Driver ICs can be classified into the following main categories based on their functions, application scenarios, and technical characteristics:
1、 Classified by application field
Display driver IC
LCD driver IC: controls the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules to achieve image display, widely used in televisions, displays, etc. According to the substrate material, it is divided into a-Si, IGZO, and LTPS types, among which TFT-LCD is the mainstream technology.
OLED driver IC: By controlling the current of organic light-emitting diodes, pixel brightness adjustment is achieved, supporting high contrast and flexible display. Apple's self-developed OLED driver IC is planned to be mass-produced in 2024.
Touch Display Integrated Driver IC (TDDI): integrates touch and display functions, reduces noise, and optimizes device lightweight design, mainly used for smartphones.
Motor driver IC
Brushed DC motor driver IC: such as L298N, suitable for simple speed regulation scenarios (such as toys and home appliances), with low cost but low efficiency.
Brushless DC motor (BLDC) driver IC: such as ST's L6235, supports high reliability and low noise control, used for automotive water pumps, industrial fans, etc. Some chips integrate sensorless algorithms and do not require Hall elements.
Stepper motor driver IC: such as L6208, accurately controls phase and current, suitable for 3D printers and automation equipment, supports micro stepping technology to reduce vibration.
LED driver IC
Constant current drive IC: It is divided into boost type (such as SLM2841), buck type (such as SLM2842J), and buck boost type (such as SLM2842SJ) according to the input voltage, and is suitable for different power supply scenarios (such as solar energy and vehicle).
Dimming driver IC: supports PWM or analog dimming, used for intelligent lighting and display backlight, such as Infineon TLD7002.
Power Device Driver IC
Gate driver IC: such as the nano core micro NSD2017, designed specifically for driving wide bandgap devices such as GaN/SiC, supporting high-frequency switching (60MHz) and low transmission delay (2.6ns), applied in laser radar and power modules.
MOSFET/IGBT driver IC: such as IR2104, providing high/low side drive, integrated dead time control, used for inverter and motor control.
Power management driver IC
DC-DC conversion driver IC: including boost (such as SLM2846 in mobile power banks), buck, and buck boost types, optimizing energy efficiency and supporting a wide input voltage range.
Battery management IC: such as CW3004AAS, manages lithium battery charging and discharging, provides overvoltage and overcurrent protection, and is applied to mobile devices.
2、 Classified by Function and Integration Level
Fully integrated driver IC
Such as TDDI in display drivers and L6208 in motor drivers, integrating power level, control logic, and protection modules, reducing peripheral components, and simplifying design.
Separate driver IC
The LED driver chip (SLM2842) with external MOS requires external power devices and is suitable for high-power scenarios.
Intelligent driver IC
Integrated digital interface (SPI/I ² C) and adaptive algorithms, such as Allegro A4964, support programming control modes (speed, torque) and fault diagnosis for automotive electronics.
3、 Classified by signal type
Analog driver IC
Processing continuous signals, such as linear regulator circuits driven by operational amplifiers, for precision current control.
Digital driver IC
Based on PWM or digital protocols (such as LIN bus) control, such as Class D audio amplifiers, the efficiency can reach up to 90%.
Mixed signal driver IC
Combining analog and digital functions, such as integrating touch display chips, to simultaneously process touch signals and display data.
4、 Technology Trends and Selection Suggestions
High integration: such as ST's powerSPIN series, which integrates half bridge, protection circuit, and logic control to reduce PCB area.
Wide bandgap semiconductor adaptation: GaN/SiC driver ICs support high-frequency and high-voltage applications (such as new energy vehicles), and attention should be paid to switching speed and anti-interference ability.
Vehicle grade certification: such as AEC-Q100 certified NSD2017, ensuring reliability at high temperatures (-40~125 ℃).
Low power design: IoT devices prioritize driver ICs with standby current<10 μ A to extend battery life.
The core value of the driver chip IC lies in converting control signals into power outputs that are suitable for the load. Its classification needs to be combined with application scenarios (display, motor, LED, etc.), functional requirements (integration level, signal type), and technical indicators (efficiency, protection mechanism). In the future, with the development of automotive electronics and AIoT, high reliability and intelligent driver ICs will become mainstream.