• PWM Microstepping Motor Driver
  • Built-In Microstepping Indexer
  • Up to 1/32 Microstepping
  • Step/Direction Control
• Multiple Decay Modes
  • Adaptive Decay
  • Mixed Decay
  • Slow Decay
  • Fast Decay
• Configurable Off-Time PWM Chopping
  • 10-, 20-, or 30-μs Off-Time
• Adaptive Blanking Time for Smooth Stepping
• 4- to 18-V Operating Supply Voltage Range
• 1-A Continuous/RMS Output Current per H-Bridge (at 25°C)
• Low-Current Sleep Mode
• 3-Bit Torque DAC to Scale Motor Current
• Thermally Enhanced Surface Mount Package
• Protection Features
  • VM Undervoltage Lockout (UVLO)
  • Overcurrent Protection (OCP)
  • Thermal Shutdown (TSD)
  • Fault Condition Indication Pin (nFAULT)

• Printers
• Scanners
• Video Security Cameras
• Projectors

The DRV8846 provides a highly-integrated stepper motor driver for cameras, printers, projectors, and other automated equipment applications. The device has two H-bridges and a microstepping indexer and is intended to drive a bipolar stepper motor. The output block of each H-bridge driver consists of N-channel and P-channel power MOSFETs configured as full H-bridges to drive the motor windings. The DRV8846 is capable of driving up to 1-A full scale output current (with proper heatsinking and TA = 25°C).

A simple STEP/DIR interface allows easy interfacing to controller circuits. Pins allow configuration of the motor in full-step up to 1/32-step modes. Decay mode is configurable so that adaptive decay, slow decay, fast decay, and mixed decay can be used. The PWM current chopping off-time can also be selected. A low-power sleep mode is provided which shuts down internal circuitry to achieve very-low quiescent current draw. This sleep mode can be set using a dedicated nSLEEP pin.

Internal protection functions are provided for UVLO, overcurrent protection, short circuit protection, and overtemperature. Fault conditions are indicated via a nFAULT pin.