Driver integrated circuits in industrial and intelligent equipment

I. Why Driver ICs Determine System Stability

In real projects, issues such as board damage, overheating, and shortened lifetime are often caused not by MCUs or firmware, but by driver-stage failures.
Driver ICs sit between control logic (MCUs) and power devices (MOSFETs, IGBTs, LEDs)—a layer frequently underestimated but critical to system reliability.

II. Main Categories of Driver ICs (Engineering Perspective)

Driver ICs are generally categorized into:

Motor driver ICs for fans, pumps, actuators

Gate driver ICs for MOSFETs and IGBTs

LED driver ICs for lighting and display backlight

Half-bridge / Full-bridge drivers for industrial power stages

III. Motor Driver ICs in Industrial and Smart Applications

Motor driver ICs must ensure:

Smooth startup and stopping

Accurate current control

Overcurrent and thermal protection

Motor driver IC models currently in production:

TI DRV8825, stepper motor driver, widely used in 3D printers and industrial actuators

TI DRV8871, DC motor driver, with built-in current regulation and protection

ST L298N, classic dual H-bridge driver, long used in industrial and educational equipment

These drivers are widely used in Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe, where industrial equipment prioritizes robustness over extreme miniaturization.

IV. Gate Driver ICs: The Amplifier of Power Stages

In inverters, power modules, and industrial motor control, MCU GPIOs cannot directly drive MOSFETs or IGBTs.

The function of the Gate Driver IC is:

Supply high peak gate current

Control switching speed

Reduce switching losses and EMI

Gate Driver IC Models

TI UCC27524, Single-channel low-side MOSFET Driver, High drive current, commonly used in industrial power supplies

Infineon IR2110, High-side and low-side driver, widely used in inverters and UPS

ON Semiconductor FAN7392, Half-bridge IGBT/MOSFET Driver, commonly used in industrial and power systems

These parts are heavily sourced in India and Vietnam, where power electronics manufacturing continues to expand.

V. LED Driver ICs in Lighting and Display Systems

LED driver ICs focus on:

Constant-current regulation

Thermal protection

Dimming control

LED Driver IC:

TI TPS92512, Automotive and Industrial Grade LED Driver, Supports Wide Input Voltage

ON Semiconductor NCL30060, AC-DC LED Driver, Commonly Used in Lighting Power Supplies

ST HVLED001A, High-Voltage LED Constant Current Driver, Commonly Used in Industrial Lighting

VI. Case Study: Industrial Fan Control Optimization

Original design of a fan system for industrial equipment: MCU + discrete MOSFETs, no current limiting, high failure rate.

After redesign using: DRV8871 motor driver, integrated current regulation, thermal shutdown protection.

Results: Fan lifespan significantly improved, board-level failure rate decreased, and the customer successfully passed CE testing.

VII. Sourcing Reality for Driver ICs

Current characteristics of the Driver IC market: classic models have long lifecycles; industrial customers have low acceptance of alternative solutions; project-based orders place greater emphasis on inventory depth and stable delivery times.

VIII. Conclusion: Poor Driver IC Choices Lead to System Failure

Driver ICs are the highest-risk but most easily overlooked ICs in a system.

Correct selection directly determines the system's reliability, lifespan, and certification success rate.