STMicroelectronics EV-VNHD7012AY

Overview

EV-VNHD7012AY from STMicroelectronics is a preassembled evaluation board for the VNHD7012AY VIPower® full-bridge motor driver IC, designed to simplify prototyping of automotive H-bridge motor control circuits. It integrates the VNHD7012AY in PowerSSO-36 exposed-pad package, includes recommended passive components (100 nF–470 µF capacitors, 1 kΩ–10 kΩ resistors), and supports direct connection of microcontroller (INA/INB/PWM/SEL0/SEL1), load, and 4–28 V supply.

For engineers reviewing the EV-VNHD7012AY datasheet, EV-VNHD7012AY pinout, EV-VNHD7012AY application, or EV-VNHD7012AY equivalent, this board enables rapid validation of VNHD7012AY's dual high-side + external low-side MOSFET drive capability, MultiSense current/voltage/temperature monitoring, latch-off protections (overcurrent, overtemperature, cross-conduction), and 20 kHz PWM speed control in real automotive subsystems.

Technical Context

The EV-VNHD7012AY implements a complete reference design for ST's VNHD7012AY - a protected full-bridge driver combining two integrated high-side VIPower switches and gate drivers for two external N-channel MOSFETs in low-side configuration. It supports 4–28 V operation with 38 V transient tolerance and delivers up to 38 A channel current limit.

Board-level thermal management uses a 4-layer FR4 PCB (45 × 65 mm) with 35 µm copper, thermal vias (0.5 mm diameter, 1.1 mm spacing), and an exposed pad layout optimized for junction-to-ambient thermal resistance of 28 °C/W in HSD configuration - directly enabling sustained motor drive testing under load.

Key Specifications

Availability

EV-VNHD7012AY is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body electronics, electric power steering (EPS) submodules, HVAC blower control, and seat/mirror actuator development requiring stable component supply and proven reference hardware.

Supply support for EV-VNHD7012AY 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, specializing in automotive, industrial, and power management solutions with vertically integrated manufacturing and IP.

The EV-VNHD7012AY belongs to ST's VIPower® evaluation board family, developed to accelerate adoption of intelligent power ICs in safety-critical automotive motion control applications where protection integrity and thermal reliability are mandatory.

FAQ

Does EV-VNHD7012AY include the VNHD7012AY IC pre-soldered?

Yes. The board ships fully assembled with the VNHD7012AY IC mounted in its PowerSSO-36 package, including all required decoupling capacitors (C1–C11), gate resistors (R1–R15), inductors (L1–L3), and external MOSFETs (M1, Q1) as specified in Table 3 of DB3625 Rev 3.

What microcontroller interface signals does the board expose?

The board exposes INA, INB, PWM, SEL0, SEL1, and SENSE_EN via J1/J2 connectors - all 3.3 V/5 V tolerant and directly compatible with standard MCU GPIOs. MULTI-SENSE output is routed to J2 pin 6 for analog monitoring.

Can EV-VNHD7012AY drive brushed DC motors without external components?

Yes. With only a DC motor connected between OUTA and OUTB, a 12 V or 24 V supply applied to VBAT, and appropriate logic-level signals on INA/INB/PWM, the board operates standalone - no additional external circuitry is needed beyond what's already populated per the VNHD7012AY datasheet recommendations.

Is thermal performance validated for continuous operation?

Yes. Thermal data in Table 4 (DB3625 Rev 3) confirms R_thj-amb = 28 °C/W under HSD conditions. This value was measured on the actual 4-layer PCB with thermal vias and exposed copper, enabling verified continuous current delivery within the VNHD7012AY's 38 A limit when ambient temperature remains ≤85 °C.