Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    KYOCERA AVX Releases Compact High-Directivity Couplers

    Supercapacitors Emerge as a Promising Solution to AI-Induced Power Energy Spikes

    Wk 18 Electronics Supply Chain Digest

    YAGEO Releases High Current SMD Common Mode Choke With Shape Core Construction

    Murata and NIMS Built New Database of Dielectric Material Properties

    Tariffs Crush Sales Sentiment in April 2025 ECST Results

    High-Density PCB Assemblies For Space Applications

    Solid State Polymer Multilayer Capacitors For High Temperature Application

    Graphene-Based BOSC Bank Of Supercapacitor Cells

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Coupled Inductors in Multiphase Boost Converters

    VPG Demonstrates Precision Resistor in Cryogenic Conditions

    Comparison Testing of Chip Resistor Technologies Under High Vibration

    EMC Challenges for High Speed Signal Immunity and Low EMI

    MOSFET Gate Drive Resistors Power Losses

    Modified Magnetic Reluctance Equivalent Circuit and its Implications

    Improving Common Mode Noise Reduction while Decreasing BOM

    Die and Wire PCB Bonding Explained

    Rogowski Coil Current Sensor Explained

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • Events
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    KYOCERA AVX Releases Compact High-Directivity Couplers

    Supercapacitors Emerge as a Promising Solution to AI-Induced Power Energy Spikes

    Wk 18 Electronics Supply Chain Digest

    YAGEO Releases High Current SMD Common Mode Choke With Shape Core Construction

    Murata and NIMS Built New Database of Dielectric Material Properties

    Tariffs Crush Sales Sentiment in April 2025 ECST Results

    High-Density PCB Assemblies For Space Applications

    Solid State Polymer Multilayer Capacitors For High Temperature Application

    Graphene-Based BOSC Bank Of Supercapacitor Cells

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Coupled Inductors in Multiphase Boost Converters

    VPG Demonstrates Precision Resistor in Cryogenic Conditions

    Comparison Testing of Chip Resistor Technologies Under High Vibration

    EMC Challenges for High Speed Signal Immunity and Low EMI

    MOSFET Gate Drive Resistors Power Losses

    Modified Magnetic Reluctance Equivalent Circuit and its Implications

    Improving Common Mode Noise Reduction while Decreasing BOM

    Die and Wire PCB Bonding Explained

    Rogowski Coil Current Sensor Explained

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result

STMicro’s Newest Stepper Motor Driver: A 256-Microstep Driver with Integrated Control Logic Needs Precise Sense Resistors

24.4.2020
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A

source: All about circuits article

STMicroelectronics offers their new microstepping motor driver that includes control logic and a power stage. Two precise sense resistors play an important role in the PWM current control—for both slow decay and mixed decay current recirculation conditions

RelatedPosts

KYOCERA AVX Releases Compact High-Directivity Couplers

Supercapacitors Emerge as a Promising Solution to AI-Induced Power Energy Spikes

Wk 18 Electronics Supply Chain Digest

ST recently announced their new STSPIN820, which is an advanced microstepping motor driver that is capable of a stepping resolution of 1/256th of a step and integrates both the control logic and power stage in a small 24-pin QFN 4 × 4 mm package. Seems impressive.

 

Featured Figure 1. STSPIN820 microstepping motor driver. Image taken from the datasheet (PDF).

 

With a wide operating voltage range of 7 to 45 V, a host of protection features, and a low standby current of 45µA, this IC could be a good choice for applications such as 3D printers, sewing machines, and robotics.

 

A “Low” RDSon Value

This motor driver’s integrated power stage is advertised as having a low RDSon value (high side + low side) of 1Ω (typical). It seems to me, however, that 1Ω isn’t really all that low. In fact, in my dealings with motor drivers—granted my design experience in this regard is not exceedingly extensive—motor drivers with low RDSon values are in the range of hundreds of milliohms. So I would suggest that 1Ω might be better characterized as a typical RDSon value; if you disagree, let us know in the comments.

 

Figure 2. The STSPIN820’s “low”  RDSon values, from the datasheet (PDF).

 

External Sense Resistors

As noted in the datasheet, this IC requires two external sense resistors (RSNSA and RSNSB), and because these resistors play an important role in the PWM current control—for both slow decay and mixed decay current recirculation conditions—their values must be chosen carefully. Fortunately, ST has provided values for these resistors in a typical application (see image below), and they suggest values for other external passive components. They also offer a trick for easily achieving lower resistor values with higher power ratings; this trick—though it’s probably, hopefully, common knowledge for any electrical engineer—is simply placing multiple resistors in parallel. But hey, maybe ST thought that we might forget about this technique in this particular situation…so thanks, ST, for the reminder.

 

Figure 3. Recommended RSENSE resistor values and other recommended values for external components. Image taken from the datasheet (PDF).

 

Lately I’ve noticed datasheets that don’t offer much in the way of straightforward design guidance, so it’s good to see that ST has taken the time to provide this information.

 

A Set of Protection Features

The STSPIN820 comes with multiple protection features. Though not exactly uncommon among high-end (or even low-end) ICs these days, these features are nonetheless important additions to a reliable, user-friendly motor driver.

  • Short-circuit or overcurrent: Each power output node is protected against overload/overcurrent and short-circuit conditions, including short-to-ground, short-to-VS, and short-circuit between outputs. When an overcurrent condition occurs, the power stage is disabled and the Fault pin is driven low until the overcurrent condition is rectified (see image below).

 

Figure 4. Overcurrent and short-circuit protection management. Diagram taken from the datasheet (PDF).

 

  • Undervoltage lockout (UVLO): During power up, the power stage is disabled—and the Fault pin is forced low—until the voltage on the VS pin (actually, there are two VS pins and they must be at the same voltage) rises above the VS threshold voltage (VSth(ON)), which is 6.0 V (typical). The image below shows the undervoltage lockout protection scheme.

 

Figure 5. Undervoltage lockout (UVLO) protection management. Diagram taken from the datasheet (PDF).

 

  • Thermal shutdown: When the IC’s junction temperature reaches its threshold (TjSD = 160°C), the power stage is disabled and the Fault pin is driven low. Once the junction temperature retreats back to less than 120°C (which includes the thermal shutdown hysteresis value of 40°C), the fault condition is removed (see the image below).

 

Figure 6. Thermal shutdown protection management. Diagram taken from the datasheet (PDF).

 

The Microstepping Sequencer

For this device, ST uses three Mode inputs for achieving a stepping range from full-step to 1/256th of a step. As shown in the image below, each of the three mode settings (MODE1, MODE2, and MODE3) are clocked in on the rising edge of STCK (step clock input). And to allow for a very quick stepper motor response, the three mode settings can be changed at any time, and these changes are applied immediately.

 

Figure 7. Step mode configuration using the MODEx inputs, from the datasheet (PDF).

Related

Recent Posts

Supercapacitors Emerge as a Promising Solution to AI-Induced Power Energy Spikes

6.5.2025
31

YAGEO Releases High Current SMD Common Mode Choke With Shape Core Construction

5.5.2025
16

Tariffs Crush Sales Sentiment in April 2025 ECST Results

5.5.2025
52

Solid State Polymer Multilayer Capacitors For High Temperature Application

2.5.2025
19

Würth Elektronik Offers New Power Supplies Development Kit

29.4.2025
37

Bourns Extends Shielded Power Inductors by Four New Series

29.4.2025
18

binder Releases M12 Robust Stainless Steel Locking L- and T-coded Connectors

28.4.2025
5

April 2025 Interconnect, Passives and Electromechanical Components Market Insights

28.4.2025
69

Characterization of 70GHz Thin Film Chip Resistors

26.4.2025
51

Hirose Introduces One Action Top and Bottom Contact Connectors

25.4.2025
7

Upcoming Events

May 14
11:00 - 12:00 CEST

Reliable RIGID.flex PCBs for Critical Applications – Made in Europe

May 28
16:00 - 17:00 CEST

Power Over Data Line

View Calendar

Popular Posts

  • Buck Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boost Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Flyback Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tariffs Crush Sales Sentiment in April 2025 ECST Results

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What is a Dielectric Constant and DF of Plastic Materials?

    4 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 0
  • LLC Resonant Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ripple Current and its Effects on the Performance of Capacitors

    3 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 0
  • Flying Capacitors Explained

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Supercapacitors Emerge as a Promising Solution to AI-Induced Power Energy Spikes

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How to Design an Inductor

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter Subscription

 

Passive Components Blog

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • EPCI Membership & Advertisement
  • About

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Premium Suppliers

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version