Allegro MicroSystems Europe has announced a new power management IC that integrates a buck or buck/boost pre-regulator, four LDOs, and four floating gate controllers.The pre-regulator uses a buck or buck/boost topology to efficiently convert automotive battery voltages into a strictly regulated intermediate voltage, complete with control, diagnostics, and protections. Allegro's ARG82800 device is targeted at the automotive market, with end applications including electronic power steering (EPS), transmission control units (TCUs), and advanced braking systems (ABS).
The pre-regulator output provides a selectable 3.3V or 5.0V 350mA linear regulator, a 5V/100mA linear regulator, and two protected 120mA linear regulators that track the VUC output. Designed to power microprocessors, sensors, and CAN transceivers, the ARG82800 is ideal for automotive applications.
Independent floating-gate drivers have the ability to control N-channel MOSFETs via SPI. These MOSFETs can be configured as phase isolation or battery isolation devices in high-current motor applications. An integrated charge pump allows the driver outputs to keep the power MOSFETs in the on state across the entire supply range with high phase-voltage switching rates. ARG82800-enabled inputs include a logic level (ENB) and a high-voltage key switch enable (ENBAT). It also provides flexibility with a feature to disable individual outputs via a serial peripheral interface (SPI).
Device diagnostic outputs include a power-on reset output (NPOR) and a fault indicator output (FFn) to alert the microprocessor of a fault. The microprocessor can read the fault status via SPI. Dual bandgaps (one for regulation and one for fault checking), BIST, and a wealth of internal diagnostics enhance functional safety coverage (FuSa) for critical automotive applications.
The ARG82800 is supplied in a low-profile (1.2 mm maximum height) eTSSOP package (suffix "LV") with an external electrical chip for improved thermal performance.
