Driver IC, as the core execution component of electronic systems, is widely used in multiple fields. Its core function is to convert control signals into power outputs that are suitable for the load. The following is a detailed analysis of the main application scenarios and technical characteristics of driver chip ICs:
1、 Automotive Electronics
Vehicle mounted motor drive
Application: DC brushed motor drive for electric doors and windows, seat adjustment, rearview mirror control, as well as control for electric sliding doors and latch motors.
Chip features: Toshiba's TB9103FTG supports single channel H-bridge or dual channel half bridge driving, integrates charge pump circuit and sleep function, complies with AEC-Q100 automotive standard, and has a temperature resistance range of -40~125 ℃. ST's L6235 is designed specifically for three-phase brushless motors, integrating Hall sensor decoding logic, suitable for electric vehicles and light machinery.
Lidar and ADAS
Application: Laser diode driver in LiDAR systems, used for autonomous driving and AR/VR equipment.
Chip features: EPC21603 of EPC adopts gallium nitride (GaN) technology, supports 10A peak current and 100MHz high-frequency pulse, suitable for time-of-flight (ToF) lidar, with a size of only 1.5mm × 1.0mm and a cost as low as $1 (500000 batch).
2、 Industrial Automation and Power Electronics
Industrial motor control
Application: Stepper motor, brushless motor (BLDC) drive, used for robots, CNC machine tools, 3D printers, etc.
Chip features: ST's powerSPIN series integrates half bridge/full bridge drivers, supports up to 5.6A peak current, built-in overcurrent and thermal protection, suitable for industrial wide voltage (8-52V) environments. The NSD1624 high-voltage driver chip from Nanochip Micro supports 1200V withstand voltage and ± 1200V SW pin negative voltage capability, making it suitable for photovoltaic inverters and industrial power topologies.
Power and Energy Systems
Application: High voltage and high-frequency scenarios such as photovoltaic inverters, energy storage systems, server power supplies, etc.
Chip features: The Anson Mei NCP5156x isolated driver supports SiC and MOSFET, with a 4.5A/9A pull current, CMTI>200V/ns， Suitable for 1500V high voltage systems, shortening the power supply design cycle. IR's HVIC technology integrates protection functions (such as desaturation detection), reducing PCB area by 50%, and is suitable for industrial frequency converters and UPS.
3、 Display Technology and Optoelectronics
LED display driver
Application: Indoor and outdoor full-color screens, traffic information signs, etc., requiring high-precision constant current control.
Chip features: Texas Instruments TLC5941 supports 4096 levels of grayscale and 64 levels of current correction, suitable for highway LED signs; Accumulate Technology MBI5028 compensates for brightness attenuation through programmable current gain to improve imaging quality.
Laser and AR/VR equipment
Application: Laser diode driver in AR glasses and 3D sensors.
Chip features: EPC21603's high-frequency pulse (<2ns) and noise resistant design meet the requirements of AR devices for compact size and high reliability.
4、 Consumer Electronics and Home Appliances
Smart Home and Home Appliances
Applications: air conditioning compressors, washing machine motors, intelligent lighting, etc.
Chip features: The STDRIVE101 three-phase half bridge driver integrates bootstrap diodes and LDO regulators, supports brushless motor control in power tools and home appliances, and has standby power consumption as low as microamperes.
Audio equipment
Application: Class D audio amplifier drives speakers, such as Bluetooth headphones and audio systems.
Chip features: TPA3116D2 and other chips support high efficiency (>90%) and low distortion (THD<0.1%), optimizing the battery life of portable devices.
5、 New Energy and Third Generation Semiconductors
SiC/GaN Device Driver
Application: Electric drive system for new energy vehicles, efficient power conversion.
Chip features: The nano core micro NSG65N15K integrates GaN HEMT and driver, eliminates parasitic inductance effects, supports 650V withstand voltage and 150m Ω resistance, and is suitable for high-frequency switching scenarios.
High voltage energy storage system
Applications: Battery Management System (BMS), Energy Storage Converter.
Chip features: Isolation driver chips (such as NSI6602x series) support ± 150kV/μ s CMTI, covering the anti-interference requirements of photovoltaic and energy storage systems.
6、 Medical and Precision Instruments
Medical device driver
Application: Motor control for medical imaging equipment and life support systems.
Chip features: High precision instrument amplifier combined with driver IC ensures the stability of weak signal acquisition such as ECG. For example, ADI's isolated driver chip supports low noise and high common mode rejection ratio.
The application scenarios of driver chip ICs cover multiple fields such as automotive, industrial, consumer electronics, and new energy. Its technological evolution trends include high integration (such as automotive grade SoC), wide bandgap semiconductor adaptation (SiC/GaN), intelligent protection (such as real-time monitoring of overcurrent/overheating), and low-power design. In the future, with the development of 5G, AIoT, and third-generation semiconductors, driver chips will further break through towards high frequency, high voltage, and high reliability, promoting the intelligent upgrading of equipment in various industries.