The L9908 is ST’s first gate driver unit (GDU) for automotive to support 48 V batteries. The new device thus meets the latest power requirements that stem from the popularization of hybrid and energy-efficient vehicles. The device can control six N-channel FETs to drive the brushless motors in fans, pump controls, brake boosters, steering, and transmissions, among others. Moreover, the L9908 is fully compliant with the ISO 26262 ASIL-D standard governing functional safety. As a result, engineers can create truly redundant systems in electric power steering that would provide enough torque during a critical failure to guarantee the vehicle could safely reach a service station.
What Would the Next Generation of Cars Look Like?
48 V Batteries
The L9908
The new device follows in the footstep of the L9907. We still find a…