I worked on a motor controller that had a problem with PWM IC frying.
Turned out the real problem was when the control signal was over-driven a comparator would latch up. Which would cause both power transistors to turn on. Blowing a 'protection' [1] fuse on the negative supply rail. And then the negative power supply would reverse. And kill the PWM controller IC.
Not a fan of latching OP-Amps and Comparators.
[1] Tip: fuses don't protect circuits from damage they prevent your POS from burning the house down.
Personally I prefer to have parts that require external protection, rather than parts with robust internal protections that cost more or compromise the performance or that I have to hack around. It's more work, board area, and overall cost to have the external protections to keep an IC within its safe operating area, but I don't mind.
Comments
TL0x4 latches in certain conditions, not quite state of the art behavior.
I worked on a motor controller that had a problem with PWM IC frying.
Turned out the real problem was when the control signal was over-driven a comparator would latch up. Which would cause both power transistors to turn on. Blowing a 'protection' [1] fuse on the negative supply rail. And then the negative power supply would reverse. And kill the PWM controller IC.
Not a fan of latching OP-Amps and Comparators.
[1] Tip: fuses don't protect circuits from damage they prevent your POS from burning the house down.
Personally I prefer to have parts that require external protection, rather than parts with robust internal protections that cost more or compromise the performance or that I have to hack around. It's more work, board area, and overall cost to have the external protections to keep an IC within its safe operating area, but I don't mind.