STMicroelectronics EVALSTDRIVE601

Overview

EVALSTDRIVE601 from STMicroelectronics is a fully assembled, safety-certified demonstration board for the STDRIVE601 triple half-bridge gate driver IC. It implements a 3-phase inverter with 650 V/6 A STGD6M65DF2 IGBTs, supports dual shunt or single shunt current sensing topologies, integrates bus voltage and Hall sensor interfaces, and features a 450 V bulk capacitor - enabling immediate evaluation of motor control algorithms including FOC and 6-step commutation.

For engineers reviewing the EVALSTDRIVE601 datasheet, EVALSTDRIVE601 pinout, EVALSTDRIVE601 application, or EVALSTDRIVE601 equivalent, this board serves as a validated hardware reference for STDRIVE601-based 3-phase motor drive designs requiring high-voltage isolation awareness, fast overcurrent shutdown (<100 ns propagation delay), and flexible MCU interface via 26-pin strip connector (J5) and PWM/HALL/BEMF signal headers.

Technical Context

The board implements the STDRIVE601's integrated BCD6s offline process architecture, delivering three independent high-side/low-side drivers with embedded bootstrap diodes and SmartShutdown circuitry that triggers within <100 ns of overcurrent detection at the sense resistor. It supports configurable current sensing: default triple-shunt topology (R30/R57/R58, 220 mΩ, 2 W) enables phase-current reconstruction for FOC, while jumper-selectable single-shunt mode reduces component count for 6-step operation.

Power stage flexibility is achieved through dual-footprint compatibility (DPAK and PowerFLAT 8x8 HV) for IGBTs or MOSFETs, and the board provides direct access to all STDRIVE601 control signals - including HIN/LIN inputs, OUTx outputs, FAULT, ENABLE, and SENSEx references - alongside isolated bus voltage feedback (VBUS_fdbk), Hall sensor connectors (J6), and BEMF sensing paths routed to dedicated op-amp buffers (U2A/U2B/U3A).

Key Specifications

Availability

EVALSTDRIVE601 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for three-phase motor drive development, industrial inverter prototyping, and appliance compressor control applications requiring stable component supply, traceable evaluation hardware, and documented STMicroelectronics reference design integration.

Supply support for EVALSTDRIVE601 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power ICs, sensors, and analog components for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets.

EVALSTDRIVE601 belongs to ST's motor control evaluation platform family, engineered specifically to accelerate adoption of STDRIVE-series gate drivers in high-efficiency, high-reliability 3-phase BLDC and PMSM drive systems up to 600 V.

FAQ

Is EVALSTDRIVE601 suitable for final product deployment?

No - it is a demonstration board intended solely for lab evaluation and algorithm development. It lacks safety certifications (e.g., UL/IEC 61800) required for end equipment, has no reinforced isolation between HV and LV sections, and uses non-industrial-grade mechanical mounting. ST explicitly states it must not be used in electrical installations or machinery per DB3896 Section 1.2.

Can I replace the STGD6M65DF2 IGBTs with MOSFETs?

Yes - the board supports both IGBTs and N-channel power MOSFETs in DPAK or PowerFLAT 8x8 HV packages. The STDRIVE601 gate driver is compatible with either switch type, and the schematic shows identical gate drive networks (R21/R24 for turn-on, R19/R25 for turn-off) optimized for both technologies' Miller plateau and Qg requirements.

What current sensing topologies does the board support out-of-the-box?

The board defaults to triple-shunt sensing using three 220 mΩ, 2 W, 1% resistors (R30/R57/R58) for full-phase current reconstruction. Single-shunt mode is enabled by opening JP2 and closing JP3, routing all phase currents through one sense resistor - verified in schematic Figure 1 and confirmed in Section 2 of DB3896.

Does EVALSTDRIVE601 include isolated communication interfaces?

No - it provides only direct-level signal interfaces: 3.3 V logic-compatible PWM inputs (HIN/LIN), open-drain FAULT output, analog sense references (SENSE1_REF–SENSE3_REF), and Hall/BEMF analog inputs. Isolation must be implemented externally between the board and host MCU, as stated in DB3896 Section 1.1: "The kit is not electrically isolated from the high-voltage supply DC input."