Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has begun the mass production of the SmartMCD™ Series, an innovative line of gate driver ICs featuring an embedded microcontroller (MCU). The inaugural product, "TB9M003FG," is specifically engineered for sensorless control of three-phase brushless DC motors utilized in various automotive applications such as water and oil pumps, fans, and blowers. The TB9M003FG integrates a microcontroller (Arm® Cortex®-M0), flash memory, power control functions, and communication interface functions within a gate driver. This integration reduces system sizes and component counts while enhancing motor control capabilities for automotive applications. Notably, it includes Toshiba's proprietary vector engine for sensorless sinewave control, easing the load on the microcontroller and simplifying software requirements.
The TB9M003FG addresses the increasing need for electric vehicles (xEV) by incorporating a microcontroller into the gate driver, which helps reduce the size of electronic control units (ECUs) and makes motors quieter through vector control. Its main features include the ability to control three-phase brushless DC motors without sensors using a built-in charge pump circuit, a powerful 32-bit microcontroller operating at 40 MHz, and sufficient built-in memory for smooth operation. Additionally, it comes with advanced features like a built-in vector engine for precise motor control, customizable motor drivers, and various safety features such as current limiters and overcurrent protection. Communication options include LIN, PWM, and UART, ensuring compatibility with different systems. Furthermore, its AEC-Q100 (Grade 0) certification guarantees its reliability and suitability for automotive applications, meeting strict quality standards.
Availability:
To aid developers, a reference design named "Motor Driving Circuit for Automotive Body Electronics Using SmartMCDTM" is available on Toshiba's website.
