IC Drives Both DC and Stepper Motors

Allegro MicroSystems, LLC has announced a 40-volt motor driver IC capable of driving one stepper motor and one DC motor. The stepper driver outputs are rated up to 1.6 A and the DC driver at 3.2 A. Allegro’s A5989 includes fixed off-time pulse width modulation (PWM) current regulators, along with two-bit nonlinear DACs (digital-to-analog converters) that allow stepper motors to be controlled in full, half and quarter step. This device targets the consumer, industrial and office automation markets with end applications that include point of sale, lottery, ticketing, laser, inkjet and label printers, copiers, vending and ATM machines.

Allegro A5989 motor driver IC. Source: Allegro The A5989 stepper driver PWM current regulator uses the Allegro® patented mixed-decay mode for reduced audible motor noise, increased step accuracy and reduced power dissipation. The DC driver can operate in forward, reverse, coast and brake modes with either fast or slow PWM decay control.

Protection features include thermal shutdown with hysteresis, under voltage lockout (UVLO), crossover current and over-current protection. Low-current sleep mode is included to improve efficiency.

The A5989 is supplied in a leadless 6 mm x 6 mm x 0.9 mm, 36-pin QFN package with exposed power tab for enhanced thermal performance. List price is $2.07 each in quantities of 1,000.