Tessenderlo, Belgium — Melexis has introduced the MLX90287 fan driver IC for energy-efficient cooling fan designs. The Hall-effect-based device offers the ability to control cooling fan speed using pulse width modulation (PWM) or analog signals. Applications include desktop computers, gaming consoles and automotive applications such as LED headlights.
The MLX90287 features a one-chip solution for driving low-noise, speed-controlled, single-coil brushless cooling fans. With an operating supply voltage from 4.5 volts to 16 volts, the MLX90287 targets the widely used “12-volt” cooling fan applications.
With the integrated power stage, cooling fans rated as high as 550 mA (continuous) can be easily driven addressing a majority of applications, said Melexis. The device operates within an ambient temperature range from -40 to +150 deg C, making it suitable for harsh environments such as automotive, industrial, military and aerospace.
The MLX90287 can regulate cooling fan speed via a potentiometer, a solution used by many extreme gamers for total control, or a thermistor for a more automatic regulation, responding to the real system temperature.
www.melexis.com