PMIC - Full, Half-Bridge Drivers

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
MAX13256ATB+T Maxim Integrated	IC TRANSFORMER HBRIDGE 10TDFN	4122
MAX256ASA+ Maxim Integrated	IC DVR H-BRIDGE 3W 8-SOIC	1949
VT1697SBFQ Maxim Integrated	SWITCHING REG SMART SLAVE 55A 12	2433430
MAX256ASA+T Maxim Integrated	IC DRVR H-BRIDGE 8-SOIC	2033
VT1697SBFQX Maxim Integrated	SWITCHING REG SMART SLAVE 55A 12	2015
VT1677SBFQX Maxim Integrated	IC INTERFACE CONTROLLER	0
MAX20766EPE+ Maxim Integrated	SMART SLAVE IC WITH INTEGRATED C	1454490
MAX256ASA/V+ Maxim Integrated	3W PRIMARY-SIDE TRANSFORMER H-BR	1000
MAX256ASA/V+T Maxim Integrated	3W PRIMARY-SIDE TRANSFORMER H-BR	12500
VT1697SBFQR Maxim Integrated	IC SMART SLAVE SW REG	0
VT1697SCFQR Maxim Integrated	IC INTERFACE CONTROLLER	0
VT1677SBFQ Maxim Integrated	IC POWER MANAGEMENT	0
MAX14900SPM+ Maxim Integrated	IC DVR LOW/HIGH SIDE OCTAL QFN	0
MAX15566TGTG+T Maxim Integrated	INTEGRATED CIRCUIT	0
MAX15566TGTG+ Maxim Integrated	IC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT	0
VT1677SBFQX+CN8 Maxim Integrated	IC POWER MANAGEMENT	0
MAX15566GTG+T Maxim Integrated	INTEGRATED CIRCUIT	0
VT1697SCFQX Maxim Integrated	IC INTERFACE CONTROLLER	0
VT1697SBFQ+CNR Maxim Integrated	IC POWER MANAGEMENT	0
VT1677SBFQR Maxim Integrated	IC INTERFACE CONTROLLER	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.