First 60W single-coil sensorless BLDC driver launched

Melexis has announced the MLX90416, a 24V/60W sensorless single-coil BLDC driver specifically designed for motor, fan and pump applications across consumer electronics and industrial domains.

Many consumer and industrial devices, including electric fans, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, water pumps and ventilation systems, use three-phase BLDC motors with a driver IC or an AC induction motor. These solutions have significant drawbacks: three-phase BLDC motors are costly and complex, and AC induction motors need more efficiency and advanced features.

The driver addresses these pain points by providing a cost-effective, highly efficient alternative simplifying motor design and manufacturing processes. The company's 'No-Hall' technology, at the device's core, 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 offered by three-phase drivers. This shift in approach allows designers to relocate the BLDC driver outside of the fan body independently from the magnet. This, in turn, allows for the utilisation of a single PCB across multiple fan diameters, eradicating the necessity for redesign and substantially reducing manufacturing complexities, design efforts, and BoM costs.

The device includes everything needed to drive 24V fans with a peak operating power of 60W. It features a plug-and-play, code-free setup, supported by a user-friendly GUI for seamless configuration, permitting rapid deployment and adaptability across various applications. The driver offers support for bi-directional operation and features an advanced eight-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 delivers higher reliability than a discrete sensorless solution, reduced design efforts, and packaging considerations. The driver provides PWM and FM modulation control, with I2C compatibility to further improve its versatility. Suitable applications for the device encompass various sectors, including white goods and consumer electronics such as fans, air fryers, ovens, and vacuum cleaners. Moreover, it extends to industrial systems like cooling fans and water pumps. Across any design, it contributes to lower costs, greater longevity and reduced component consumption, promoting product sustainability.

"Melexis has a rich history with single-coil designs with our first product hitting the market in 1993. Now, over 30 years later, we are still leading the way with the MLX90416," stated Xuanhong Ou, regional marketing manager at Melexis. "This product brings real value to our customers, helping them to reduce development efforts and costs, while increasing the intelligence and digitisation of their designs to the end-users' benefit."