STMicroelectronics – powerSTEP™ Integrated stepper Motor Driver
powerSTEP widens ST’s motor control ICs offer with a highly integrated system-in-package for stepper motors. The power section, rated 85 V and 10 ARMS, is built with eight N channel, low RDS(on), 16-mΩ MOSFETs and is protected against over current and motor stall.
An advanced digital controller ensures smooth motion and accurate positioning with 1/128 step resolution and speed profile generation programmable through SPI-accessible registers.
Key Features:
- Dual full bridge with RDS(on) = 16 mΩ
- 10 ARMS maximum output current
- Smoothness with up to 1/128 micro-steps/step
- Operating voltage: 7.5 V – 85 V
- Easily programmable with SPI
- Programmable speed profile and positioning
- Adjustable output slew rate
- Sensorless stall detection
- Full set of protection functions
Key applications:
High-power bipolar stepper motors for:
- Stage lighting
- Surveillance systems
- Textile and sewing machines
- Pick-and-place machines
Innovation in motion
powerSTEP is an innovative system-in-package that integrates a fully digital programmable microstepping controller (1/128 micro-steps) and 8 N-channel 16 mΩ discrete MOSFETs in dual full bridge configuration. It is hosted in a small 11 x 14 mm2 VQFN package and it is suitable for stepper motor applications requiring up to 85 V and 10 A.
The controller can autonomously generate motion profiles with acceleration/deceleration ramps and velocity and position targets; all programmable through a set of commands and registers accessible via a standard 5-Mbit/s SPI. Support for daisy-chain operations in multimotor applications helps save resources and I/Os on the host microcontroller.
Similarly, analog parameters setting – such as current protection trip point, dead-time, slew-rate, PWM frequency – can be performed on-the-fly just by changing the content of the appropriate register.
powerSTEP supports both current and voltage control modes to help optimize the design within a wider range of application requirements. The voltage control mode does not require external sense resistors and provides a smoother motion.
An extensive set of diagnostic features and protections, including thermal, low bus voltage, non-dissipative overcurrent and motor stall protection, makes the powerSTEP “bullet proof” as required by the most demanding motor control applications.
Device summary
Order code: POWERSTEP01/POWERSTEP01TR
Package: VFQFPN 11 x 14 x 1.0 mm
Packing: Tube/Tape & reel
Evaluation board: EVLPOWERSTEP01
