This Product Selection Guide contains information to help select products in the Motor Drivers, Controllers category on DigiKey.com
Products in the motor driver and controller PMIC (Power Management Integrated Circuit) family are used to control or manipulate the application of power from some source to electric motors or related electromechanical actuators. The precise functionality and feature sets implemented vary widely depending on the characteristics of the intended load and expected application, ranging from simple open-loop speed control for brushed motors to advanced, closed-loop, stepper-based motion control.
SelectionCharacteristics
Motor Type - Stepper: The specific type(s) of stepper motors that a device is advertised to drive or control.
Motor Type - AC, DC: The type(s) of non-stepper motors that a device is advertised to drive or control.
Function: Denotes the primary purpose of the device and its role within the system.
Output Configuration: Denotes which type of driver circuitry the device incorporates and what the specific circuit pattern of its driving output will be.
Interface: Indication of which interface(s) or protocol(s) are used by the device to communicate with other components in the system.
Technology: Denotes the fundamental building block technology used in the device’s construction, determining characteristics of its behavior and performance.
Step Resolution: Enumerates (micro)step resolutions supported by a controller; the fractions of a full output step that a device can be configured to generate.
Applications: Application is the type of equipment or environment the device will be used in, typically they are tested and rated by a third party to ensure certain minimum standards for the application they are intended for.
Current - Output: The maximum amount of current that can be output by the device.
Voltage - Supply: Typically represented by a range, this indicates the low and high voltage limits which one can expect standard operation. Voltages outside this range may damage the device and other system components.
Voltage - Load: Indicates the maximum voltage that can be controlled by a device’s output stage; may be distinct and different from that which is required for powering a device’s internal workings.
Operating Temperature: Recommended operating temperature, typically given in a range or as a maximum. Exceeding these temperatures may affect performance or damage the device and other system components.
Mounting Type: Indicates how the device is attached.
Package / Case: Indicates the type of protective case used on an electronic component to allow easy handling, installation, and protection. This selection was determined to be the closest industry standard applicable to the supplier device packaging. Typically it is best to check the actual dimensions from the datasheet rather than depend on this terminology when designing your circuit.
Supplier Device Package: This is what the manufacturer calls the package of this device. They are manufacturer specific. It is typically best to use the actual dimensions from the datasheets rather than to go by this terminology when designing your circuit.
ProductExamples
| MFR PART # | A3908EEETR-T |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | 620-1282-2-ND - Tape & Reel (TR) |
| MANUFACTURER | Allegro MicroSystems |
| DESCRIPTION | Motor Driver Power MOSFET Parallel 8-DFN (2x2) |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | LMD18245T/NOPB |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | LMD18245T/NOPB-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Texas Instruments |
| DESCRIPTION | Bipolar Motor Driver Bi-CMOS, DMOS Parallel TO-220-15 |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | SLA7073MPRT |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | SLA7073MPRT-ND |
| MANUFACTURER | Sanken Electric USA Inc. |
| DESCRIPTION | Unipolar Motor Driver Power MOSFET Parallel 23-ZIP (SLA) |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
| MFR PART # | ZXBM5210-SP-13 |
|---|---|
| DIGI-KEY PART # | ZXBM5210-SP-13DITR-ND - Tape & Reel (TR) |
| MANUFACTURER | Diodes Incorporated |
| DESCRIPTION | Motor Driver Power MOSFET PWM 8-SO-EP |
| DATASHEET | Click Here |
MediaLinks
Videos
Choosing the Right Motor Driver
Engineer It – When to use a pre-driver vs. an integrated motor driver
Engineer It - Thermal considerations when selecting an integrated motor driver
Articles
Integrated Gate Drivers Reduce BLDC Footprint
Optimizing BLDC Motor Drive Performance
An Introduction to Brushless DC Motor Control
New Stepper Motor ICs Simplify Security Camera
Product Training Modules
General Purpose Motor Drivers - onsemi
Cooling Fan Motor Drivers - onsemi
Integrated Stepper Motor Drives - ROHM
Blogs
BLDC Motor Sensorless Field Oriented Control
Implementing Efficient Motion Control Profiles
TechForum
Calculating Motor Driver Power Dissipation