to help reduce emissions from a vehicle’s internal combustion engine. The TI Functional Safety-Compliant DRV3255-Q1 allows manufacturers to design a motor-drive system to help enable MHEV systems up to ASIL D, supplying as much as 30 kW of motor power. This can improve the response time of a 48-V motor-drive system in heavy vehicles.

“A 48-V system is a step-change that original equipment manufacturers [OEMs] can implement to meet goals around reducing emissions, while also adding power for advanced driver-assistance system features and managing power-hungry loads, such as the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system,” said Asif Anwar, director of the powertrain, body, chassis and safety service at Strategy Analytics. “Combining leading-edge performance characteristics with functional safety and Grade 0 translates to real-world, system-level operational benefits that will help OEMs achieve these goals.”