Brushed DC motor driver with integrated current sensing saves power for 12- and 24-V motors

Texas Instruments has just released a family of three brushed DC gate drivers featuring the industry’s first device with integrated current sensing. With this integration, designers using the DRV8871 can avoid the power loss, heat generation and cost associated with using external sense resistors. Compared to competitive devices, the DRV8871 motor driver family helps reduce design complexity, power consumption and board space in end equipment such as multifunction printers, appliances and industrial machines.

• Reduced system complexity: When designing with the DRV8871, the elimination of discrete sense resistors reduces board space by up to 25 percent.
• Optimal power consumption: The devices use standard low-cost, low-power resistors to set the current threshold, limiting startup and stall inrush currents. The ability to limit current to a known level can significantly reduce the system power requirements and bulk capacitance needed to maintain a stable voltage, especially for motor startup and stall conditions.
• Simplified design: Board layout with accurate current regulation is simplified because no sense routing is required with the DRV8871.
• Wide supply range: The devices offer a wide 6.5- to 45-V motor-supply voltage to support industry-standard 12- and 24-V supplies.