Overview
The STMicroelectronics L6235N is a high-performance motor driver IC designed to drive three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motors and permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) in a wide range of applications. It is primarily used in industrial, automotive, and consumer electronics for applications requiring high efficiency, smooth operation, and precise motor control. The L6235N is built to handle substantial current levels while maintaining thermal stability and protecting against common motor driver faults.

Key Features

* Three-Phase Motor Driver: The L6235N is optimized for driving three-phase BLDC and PMSM motors with high efficiency, ensuring smooth motor operation.
* High Voltage Capability: It supports a wide voltage range, making it suitable for various motor voltages and enabling versatility across different applications.
* Integrated Protection Features: The device comes with multiple protection features, such as overcurrent protection, thermal shutdown, and under-voltage lockout, ensuring reliable and safe operation.
* Low Power Loss: The driver is designed for low power loss, making it highly efficient for applications where power consumption is a critical factor.
* Versatile Application Range: Suitable for driving motors in a variety of industrial automation, robotics, automotive, and home appliance applications.

Electrical Specifications

* Operating Voltage Range: The L6235N operates within a voltage range of 8V to 52V, allowing it to drive motors in various voltage categories, from low to medium-power applications.
* Output Current: It can provide a continuous output current of up to 3A per phase, which is sufficient for a wide range of small to medium-sized motors.
* Peak Output Current: The device supports peak output currents of up to 6A per phase, allowing it to handle temporary high-load conditions without damage.
* Phase-to-Phase Voltage: The phase-to-phase voltage is rated up to 52V, ensuring compatibility with motors that operate at higher voltages.
* Output Power: The output power capability is typically 80W at 24V and 150W at 48V, which makes it suitable for driving motors with different power requirements.
* Thermal Shutdown: The L6235N integrates thermal shutdown protection to prevent damage due to excessive heat, making it reliable in demanding environments.
* Overcurrent Protection: It includes overcurrent protection, ensuring that the device and the connected motor are safeguarded against short-circuit conditions or excessive current draws.
* Under-Voltage Lockout: The device includes under-voltage lockout, which prevents operation when the supply voltage is too low to drive the motor properly, ensuring safe startup and operation.

Control and Operation

* PWM Control Input: The L6235N features Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control for motor speed and torque regulation. PWM allows for precise control of the motor’s rotational speed by adjusting the duty cycle.
* Speed Control: The motor speed can be adjusted using an external PWM signal, offering flexibility for various speed-controlled applications.
* Motor Direction Control: The device allows for motor direction reversal using simple control signals, making it ideal for bidirectional motor control applications.
* Phase Sequencing: The L6235N provides flexible phase sequencing to ensure proper rotation of the motor, especially when used in multi-phase motor systems like BLDC.
* Braking Mode: The IC supports regenerative braking functionality, allowing for efficient energy recovery and motor deceleration.
* Current Sensing: The L6235N supports current sensing for each motor phase, allowing feedback for motor protection and control algorithms.

Thermal and Power Efficiency

* Thermal Performance: The L6235N is designed with good thermal dissipation in mind. It features an integrated thermal shutdown mechanism that prevents the device from operating in conditions that could cause thermal damage.
* Power Dissipation: The IC features low power dissipation during operation, ensuring efficient energy conversion and minimal waste heat generation. The low Rds(on) of the internal MOSFETs further reduces conduction losses.
* Package Type: The L6235N comes in a PowerSO-20 package with a thermal pad that facilitates better heat dissipation, enabling the device to operate effectively under heavy load conditions.
* External Heat Sink: For higher current and power applications, an external heat sink may be required to further enhance thermal performance, particularly in motor control applications with continuous heavy loads.

Protection Features

* Overtemperature Protection: The L6235N is equipped with thermal shutdown circuitry to protect the device from excessive temperatures, ensuring safe operation without risking damage to the internal components.
* Short-Circuit Protection: The device integrates short-circuit protection, which helps in detecting and handling short-circuit conditions in the motor or wiring, preventing damage to the motor driver and other system components.
* Overcurrent Limiting: The device can limit the amount of current supplied to the motor during startup or under heavy load, helping to protect both the driver and the motor from damage caused by excessive currents.
* Undervoltage Lockout: To prevent malfunction or erratic behavior, the L6235N incorporates undervoltage lockout protection, which disables the output stages if the supply voltage is too low.

Applications

* Brushless DC Motor Control: The L6235N is widely used in applications involving BLDC motors, such as cooling fans, robotics, and automotive applications.
* Industrial Automation: It is suitable for driving motors in industrial automation systems like conveyor belts, actuators, and automation machinery.
* Robotics: The L6235N is used in robotic applications for precise motor control, enabling accurate movement and positioning of robotic arms and joints.
* Power Tools: Power tools that require efficient motor control, such as drills, saws, and other electric tools, can benefit from the use of the L6235N driver.
* Home Appliances: In home appliances like washing machines, air conditioning units, and refrigerators, the L6235N provides efficient motor control to ensure smooth operation.

Mechanical Specifications

* Package Type: The L6235N is available in the PowerSO-20 package, a surface-mount package that is designed to facilitate better heat dissipation and reduce the footprint in compact designs.
* Dimensions: The PowerSO-20 package measures 7x7 mm, making it a compact solution that fits well in space-constrained applications.
* Weight: The IC weighs approximately 0.15 grams, making it a lightweight component that can be easily integrated into various systems.
* Pin Configuration: The L6235N has 20 pins, with dedicated pins for the control inputs, motor outputs, and power supply connections, making it simple to integrate into your motor control design.

Performance Characteristics

* Operating Temperature Range: The L6235N is rated for operation within a temperature range of -40°C to +150°C, making it suitable for use in a wide variety of environments, including automotive and industrial applications.
* Switching Frequency: The L6235N supports PWM frequencies up to 100 kHz, allowing for smooth motor operation and efficient performance across a range of applications.
* Efficiency: The device operates with high efficiency, minimizing heat generation and power loss, which is crucial for applications where energy consumption is a critical factor.

Summary
The STMicroelectronics L6235N is a robust and efficient motor driver IC that is ideal for driving three-phase BLDC motors and PMSMs. It offers a wide range of protection features, high current capabilities, and precise control options, making it suitable for applications in industrial automation, robotics, automotive, and home appliances. With integrated thermal and overcurrent protection, the L6235N ensures safe and reliable motor operation under demanding conditions. Its versatile package, high voltage support, and low power loss make it an excellent choice for driving motors in a wide variety of embedded and power-efficient applications.