Many consumer and industrial devices, including electric fans, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, water pumps and ventilation systems, use 3-phase BLDC motors with a driver IC or an AC induction motor. These solutions, however, come with significant drawbacks: 3-phase BLDC motors are costly and complex, and AC induction motors lack efficiency and advanced features.
The MLX90416 has been designed to address these pain points by offering a cost-effective, highly efficient alternative that simplifies motor design and manufacturing processes.
Melexis “No-Hall” technology, at the core of the MLX90416, removes the requirement for a feedback sensor and instead uses an integrated drive and feedback algorithm (BEMF), which provides quiet and vibration-free operation similar to that provided by 3-phase drivers. This shift in approach enables designers to relocate the BLDC driver outside of the fan body, independently from the magnet. This, in turn, allows for the use of a single PCB across multiple fan diameters, eliminating the need for redesign and resulting in a substantial reduction in manufacturing complexities, design efforts, and Bill of Material (BoM) costs.
The MLX90416 incorporates everything needed to drive 24V fans with a peak operating power of 60W. It features plug-and-play, code-free setup, supported by a user-friendly GUI for seamless configuration, allowing for rapid deployment and adaptability across various applications. The driver offers support for bi-directional operation and features an advanced 8-point configurable speed curve. This functionality allows for precise tuning to address resonance and vibration concerns, something not possible with fixed-curve solutions.
As an all-in-one solution, it offers higher reliability versus discrete sensorless solution, as well as reduced design efforts and packaging considerations.
The MLX90416 provides PWM and FM modulation control, with I2C compatibility to further enhance its versatility.
Suitable applications for the MLX90416 encompass various sectors, including white goods and consumer electronics such as fans, air fryers, ovens, and vacuum cleaners. In addition, it extends to industrial systems like cooling fans and water pumps.
The MLX90416 is available now in a DFN-10 package.
