STMicro delivers highly flexible motor controls

By Heather Hamilton, contributing writer

STMicroelectronics recently launched the STSPIN830 and STSPIN840, a series of low- to mid- power motor controls in the 7-V to 45-V range. The single-chip drivers come complete with low-RDS_(ON) power switches and contain flexible control logic. The devices are well-suited for industrial applications, home appliances, and medical technology.  

With a mode-setting pin that allows users to control the three half-bridges of the integrated power stage with direct U, V, and W pulse-width modulated inputs, the STSPIN830 for driving three-phase brushless DC motors also allows users to apply signals to individual gates, making it highly flexible. There is also a dedicated sense pin for each inverter leg designed to make it easy to set up three-shunt or single-shunt current sensing for field-oriented control.

The STSPIN840 drives two brushed DC motors or a bigger motor uses ST’s paralleling concept, which allows integrated full bridges to be configured as separate bridges. Alternatively, a single bridge can be configured using two sets of MOSFETs in parallel for higher current rating and lower RDS_(ON) .    

The pair of drivers contain PWM current-control circuitry with adjustable off-time, a standby pin that will allow for power saving, and circuitry with protection to include non-dissipative overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, under-voltage lockout, thermal shutdown, and interlocking.

The device’s integrated power stage comes with MOSFETs with low RDS_(ON) of only 500 mΩ, which STMicroelectronics said makes them efficient and economical. The STSPIN840 also allow a user to trim the bill of materials for multi-motor applications thanks to the capability of using the output bridges individually or connected in parallel.

Target applications include industrial, robotics, medical, building automation, and office equipment. The STSPIN830 is suited for factory automation end points, home appliances, small pumps, and fans for computer and general cooling, while the STSPIN840 targets ATM and other money machines, multi-axis stage lighting mechanisms, thermal printers, textile and sewing machines, and vending machines.

Both devices (4 x 4 mm QFN) are in production. Pricing for both starts at $1.25 for orders of 1,000.