Low-Side Driver with 8 Channels Includes Emergency "Limp-Home" Functionality
The L9800, a low-side driver integrated circuit from STMicroelectronics, is a valuable addition to the automotive and industrial sectors. Designed with high current capability and built-in protections against short-circuits and overheating, this device is ideal for driving loads such as relays, lamps, solenoids, and motors.
One of the L9800's standout features is its diagnostic feedback, which includes open load, overcurrent, and overtemperature detection. This feature enhances system reliability by providing real-time diagnostics and protection per channel. The L9800 is also compatible with resistive, inductive, and capacitive loads, ensuring versatility in various applications.
The L9800 supports SPI control and emergency parallel inputs, allowing for flexible control of its eight output channels. Two input pins (IN0 and IN1) are available for direct control and pulse-width modulation (PWM). In addition, the L9800's port provides access to the driver's internal configuration registers for device setup.
A notable aspect of the L9800 is its ability to ensure safe operation during engine cranking with a battery voltage as low as 3V. This feature is crucial for automotive applications where power supply can be unstable. Furthermore, the L9800's bulb-inrush mode allows it to drive small lamps of about 2W or other electronic loads with high input capacitance.
The L9800 also incorporates two special-purpose pins: NRES and DIS, for resetting internal registers and disabling all channels, respectively. In the event of system failure, the L9800 offers limp-home functionality to maintain essential functions.
For developers, an evaluation board (STEVAL-L9800) is available to explore the benefits of the L9800. This board supports control and diagnosis via SPI/parallel inputs and limp-home mode.
Regarding ISO 26262 compliance, while ST Microelectronics often develops automotive-grade components to meet or support compliance with such standards, specific ISO 26262 certification or compliance details for the L9800 are not clearly indicated in the available information. For safety-critical automotive applications requiring ISO 26262 compliance, typically, the manufacturer provides detailed datasheets or safety manuals stating the safety level (ASIL rating) and compliance evidence.
The L9800 comes in a 4- × 4-mm TFQFN24 package and is in production now, priced at $0.52 for orders of 1,000 pieces. With its robust features and compatibility with various loads, the L9800 is a promising choice for automotive and industrial applications. For precise specifications and certification status, refer directly to ST Microelectronics' official datasheets and safety manuals available on their website.
The L9800, with its diagnostic feedback, open load, overcurrent, and overtemperature detection, is a valuable addition to data-and-cloud-computing-driven automotive and industrial technology sectors. This device ensures versatility in various applications by supporting SPI control, emergency parallel inputs, and compatibility with resistive, inductive, and capacitive loads.
