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iC-GE100

PWM RELAY/SOLENOID DRIVER

Rev A1, Page 2/12

DESCRIPTION

iC-GE100 is a PWM driver for inductive loads, such

as relay coils, solenoid valves and other inductive

loads.

The setpoints for the coil’s energising and hold cur-

rent are pre-set by means of external resistors RACT

and RHOLD. These currents can be set in a range

from 10 to 100 mA. The iC-GE100 switches from en-

ergising to hold mode after 50 ms provided that the

set energising current has been reached.

The changeover between energising and hold modes

is suitable for typical relay drives which require a

powerful initial energising current which can then be

reduced after closing the air gap in a magnetic cir-

cuit. The quadratic dependence on the current inten-

sity means that cutting the current by half reduces

the power dissipation by ca. 75%.

Using PWM the output current is controlled to the

values set at RACT and RHOLD. The internal fly-

back diode maintains the current during the switch-

ing pauses. The switching frequency of ca. 80 kHz is

provided by the internal oscillator.

The device is shutdown by a Low signal at input EN

or the removal of the power supply; the current re-

duction in the coil is supported by the changeover of

the free-wheeling circuit. The Zener diode now ac-

tive permits higher free-wheeling voltages and thus a

quicker demagnetising of the coil.

The status indicator LED is constantly ON when hold

mode is functioning correctly and flashes with low

voltage, excessive temperature or when the coil cur-

rent in energise mode has not reached the setpoint.

The driver output is shutdown with low voltage or ex-

cessive temperature. Alternatively to using an LED

output DIAG signals the correct operating by out-

putting a high signal.

The input signal at EN can be synchronised with the

zero crossing at input SYNC. Thus by using an ex-

ternal R/C network, the switching of the coil can be

synchronised with the load current of e.g. the relay.

PACKAGING INFORMATION DFN8-3x3

PIN CONFIGURATION DFN8 3 mm x 3 mm

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Backside

Pad/Shield

(BP)

PIN FUNCTIONS

No. Name Function

1 GND

Ground

2 SW

PWM Output

3 VB

+10...36 V Supply Voltage

4 IHOLD Hold Current Setup

5 IACT

Energising Current Setup

6 DIAG

Status Output

7 SYNC Sync Input

8 EN

Enable Input

The Thermal Pad is to be connected to a Ground Plane (GND) on the PCB.

Only pin 1 marking on top or bottom defines the package orientation (

GE100 label and coding is

subject to change).