PMIC - Full, Half-Bridge Drivers

Image	Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity	Rfq
	AP1012A Asahi Kasei Microdevices / AKM Semiconductor	IC MOTOR DRIVER 18V 24QFN	0
	AP1014AEC Asahi Kasei Microdevices / AKM Semiconductor	IC MOTOR DRIVER 7V 16WCSP	0
	AP1023AEN Asahi Kasei Microdevices / AKM Semiconductor	IC MOTOR DRIVER 7V 24QFN	0
	AP1013CEN Asahi Kasei Microdevices / AKM Semiconductor	IC MOTOR DRIVER 18V 16QFN	0
	AP1013DEN Asahi Kasei Microdevices / AKM Semiconductor	IC MOTOR DRIVER 18V 16QFN	0
	AP1017AEN Asahi Kasei Microdevices / AKM Semiconductor	IC H-BRIDGE DVR 1CH 12V 8SON	0
	AP1016AEN Asahi Kasei Microdevices / AKM Semiconductor	IC MOTOR DRIVER 9V 16QFN	0
	AP1025BEN Asahi Kasei Microdevices / AKM Semiconductor	IC MOTOR DRIVER 45V 32QFN	0

PMIC - Full, Half-Bridge Drivers

1. Overview

Full and Half-Bridge Drivers are critical components in power management integrated circuits (PMICs), designed to control power transistors in high-side and low-side configurations. These drivers enable precise switching of MOSFETs or IGBTs in power conversion systems, playing a pivotal role in motor control, DC-DC converters, and motorized industrial equipment. Their ability to manage high-voltage/current loads with minimal switching losses makes them indispensable in modern electrification and automation systems.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
Full-Bridge Driver	Controls four power transistors in H-bridge configuration, enabling bidirectional current flow	Brushed DC motor control, servo actuators, resonant converters
Half-Bridge Driver	Drives high-side and low-side transistors in complementary mode	DC-DC converters, BLDC motor drives, Class-D amplifiers

3. Structure and Composition

Typical physical construction includes:

Multi-layer QFN/TSSOP packaging with thermal pad
Internal level shifters for high-side gate driving
Dead-time control logic to prevent shoot-through
Integrated protection circuits (OCP, OTP, UVLO)
Bootstrap circuitry for high-side power supply

Technical composition combines CMOS control logic with high-voltage DMOS output stages.

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Typical Range	Importance
Operating Voltage	4.5V-100V	Determines system compatibility
Peak Drive Current	0.2A-4.0A	Affects switching speed and efficiency
Switching Frequency	100kHz-2MHz	Impacts system size and EMI
RDS(on)	50m -300m	Directly affects conduction loss
Propagation Delay	5ns-100ns	Critical for high-frequency synchronization

5. Application Areas

Industrial automation (servo drives, robotic arms)
Electric vehicles (on-board chargers, DC-DC converters)
Consumer electronics (BLDC motor drives in appliances)
Medical equipment (precision actuator control)
Renewable energy systems (solar inverters, energy storage)

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Product Series	Key Features
TI	DRV8703D	Three-phase gate driver with current sensing
STMicro	L6398	High-voltage half-bridge driver with bootstrap
Infineon	IRS2003	300V half-bridge driver for Class-D audio
ON Semi	NCP5911B	Single-channel high-side driver with diagnostics
Renesas	ISL78692	Automotive full-bridge controller with PWM

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Match voltage rating with system bus voltage (1.5x safety margin)
Calculate RMS current requirements vs. package thermal capability
Evaluate dead-time adjustability for specific switching frequency
Select appropriate protection features for operating environment
Consider package size vs. cooling requirements

Example: For 48V motor drives, select drivers with 80V rating, >1A peak current, and thermal shutdown.

Industry Trend Analysis

Future development focuses on:

Integration with current sensing and protection circuits
Adoption of wide-bandgap device drivers (SiC/GaN compatibility)
Intelligent drivers with digital interfaces (PWM/PWM with feedback)
Reduced on-resistance (<50m ) for high-current applications
AEC-Q100 automotive qualification becoming standard

The market is shifting towards higher integration and smarter power management solutions driven by EV and IoT applications.