A3981
Automotive, Programmable Stepper Driver
Description
Features and Benefits
TheA3981isaflexiblemicrosteppingmotordriverwithbuilt-in
• Peak motor current up to ±1.4 A, 28 V
translatorforeasyoperation.Itisasingle-chipsolution,designed
to operate bipolar stepper motors in full-, half-, quarter- and
sixteenth-step modes, at up to 28 V and ±1.4 A. The A3981
can be controlled by simple Step and Direction inputs, or
through the SPI-compatible serial interface that also can be
used to program many of the integrated features and to read
diagnostic information.
• Low RDS(on) outputs, 0.5 Ω source and sink, typical
• Automatic current decay mode detection/selection
• Mixed, Fast, and Slow current decay modes
• Synchronous rectification for low power dissipation
• Internal OVLO, UVLO, and Thermal Shutdown circuitry
• Crossover-current protection
• Short circuit and open load diagnostics
• Hot and cold thermal warning
• Stall detect features
• SPI-compatible or simple Step and Direction motion control
• Highly configurable via SPI-compatible serial interface
The current regulator can be programmed to operate in fixed
off-time or fixed frequency PWM, with several decay modes
to reduce audible motor noise and increase step accuracy.
In addition the phase current tables can be programmed via
the serial interface to create unique microstep current
profiles to further improve motor performance for
specific applications.
Applications
• Automotive stepper motors
• Engine management
The current in each phase of the motor is controlled through a
DMOS full bridge, using synchronous rectification to improve
power dissipation. Internal circuits and timers prevent cross-
conduction and shoot-through, when switching between high-
side and low-side drives.
• Headlamp positioning
Package: 28-pin TSSOP with exposed
thermal pad (suffix LP)
The outputs are protected from short circuits, and features
for low load current and stalled rotor detection are included.
Chip-levelprotectionincludes:hotandcoldthermalwarnings,
overtemperature shutdown, and overvoltage and undervoltage
lockout.
TheA3981 is supplied in a 28-pin TSSOPpower package with
an exposed thermal pad (package type LP). This package is
lead (Pb) free with 100% matte-tin leadframe plating.
Not to scale
Typical Applications
Automotive
12V Power Net
Automotive
12V Power Net
Logic
Supply
Logic
Supply
CP1 CP2
VDD
STEP
DIR
MS0
MS1
ENABLE
RESETn
DIAG
CP1 CP2
VDD
STEP
DIR
MS0
MS1
ENABLE
RESETn
DIAG
VCP VBB
OAP
VCPVBB
OAP
OAM
OAM
Micro-
controller
or
Micro-
controller
or
Stepper
Motor
Stepper
Motor
REF
REF
OBP
OBM
OBP
OBM
SDI
SDI
ECU
ECU
SDO
SCK
STRn
SDO
SCK
STRn
VREG
VREG
SENSA
SENSB
SENSA
SENSB
OSC
OSC
AGND PGND
AGND PGND
Serial Interface Control
Parallel Control
A3981-DS, Rev. 4