Integrated automotive inductive-load driver reduces space and cost

Designed for automotive inductive load-switching applications, such as window, door latch and antenna relays, solenoids and small DC motors, the DMN61D8LVTQ dual-channel inductive-load driver has been introduced by Diodes Incorporated. The device's on-chip integrated Zener diodes and bias resistors eliminate the need for several external components, which saves cost and reduces the PCB footprint. Inductive-load switching normally requires a freewheeling diode to suppress the voltage spike that typically results when the switch is opened. The DMN61D8LVTQ inductive-load driver avoids this requirement by using a low-side circuit configuration that employs back-to-back Zener diodes to provide an active over-voltage drain clamp of the internal MOSFET. The MOSFET is also protected from potentially destructive transient voltages by ensuring that this clamp voltage is set below the MOSFET’s avalanche breakdown voltage. System design is eased with inputs that can be directly driven by standard logic devices, microcontrollers and FPGAs. These inputs feature ESD protection provided by further Zener stacks. The MOSFETs are rated with a drain-source voltage (VDS) of 60V and a maximum gate-source voltage (VGS) of ±12V.