Fairchild Semiconductor (NYSE:FCS) today announced that Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) chose Fairchild's 7-channel motor driver IC for its high end DVD-RW product. With its extremely low output on-resistance (spindle 0.8 ohms at 0.5A, sled 2.0 ohms at 0.25A), this monolithic IC based on DMOS transistor technology significantly reduces heat generation, which is an important consideration in DVD-RW designs where thermal management is an ongoing challenge. In tests conducted using a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor running at 10,000 rpm with 3.3V, the temperature of Fairchild's FAN8741 was over 20 degrees Celsius lower than competitive products. The FAN8741's built-in thermal shutdown (TSD) and rugged power packaging extends reliability in high-speed optical media applications. This 7-channel motor driver IC eliminates the need for additional components and therefore lowers overall design costs.

"The versatility and reliability of the FAN8741 make it ideal for use in TSST's new DVD-RW product, the TS-H552, which is capable of writing up to 16X on a DVD+R disc," commented IS Hwang, president of TSST Korea. "In this rapidly evolving optical disc drive market, TSST must respond quickly to changing demands. Fairchild's superior engineering support, volume production and quality of service allow us to deliver value to the market in a timely fashion."

Outstanding features of the FAN8741 include 180 degree commutation, a built-in channel mute function, and eight independent voltage sources under conditions of 3.3V or 5V DSP. Its built-in 7-channel driver can simultaneously operate:

-- 3-phase BLDC spindle motor drivers with PWM,
-- 2-channel motor drivers with PWM for sled motors, and
-- 4-channel linear drivers that drive the focus actuator, tracking actuator, tilt actuator and loading motor.

HK Kim, Fairchild's director of The Power Conversion Team, commented, "The FAN8741 offers designers of high-speed optical disk media applications a motor driver IC alternative, based on DMOS transistor technology, with extremely low on-resistance. This technology results in significantly less heat generation and as a one chip solution can extend the product lifetime while lowering total design costs."

KS Kim, vice president of Korea Sales for Fairchild, said, "By solving electro static interference that TSST has experienced, Fairchild's FAN8741 enables TSST to feature improved reliability with its new DVD-RW writer."

The FAN8741 is available in a 56-SSOP package. This lead-free (Pb-free) product meets or exceeds the requirements of the joint IPC/JEDEC standard J-STD-020B and is compliant with the European Union requirements, which will take effect in 2005.

The introduction of the FAN8741 further expands Fairchild's extensive offering for digital consumer applications. These solutions include video filters, Fairchild Power Switches (FPS(TM)), DC/DC converters, analog switches and LEDs.

Price: FAN8741: US$ 2.51 (1K pcs)
Availability: Now
Delivery: 12 weeks from ARO