New Industry Products

AnalogicTech Releases Half-Bridge MOSFET Driver For Multiphase DC-DC Converters

December 18, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc. (AnalogicTech™) announced a new high-voltage addition to the company’s MOSFET driver product family. Supporting voltages up to 28V, the AAT4910 half-bridge, dual MOSFET driver is said to offer the industry’s lowest impedance in its class for multiphase dc-dc converters.

"Today’s multiphase dc-dc converter and motor control circuit designers need low cost drivers capable of supporting higher voltages," said CJ Zhang, Product Line Vice President at AnalogicTech. "By operating at up to 28V and combining a high switching frequency with a compact SC70JW package, the AAT4910 meets that need. Moreover, with an extremely low 3Ω drive resistance, this new device allows them to drive larger MOSFETs faster in these applications."

The AAT4910 dual MOSFET driver takes a logic input and drives both high and low-side N-channel MOSFETs. The high side external MOSFET is turned on when the logic input is driven high and the low-side MOSFET is turned on when the logic input is driven low. Powered from a 5V rail, the device features circuitry capable of driving the high-side N-channel MOSFET with up to 28V power input. When driven low, the enable input turns off the driver and reduces operating current to < 1 µA. A fast switching frequency helps minimize the cost and size of external components.

Break-before-make shoot-through protection prohibits high-side and low-side MOSFETs on the AAT4910 from conducting current at the same time, and significantly reduces losses associated with the driver at high frequencies. To protect the device from a short circuit or defective MOSFET, the AAT4910 also features over-temperature protection which turns off the device when die temperature exceeds 140°C.

The AAT4910 is qualified across the -40 to +85°C temperature range. It is available in a 2 x 2.1mm, 8-lead SC70JW package. It sells for $0.48 in 1K quantities.