Full Half-Bridge (H Bridge) Drivers
Full Half-Bridge Drivers PMICs are integrated circuits specifically designed to control and drive full-bridge or half-bridge power topologies. They play a core role in power electronics systems such as motor control, power conversion, and inverters.
1. What are the Core Structure and Work Principles of Full Half-Bridge Drivers PMIC?
1) Basic Topology
A half-bridge consists of two power switches (such as MOSFETs or IGBTs) connected in series, connected between the positive power supply (Vbus) and ground (GND). The midpoint (output) drives the load. A full-bridge consists of two half-bridges, for a total of four switching devices, supporting bidirectional current control.
2) Drive Mechanism
Level Conversion: Addresses the floating potential of high-side switches by converting the controller’s logic signal into a high-voltage drive signal.
Dead-Time Control: Forces the switching interval between switches to avoid shoot-through shorts caused by simultaneous conduction of the high-side and low-side switches.
3) Protection Functions
Integrated undervoltage lockout (UVLO), overcurrent protection, and thermal shutdown mechanisms enhance system reliability.
2. What are the Key Advantages and Technical Challenges of Full Half-Bridge Drivers PMIC?
1) Advantages:
High-efficiency energy conversion (PWM modulation);
Precise control of current direction and amplitude, suitable for bidirectional drive;
Integrated design simplifies circuit layout (for example, the TLE94112ES supports 12 half-bridge outputs).
2) Challenges:
High-side drivers require bootstrap circuitry or an isolated power supply;
Dead-time and EMI suppression must be strictly managed.
3. What are the Typical Applications of Full Half-Bridge Drivers PMIC?
Motor Drives
Control the direction and speed of DC motors, stepper motors, and brushless DC motors (BLDCs).
Power Conversion
DC-AC inverters, DC-DC converters, and wireless charging systems.
Industrial and Automotive Electronics
Suitable for high-reliability applications such as electric vehicle motor controllers and industrial inverters.
4. Comparison of Half-Bridge and Full-Bridge Drivers PMIC
Type |
Number of Switches |
Power Range |
Typical Applications |
Half-Bridge |
2 switches |
≤1KW |
Single-power PWM control, simple inverters |
Full-Bridge |
4 switches |
Medium- to high-power |
Bidirectional motor drives, precision inverter systems |
Full Half-Bridge Drivers PMICs significantly improve power system efficiency and reliability by integrating drive, protection, and control functions. They are core components in the motor drive and energy conversion fields.