When starting a DC motor, large currents can be required that place a burden on the motor driver and power supply. This article will discuss using the current regulation function integrated into many motor driver ICs, while using examples from Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) to address high-current conditions. In many cases, using current regulation can allow designers to use a smaller motor drive...

Many motion control applications use permanent magnet DC motors. Since it is easier to implement control systems using DC motors compared to AC motors, they are often used when speed, torque, or position needs to be controlled. There are two types of commonly used DC motors: Brushed motors, and brushless motors (or BLDC motors). As their names imply, DC brushed motors have brushes, which are used...

Solenoid drivers are used in many applications to provide linear or rotational actuation in mechanical systems. Although driving solenoids can be as simple as switching the current flow on and off, oftentimes better performance can be obtained using a dedicated IC to drive them. In this article, we will examine how drive circuitry affects the electromechanical performance of solenoids. Two differ...

The specifications of the feedback (FB) voltage resistor divider in DC-DC converters often poses various design challenges, such as determining the required resistance or adjusting parameters (e.g. output voltage, upper divider resistance or lower divider resistance). Figure 1 shows the various magnitude combinations for the FB upper and lower divider resistances. This article examines the ...

The car of tomorrow is envisioned to be an audiovisual wonderland on wheels, including wraparound screens and dozens of speakers. Driving on the road in the future will immerse passengers in an incredible sensory experience with content streamed via ultra-fast 5G. To achieve this content-rich, connectivity-heavy paradigm of future mobility, emerging digital cockpit systems continue to demand expon...

Automotive electronics suppliers are faced with escalating cost pressures in the race to produce autonomous, connected, and electrified solutions. One effective way to reduce design costs is by using 2-layer automotive PCBs. However, 2-layer PCBs require special care, as they can have poor thermal characteristics, which leads to compromised performance. In this article, an automotive expert will ...

There are a wide array of features in a smart car’s cockpit that can enhance driving experience. For example, full LCD central control screens and high-definition displays have made user experience smoother and simpler. With the addition of voice recognition, drivers can make calls and use intelligent navigation. High-quality sound and ambient lighting provide an immersive experience while listeni...

Advances in automotive technology have dramatically increased the number of sophisticated electronic circuits required to improve driving experience and safety in a typical automotive system. New vehicles provide infotainment systems with high-resolution displays, an enhanced user interface, and numerous connectivity options. Improved safety features include LiDAR for collision avoidance, as well ...

The mechanical potentiometers and switches used in most rotary user interfaces suffer from limited operating life and low reliability due to mechanical wear and susceptibility to environmental damage. This article discusses how magnetic contactless sensing can eliminate these issues and simultaneously provide additional benefits and features. Rotary knobs are used in a diversity of human-to-machi...

The MPM3515-AEC1 is a 36V, 1.5A, high-voltage, automotive-grade power module from Monolithic Power Systems (MPS). This part inherits the key advantages of the MPM module family: very compact size, ease of use, and high performance. It offers an output current of up to 1.5A with performance features tailored to automotive use, including AECQ grade 1 qualification, a high operating frequency of up t...

by Ruediger Richter, Director of Test Engineering at Monolithic Power Systems. It is extremely important for IC manufacturers to be able to design and test automotive parts at precisely set device temperatures. As automotive manufacturers produce vehicles with an increasing number of features, the expectation of reliability and performance increases as well. Reliability trickles down to compon...

Measuring angular movement or rotation in vehicles is becoming increasingly important as vehicles integrate more technologies and systems to aid their drivers. To simplify the number of user interfaces, many vehicle system options have become controllable via a single rotary knob selector. At the same time, many previously manual features, such as seat position, door closure, and tailgate mechanis...