Transformer drivers improve efficiency and performance in industrial and automotive applications

Nexperia has introduced the NXF6501-Q100, NXF6505A-Q100, and NXF6505B-Q100. These are AEC-Q100 qualified push-pull transformer drivers that allow the design of small, low-noise, and low-EMI isolated power supplies for a range of automotive applications, such as traction inverters and motor control, DC-DC converters, battery management systems, and onboard chargers in EV. These transformer drivers are also suitable for industrial applications like telecommunications, medical applications, instrumentation and industrial automation equipment, solar inverters, energy meters, and PLC.

The series can drive low-profile, centre-tapped transformers from a 2.25V to 5.5V power supply with high output current (1.2A at 5V) and high efficiency (up to 90%). To facilitate small form factor designs, the devices have a 440kHz (NXF6501 and NXF6505B) or 160kHz (NXF6505A) internal oscillator and a gate drive circuit that delivers complementary output signals to drive internal ground-referenced n-channel power switches. Alternatively, a clock signal can be applied externally to the NXF6505A and NXF6505B to precisely control switching harmonics or synchronise multiple NFX6505x(A/B) -Q100 devices. Also, the series employs slew rate control and spread-spectrum clocking (SSC) to deliver ultra-low noise and EMI.

The series also incorporates a comprehensive range of internal protection features, such as over-current protection (1.7A) with hiccup mode, under-voltage lockout, thermal shutdown, and break-before-make circuitry, to ensure safe operation. These transformer drivers also have a soft-start (~5ms) feature that prevents high inrush currents during power-up with large load capacitors. Lastly, these devices have fail-safe inputs that prevent back-powering of the local power supply and eradicate the necessity for power sequence management.

These devices are provided in compact industry-standard footprints like the five-pin SOT8098 (TSOT5) and six-pin SOT8061 (TSOT6) package and safely operate in ambient temperatures ranging between -55C and 125C.