STMicroelectronics L6235D013TR

Overview

L6235D013TR from STMicroelectronics is a fully integrated DMOS 3-phase brushless DC motor driver IC with embedded PWM current control, hall-effect sensor decoding logic (60°/120°), and non-dissipative overcurrent protection. It delivers 5.6 A peak output current (2.8 A DC), operates from 8–52 V supply, features R_DS(ON) = 0.34 Ω (typ.) at 25 °C, and supports up to 100 kHz switching frequency - used in closed-loop BLDC motor control for industrial fans, power tools, and HVAC blowers.

For engineers reviewing the L6235D013TR datasheet, L6235D013TR pinout, L6235D013TR application, or L6235D013TR equivalent, key selection considerations include its constant t_OFF PWM controller timing, tachometer output for speed feedback, brake function implementation, and thermal shutdown behavior under sustained load conditions.

Technical Context

The L6235 integrates six DMOS power transistors in a 3-phase bridge configuration with intrinsic fast freewheeling diodes and cross-conduction protection via 1 µs internal deadtime. Its charge pump (VCP output, 600 kHz typical) generates V_BOOT to drive high-side N-channel MOSFETs, eliminating external bootstrap capacitors in many configurations.

Current regulation uses a sense-resistor-based comparator with 1 µs blanking time to suppress reverse-recovery spikes, and a monostable RC network (RCOFF/RCPULSE pins) sets t_OFF (6.6 µs to 6 ms) and tachometer pulse width. Hall decoding logic accepts single-ended H1/H2/H3 inputs and directly generates commutation sequences without external microcontroller intervention.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Available in PowerSO36 (exposed slug, R_th(j-case) = 1 °C/W) and SO24 (20+2+2 lead count) packages. The L6235D013TR variant uses the PowerSO36 package with integrated thermal slug connected to pins 1, 18, 19, and 36 (all GND).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar 3-phase BLDC motor driver applications.

Compared with DRV8313PWPR and MP6532GQZ, the L6235D013TR offers unique analog autonomy - integrating hall decoding, tachometer generation, and charge pump timing in a single chip - making it optimal for cost-sensitive, MCU-light BLDC systems where deterministic timing and minimal external components are critical.

Availability

L6235D013TR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial fan control, power tool motor drive, and automotive HVAC blower applications requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and traceable sourcing.

Supply support for L6235D013TR 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 analog, mixed-signal, power, and microcontroller solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The L6235 belongs to ST's "Motor Control & Power" product line, engineered specifically for highly integrated, self-contained BLDC driver solutions targeting cost-sensitive, high-volume applications where MCU resources are constrained or reliability demands hardware-based commutation.

FAQ

What is the minimum recommended external sense resistor value for L6235D013TR?

The minimum recommended sense resistor is 0.05 Ω. At 2.8 A DC, this yields 140 mV across the resistor, staying well above the sense comparator's ±5 mV offset voltage and ensuring robust noise immunity. Lower values increase susceptibility to PCB layout noise and reduce current measurement resolution.

Can L6235D013TR operate without external hall sensors?

No - the L6235D013TR requires three active hall-effect sensors (H1/H2/H3) for commutation. It does not support sensorless (back-EMF) operation. If hall sensors are unavailable, an external MCU must generate commutation signals via GPIOs mapped to the IN1–IN6 logic inputs - but this bypasses the integrated decoding logic and tachometer functionality.

How is thermal performance affected when using the SO24 versus PowerSO36 package?

In identical PCB layouts, the PowerSO36 package achieves ~60% lower junction-to-ambient thermal resistance (15 °C/W vs. 35 °C/W with 16 vias and ground plane) due to its exposed thermal slug. This allows 2.8 A DC operation at 100 °C ambient in PowerSO36, whereas SO24 requires forced air or reduced load to avoid thermal shutdown.

What happens to motor operation during DIAG assertion?

When DIAG goes low, all power MOSFETs are immediately disabled (via internal latch), halting motor rotation. The device remains latched until EN is cycled low-then-high or supply is power-cycled. This hard shutdown prevents damage during overcurrent or overtemperature events and is not automatically self-clearing.