Freescale’s two-wheel SB0400 IC is designed for use with motorcycles, while the single-wheel SB0401 IC is intended for scooters and lighter motorcycles. Both products are leadless and, due to a low RDS(on), neither require heat sinks, saving system cost and space. Featuring Freescale’s SMARTMOS analogue-mixed signal technology, the devices integrate an ABS system’s wheel speed sensor interface, valve drivers, motor pump driver, safety switch and safety state machine into what Freescale claim is the smallest package size available on the market for motorcycle or scooter designs.
Jonathan Godillon, application engineer at Freescale, said: “Freescale has 20 years of experience making ABS systems for four-wheeled vehicles. The SB0400 and SB0401 are based on our automotive system; the big challenge was to reduce the size of the motorcycle system while keeping the same features.”
The introduction of these products coincides with the upcoming implementation of European Commission legislation making it mandatory for manufacturers to fit all new motorcycles with engine sizes above 125cc with ABS from 1 January 2016. This is in line with a rise in motorcycle manufacture in the past few years to almost 100 million units, led by growth in India and China, along with continuing high numbers of accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles. Global sales of motorcycles and scooters are set to increase by 5.9% to reach 132 million units by 2018. By this time ABS will be mandatory in two-wheel vehicles in the EU, Japan and India while in 2019 ABS will be mandatory in 50cc scooters as well.
“Motorcycle ABS helps the rider maintain stability during braking,” added Godillon. “The average stopping distance of a motorbike travelling at 100kmph fitted with ABS over one that doesn’t is 18% less, which equates to 9m, and this distance increases the slower the bike is being driven.”
Both devices are pin-to-pin compatible which reduces system design efforts. Integrated hardware safety functions for protection/diagnostics include over-voltage, under voltage, over temperature, short and open load detection.
Patrick Morgan, general manager for ADAS Radar and Safety Products for Freescale, said: “As braking requirements for two-wheel vehicles grow increasingly stringent, Freescale is responding with designs that enhance driver safety while helping manufacturers of electronic motor control systems meet critical safety requirements, while saving cost, space and weight.”
