VNI8200XP-32

The VNI8200XP and VNI8200XP-32 are monolithic 8-channel drivers, designed in STMicroelectronics™ VIPower™ technology, intended to drive any kind of load with one side connected to ground. Both ICs operates from 10.5 V to 36 V and feature a very low supply current, parallel or 4-wires SPI control interface, 4x2 LED matrix and a micropower step-down switching regulator with peak current control loop mode.

The SPI interface (enabled by SEL2 pin = H) can work up to 5 MHz in 8-bits (SEL1 = L), or 16-bits (SEL1 = H) with parity check and extended diagnostic (DC-DC operation, Case over-temperature, SPI Communication Fail, Power Good) information. In SPI mode the daisy chain is allowed, both the OUT_EN signal and the MCU freeze detection by whatchdog are available. If enabled (WD_EN voltage above 25% of VREG), the watchdog circuitry generates an internal reset on expiry of the internal watchdog timer. The watchdog timer reset can be achieved by applying a negative pulse on the WD pin. The whatchdog timer can be programmed by the set voltage on WD_EN pin.

The internal LED matrix driver circuitry (4 rows, 2 columns) allows the efficient driving of the 8 LEDs reporting the on/off status of each of the 8 outputs. The VREG pin supplies both the logic output buffers and LED matrix. The 100 mA output current capability of the integrated step-down (featuring overload and short-circuit conditions) can be used to supply both the VREG pin and other application components (for example digital isolators or optocouplers).

Active per-channel current limitation (0.7 A and 1.0 A for VNI8200XP and VNI8200XP-32, respectively), combined with channel-independent thermal shutdown, protect the circuitry against overload and short circuit. Built-in thermal shutdown protects each channel from over-temperature and overload: each overheated channel automatically turns OFF after its junction temperature triggers the protection threshold (TTSD). The channel turns back ON if its junction temperature decreases lower than restart threshold (TR). An additional case temperature sensor protects the whole chip against over-temperature: if the case temperature triggers the TCSD threshold then overloaded channels are turned OFF and restart only when case temperature decreased down to the reset threshold (TCR). Non overloaded channels continue to operate normally.

Loss of GND protection guarantees automatic turn off the outputs in case of ground wire break.

Dedicated diagnostic pins report the detection of: invalid voltage range on VCC rail (PG pin), case over-temperature (TWARN pin), SPI fault or junction over-temperature (FAULT pin).