March 9, 2012, Seoul — STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor company in various electronic device applications, announced that it has added two small motor drivers to its SLLIMM (Small Low-Loss Intelligent Molded Modules) family that enable improved energy ratings.

Energy labeling systems, such as the ENERGY STAR® mark and in-store energy ratings, are currently mandatory in many countries and communities worldwide and serve as a standard for consumers to select energy-efficient products within their respective price ranges. Intelligent motor controllers play a key role in saving energy in home appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and fans, and also enable additional benefits such as new features and quieter operation.

ST's latest SLLIMM Nano product family has expanded the portfolio of SLIMM intelligent power modules for motor drivers, offering single-module devices that directly connect a central microcontroller to the motor. Compared to conventional drivers typically composed of around 30 individual components, ST's modular solutions simplify the design and save space, reducing component count to lower costs, increase reliability, and reduce electromagnetic emissions. These modules are also suitable for small, embedded motor applications where assembly space is constrained.

Technical details
ST offers two variant models, the STGIPN3H60 and STGIPN3H60A. Both products are released in 26-pin, 29.15 x 12.45 mm packages, making them the smallest in the current ST family of products. Internally, each module consists of a three-phase half-bridge including a high-voltage gate driver and an IGBT power switch, as well as freewheeling diodes and bootstrap diodes. Bootstrap diodes supply high-voltage current to the motor when the driver module is driven. ST's proprietary patented technology integrates this function into the module, providing additional space for external components.

The STGIPN3H60A provides basic motor driving capabilities for cost-sensitive applications. The STGIPN3H60 includes a user-configurable operational amplifier as an additional feature. With this amplifier, engineers use the sensed motor current for microcontroller feedback in closed-loop, field-oriented control (FOC) systems. A comparator is also included for overheating and overcurrent operation shutdowns. The STGIPN3H60 offers a smart shutdown function that can send simple error indications or safely stop the driver within 200 nanoseconds in emergency situations.

Key features of STGIPN3H60/A
• 600V/3A IGBT rating
• Optimization for low electromagnetic interference
• Fixed invalid time and interlock function
• UVLO Low Voltage Lockout
• Shutdown (stop) function
• Pin-out optimized for simplified board layout
• Creepage distance between high and low pressure pins: 1.57mm: Meets international standards required for high-pressure devices

STGIPN3H60A and STGIPN3H60 are currently in mass production in 26-pin NDIP packages, and are priced at $5.80 per unit for STGIPN3H60A and $6.00 per unit for STGIPN3H60 when ordered in units of 1,000.