ROHM Semiconductor USA LLC (www.rohmelectronics.com) is proud to introduce its new high-reliability, high-performance stepper motor drivers that offer selectable excitation modes-full-step to 16th-step with 1.0A or 2.0A output current and full-step to 8th-step with 2.5A output current. The microstep drivers allow designers to optimize motor torque, vibration and noise for a variety of applications.

The selectable current decay pattern (MIXED/FAST/SLOW decay modes) further improves motor performance. Its circuit design is simplified by a combination of features, which include an internal voltage regulator, DMOS output and control input translator. Its built-in regulator allows operation from a single 36V (max) supply. A single clock (CLK) input instead of parallel control lines is converted by the equipment’s internal translator into motor drive signals. Moreover, the advanced DMOS (Pch + Nch) output topology from ROHM eliminates the need for external charge pump components.

The new microstep drivers from ROHM are the newest addition to the ROHM Stepper Motor Driver Series. They incorporate overvoltage, undervoltage, thermal and overcurrent protection not typically included in motor driver ICs. The series features the company’s unique Ghost Supply Prevention (GSP) function, which prevents aberrant operation during off mode.

“The combination of ROHM’s advanced power semiconductor process technology and enhanced packaging has resulted in exceptional motor driver solutions. Packaging benefits include bottom-side heat sinking to simplify thermal design, adjacent-pin short protection on most models to reduce production and field failures, as well as pin-compatibility among parts with different current ratings,” said Jeremy Bridges, Field Application Engineer of ROHM Semiconductor.