AnalogySemi Motor Drivers

AnalogySemi offers three main types of motor drivers: BLDC (Brushless DC) motor drivers for high-efficiency motor control, stepper motor drivers for precise position control, and DC brushed motor drivers for simple speed control applications. The BLDC drivers support sensorless and sensored control algorithms with integrated commutation logic. Stepper drivers provide microstepping capability up to 1/32 step for smooth motion. DC drivers offer simple PWM speed control with integrated H-bridge configuration.

Identify your motor type first, then select the appropriate driver category based on your control precision and efficiency requirements.

Integrated MOSFET drivers (like ANB8010) are suitable for low-to-medium power applications up to 5A, offering compact size and simplified design. External MOSFET drivers (like ANB8200) provide flexibility for high-current applications above 5A, allowing custom MOSFET selection for specific thermal and efficiency requirements. Integrated solutions reduce BOM count and PCB area, while external solutions offer better thermal management and scalability for high-power designs.

Choose integrated drivers for applications under 5A requiring compact size. Choose external MOSFET drivers for high-current applications or when custom thermal design is needed.

AnalogySemi motor drivers include comprehensive protection features: Overcurrent Protection (OCP) with adjustable threshold, Thermal Shutdown (TSD) with hysteresis, Undervoltage Lockout (UVLO) to prevent erratic operation, Overvoltage Protection (OVP) for transient suppression, and Shoot-Through Prevention in half-bridge configurations. Advanced drivers also include Stall Detection for stepper motors and Back-EMF sensing for BLDC sensorless control.

Evaluate your application's fault conditions and select drivers with appropriate protection features. Contact our FAE team for protection feature recommendations.

Sensorless BLDC control uses Back-EMF zero-crossing detection to determine rotor position, eliminating the need for Hall sensors. This reduces cost and wiring complexity but requires specific starting algorithms and may have limitations at very low speeds. Sensored control uses Hall effect sensors to detect rotor position, providing reliable operation at all speeds including startup, but requires additional wiring and sensor cost. AnalogySemi offers drivers supporting both methods, with the ANB8100 series optimized for sensorless and ANB8200 supporting both modes.

Choose sensorless for cost-sensitive applications with moderate speed ranges. Choose sensored for applications requiring reliable low-speed operation or precise position control.

Motor driver current rating should be based on the motor's stall current (locked rotor current), not the rated operating current. Calculate stall current using Ohm's Law: I_stall = V_supply / R_winding. Select a driver with peak current rating at least 1.5x the stall current for reliable operation. For continuous operation, ensure the driver's RMS current rating exceeds the motor's rated current. Consider thermal resistance and PCB heat sinking when operating near maximum current ratings.

Measure or calculate your motor's stall current, then select a driver with at least 1.5x margin. Contact our FAE team for thermal analysis assistance.