STMicroelectronics L6388ED

Overview

L6388ED from STMicroelectronics is a high-voltage half-bridge gate driver IC designed to control power MOSFETs and IGBTs in high-side/low-side configurations. It supports up to 600 V rail voltage, delivers 400 mA source / 650 mA sink output current, features integrated bootstrap diode and interlocking/deadtime protection, and operates with 3.3 V/5 V/15 V CMOS/TTL inputs - used in induction heating inverters and HVAC motor drives.

For engineers reviewing the L6388ED datasheet, L6388ED pinout, L6388ED application, or L6388ED equivalent, key selection criteria include dV/dt immunity (±50 V/ns), UVLO thresholds on both VCC and VBOOT, SO-8 package thermal resistance (150 °C/W), and bootstrap driver R_DS(on) (125 Ω) affecting high-frequency gate charge delivery.

Technical Context

The L6388ED implements dual-channel, non-inverting gate drive with hardware-enforced interlocking and programmable deadtime (220–420 ns) to prevent shoot-through in half-bridge topologies. Its floating high-side section uses bootstrap supply referenced to VOUT, with internal DMOS-based bootstrap driver replacing external diodes.

Logic inputs (LIN/HIN) feature hysteresis and pull-down for noise immunity; UVLO protection activates independently on VCC (9.1–10.1 V turn-on) and VBOOT (8.5–10.5 V turn-on) to ensure safe operation during supply transients. The device operates across –45 °C to +125 °C junction temperature.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Available in SO-8 package (ECOPACK® compliant), 5.0 mm × 6.0 mm body, 1.27 mm pitch, with thermal resistance R_th(JA) = 150 °C/W. Pin 1 marked by notch or dot; top-view orientation per Figure 15 in DocID13991 Rev 5.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar high-voltage half-bridge gate driver applications.

Compared with IR2110SPBF and UCC27211D, the L6388ED uniquely combines 600 V capability, integrated bootstrap, and hardware interlocking in SO-8 - making it optimal for cost-sensitive, space-constrained 400 V industrial inverters where reliability and design simplicity are critical.

Availability

L6388ED is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for induction heating inverters, HVAC compressor drives, and industrial motor starters requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for L6388ED 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, digital, and mixed-signal ICs for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets.

The L6388ED belongs to ST's high-voltage gate driver product line, engineered specifically for robust half-bridge control in harsh electromagnetic environments - targeting motor drives, induction heating, and industrial power conversion.

FAQ

What is the maximum recommended switching frequency for L6388ED?

The L6388ED is characterized up to 400 kHz with 1 nF load, but practical limit depends on bootstrap recharge time. At 100 kHz, C_BOOT must exceed 10× C_GATE to maintain >8 V V_BS; above 200 kHz, external diode bypass is advised due to 125 Ω R_DS(on)-induced voltage drop.

Does L6388ED support 3.3 V microcontroller interfaces directly?

Yes - its LIN and HIN inputs accept 3.3 V logic levels with guaranteed V_IH = 1.8 V min and V_IL = 1.1 V max, plus hysteresis and internal pull-down. No level shifter required when driven by standard 3.3 V MCUs such as STM32 or ESP32.

How does the interlocking function differ from deadtime insertion?

Interlocking is hardware logic that blocks one output if the other is active - preventing simultaneous conduction regardless of input timing. Deadtime adds fixed delay (220–420 ns) after turn-off before enabling the opposite output, ensuring safe commutation even with overlapping input pulses.

Can L6388ED drive SiC MOSFETs?

It can drive low-capacitance SiC devices (e.g., <1.5 nF C_iss) at ≤100 kHz, but lacks negative gate drive and fast enough propagation (<100 ns) for optimal SiC switching. For full SiC utilization, ST's STL220N6F7 or dedicated SiC drivers are recommended instead.