Integration of a dedicated decoder cuts motor vibration

Tokyo--Toshiba Corporation today introduced a motor driver IC that uses the BiCD^* process to integrate Bipolar, CMOS and Double-diffused MOS (DMOS) devices on a single chip. Designed to control stepping motors in industrial applications and information equipment, including printers and facsimile machines, the new IC's high-voltage circuits achieve low power consumption (on-resistance: 0.5 ohm) and maximum voltage of 40V.

Conventional micro-step motor driver ICs require a microcomputer to process data and achieve smooth motor control. The new IC replaces this with a newly developed micro-step decoder. This highly sensitive device relies on the clock signal to achieve control.

The new IC, TB62209F, integrates Toshiba's proprietary Selectable Mixed Decay Mode (SMDM), which offers enhanced accuracy in reproducing the waveform of output electric current, which changes according to application. In addition The employment of four bit micro-step drive* with an embedded decoding circuit further dampens motor vibration.

The new IC will be housed in a Heat sink Small Outline Package (HSOP) with 36 pins that realizes miniaturization. Samples of TB62209F will be available from May 1, 2001, at a sample price of 450 yen. Mass production will start in June.

Background of Development

Stepping motors are used in factory and office automation applications including printers and facsimile machines. Driver ICs are used to enhance control accuracy, the speed of motor drive and to support high resolution printing in ink-jet printers. Driver ICs also reduce stepping motor's vibration.

The new IC integrates a decoder circuit that automatically generates a micro-step waveform from the external clock input. Low on-resistance, high accuracy control and high speed operation are enhanced by adopting high voltage BiCD process technology.

Outline of Specifications

• Micro-step drive provides effective driving of a stepping motor.
• The micro-step decoder automatically generates thee micro-step waveform from clock signal.
• The adoption of high voltage BiCD process, built-in FET output structure realizes a voltage of up to 40V, electric current of up to 1.5A, and a down on-resistance of 0.5 ohm. As a result, power consumption is only a third of that of Toshiba's current bipolar motor drive ICs.
• Accurate motor control and low vibration are achieved by Toshiba's proprietary SMDM and four-bit micro-step driver.
• Product miniaturization is enhanced by integration of the stepping motor control circuit and driver circuit in a single small package.
• The chip is packaged in an HSOP 36-pin package with 0.65-milimeter (mm) pin pitch.
• Protection circuits for excessive high temperature, over current and to monitor power supply (VDD, VM) are integrated into the chip. A caution output pin warns of irregularities, especially excessively high temperature.

Major Specifications