ON Semiconductor Extends Current Range for Stepper Motor Designs

ON Semiconductor has extended its bipolar stepper motor control family to include two Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) versions of a motor driver capable of peak currents up to 800 milliamp (mA) and for use with an external microcontroller for added flexibility. The AMIS-30511 and AMIS-30512 eliminate the need for many external components, reducing system cost and bill of materials (BOM).



Both of the mixed-signal ICs contain two embedded H-bridges that can drive two-phase stepper motors with sustained peak currents up to 400 mA and maximum currents up to 800 mA for short duration. Each also allows a host microcontroller to detect blocked rotor and end-of-run conditions without additional switches, Hall sensors or optical encoders. In addition to stall detection, these functions allow the designer to program the microcontroller to calculate rotor position and to dynamically adjust current or speed as required to prevent step loss. This capability eliminates noise and vibration at end-stops and improves motion-control accuracy and reliability without additional components.

The AMIS-30511/512 include security cameras, building and industrial automation, motor control, textile processing, process equipment, robotics, HVAC and base station control and status. Available in a 24 pin SOIC package, unit pricing in quantities of 1000 start at US$3.81 for the AMIS-30511 and US$4.18 for the AMIS-30512.