TI’s stepper motor driver reduces board space while improving thermal performance, system reliability and efficiency

Key features and benefits of the DRV8818

• Excellent thermal performance: Typical RDS(ON) of 150 milliohms, low-side, and 220 milliohms, high-side, improves efficiency and reduces ambient and board temperatures for improved system reliability.

• Configurable motor performance: Flexible decay modes and timing parameters reduce audible noise and vibrations to improve system stability and performance.

• Built-in microstepping: Integrated indexer simplifies current regulation, enabling full, half, quarter and one-eighth microstepping, for a smoother motion profile.

• Robust, reliable and fully protected: Advanced on-chip protection, including over-current, over-temperature, shoot-through and under-voltage lock-out increases system reliability and manufacturing yields.

• Pin-to-pin compatibility: Compatible with the existing 1.9-A DRV8811 for lower-current systems, enabling current scalability with a single common design.

Tools and support
The DRV8818EVM evaluation module is available today for a suggested retail price of US$99. Features of the DRV8818EVM include:

• Pre-programmed MSP430 microcontroller for out-of-the box use.
• Advanced user interface to support acceleration, deceleration and motion profiles.
• On-board potentiometers to adjust voltage reference, decay ratio, blanking time and off time.
• Control and status signals accessible through test headers.

Package, availability and pricing
The DRV8818 motor driver is available today in a 10-mm x 6-mm HTSSOP package for a suggested retail price of US$2.25 in 1,000-unit quantities.