TriC3-equipped motor gate driver for reduced FET heat and EMI
ROHM has introduced the BD67871MWV-Z, a three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motor gate driver designed for 12-V to 48-V applications, bringing a notable improvement in switching efficiency and EMI performance. The new device integrates the company’s proprietary TriC3 active gate-drive technology, which allows engineers to reduce FET switching loss (and the resulting heat) without compromising noise performance.
For eeNews Europe readers, the announcement is relevant across industrial, consumer, and e-mobility design, where balancing efficiency, thermal performance, and EMC compliance is a growing challenge.
TriC3 targets efficiency–EMI trade-offs
According to ROHM, Motors account for roughly 60% of global electricity consumption, making incremental improvements in motor-drive design highly impactful. While systems using discrete gate drivers controlled by an MCU remain common, tighter efficiency and control requirements have accelerated the shift toward integrated three-phase motor drivers. One of the major engineering hurdles in these designs is the long-standing trade-off between reducing power consumption and keeping EMI under control.
ROHM’s TriC3 technology addresses this by sensing voltage waveforms from the external power FETs in real time and adjusting the gate-drive current dynamically. According to ROHM, this approach reduces FET switching loss — and therefore heat generation — while simultaneously suppressing ringing, achieving low EMI performance that typically requires design compromise.
The company reports that in real-motor evaluations, TriC3 reduced FET heat generation by approximately 35% compared to ROHM’s conventional constant-current drive solutions, all while maintaining equivalent EMI characteristics.
Designed for industrial and consumer applications
The BD67871MWV-Z is packaged in a UQFN28, a common format for medium-voltage motor-control ICs in industrial systems, helping engineers adopt the device without major layout rework. Mass production began in September 2025, and both the IC and its evaluation board (BD67871MWV-EVK-003) are available through major distributors including DigiKey and Mouser.
ROHM is also expanding the family with general-purpose versions — BD67870MWV-Z and BD67872MWV-Z — which share the same package and pinout but are optimized for constant-voltage drive. “From general-purpose types to the value-added types featuring the new TriC3, we offer a comprehensive product lineup to supports a wide variety of applications and use cases. We are committed to contributing to improved motor efficiency, enhanced application functionality, and reduced power consumption,” the company noted.
Target applications include industrial tools such as electric drills and fans, as well as household appliances and light e-mobility systems like vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, ventilation units, air conditioners, and electric-assist bicycles.
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