3952
FULL-BRIDGE
PWM MOTOR DRIVER
115 Northeast Cutoff, Box 15036
Worcester, Massachusetts 01615-0036 (508) 853-5000
Brake Operation - MODE Input Low
During braking, with the MODE input low, the peak
current limit defaults internally to a value approximated by
ITRIP = 1.5 V/RS.
In this mode, the value of RS determines the ITRIP value
independent of VREF. This is useful in applications with
differing run and brake currents and no practical method of
varying VREF.
Choosing a small value for RS essentially disables the
current limiting during braking. Therefore, care should be
taken to ensure that the motor’s current does not exceed
the absolute maximum ratings of the device. The braking
current can be measured by using an oscilloscope with a
current probe connected to one of the motor’s leads.
RC Fixed OFF Time
The internal PWM current control circuitry uses a one
shot to control the time the driver(s) remain(s) OFF. The
one shot time, toff (fixed OFF time), is determined by the
selection of an external resistor (RT) and capacitor (CT)
connected in parallel from the RC terminal to ground. The
fixed OFF time, over a range of values of CT = 820 pF to
1500 pF and RT = 12 kΩ to 100 kΩ, is approximated by
toff = RTCT.
When the PWM latch is reset by the current compara-
tor, the voltage on the RC terminal will begin to decay from
approximately 3 volts. When the voltage on the RC
terminal reaches approximately 1.1 volt, the PWM latch is
set, thereby re-enabling the driver(s).
RC Blanking
In addition to determining the fixed OFF-time of the
PWM control circuit, the CT component sets the compara-
tor blanking time. This function blanks the output of the
comparator when the outputs are switched by the internal
current control circuitry (or by the PHASE, BRAKE, or
ENABLE inputs). The comparator output is blanked to
prevent false over-current detections due to reverse
recovery currents of the clamp diodes, and/or switching
transients related to distributed capacitance in the load.
During internal PWM operation, at the end of the toff
time, the comparator’s output is blanked and CT begins to
be charged from approximately 1.1 V by an internal current
source of approximately 1 mA. The comparator output
remains blanked until the voltage on CT reaches approxi-
mately 3.0 volts.
Similarly, when a transition of the PHASE input occurs,
CT is discharged to near ground during the crossover delay
time (the crossover delay time is present to prevent
simultaneous conduction of the source and sink drivers).
After the crossover delay, CT is charged by an internal
current source of approximately 1 mA. The comparator
output remains blanked until the voltage on CT reaches
approximately 3.0 volts.
Similarly, when the device is disabled via the ENABLE
input, CT is discharged to near ground. When the device is
re-enabled, CT is charged by the internal current source.
The comparator output remains blanked until the voltage
on CT reaches approximately 3.0 V.
For applications that use the internal fast-decay mode
PWM operation, the minimum recommended value is CT =
1200 pF ±5 %. For all other applications, the minimum
recommended value is CT = 820 pF ±5 %. These values
ensure that the blanking time is sufficient to avoid false
trips of the comparator under normal operating conditions.
For optimal regulation of the load current, the above
values for CT are recommended and the value of RT can
be sized to determine toff. For more information regarding
load current regulation, see below.
LOAD CURRENT REGULATION WITH THE INTERNAL
PWM CURRENT-CONTROL CIRCUITRY
When the device is operating in slow-decay mode,
there is a limit to the lowest level that the PWM current-
control circuitry can regulate load current. The limitation is
the minimum duty cycle, which is a function of the user-
selected value of toff and the maxuimum value of the
minimum ON-time pulse, ton(min), that occurs each time the
PWM latch is reset. If the motor is not rotating, as in the
case of a stepper motor in hold/detent mode, or a brush dc
motor when stalled or at startup, the worst-case value of
current regulation can be approximated by
I(AV) ≈ [(VBB – VSAT(source+sink)) • ton(min)max] – [1.05 (VSAT(sink) + VD) • toff]
1.05 (ton(min)max + toff) • RLOAD
where toff = RTCT, RLOAD is the series resistance of the
load, VBB is the load/motor supply voltage, and ton(min)max
is specified in the electrical characteristics table. When
the motor is rotating, the back EMF generated will influ-
ence the above relationship. For brush dc motor applica-
tions, the current regulation is improved. For stepper
motor applications when the motor is rotating, the effect is
more complex. A discussion of this subject is included in
the section on stepper motors under “Applications”.