Product details

Number of full bridges 1 Vs (min) (V) 4.5 Vs ABS (max) (V) 40 Peak output current (A) 3.7 RDS(ON) (HS + LS) (mΩ) 600 Control mode PWM Control interface I2C Features Current sense output, Stall Detection Rating Catalog Operating temperature range (°C) -40 to 125
Number of full bridges 1 Vs (min) (V) 4.5 Vs ABS (max) (V) 40 Peak output current (A) 3.7 RDS(ON) (HS + LS) (mΩ) 600 Control mode PWM Control interface I2C Features Current sense output, Stall Detection Rating Catalog Operating temperature range (°C) -40 to 125
WQFN (RTE) 16 9 mm² 3 x 3

  • N-channel H-bridge brushed DC motor driver
  • 4.5-V to 38-V operating supply voltage range
  • Ripple counting feature for:
    • On-chip Speed and Position detection
    • Integrated Voltage and Speed regulation
  • Soft-Start and Stop feature for inrush current protection
  • 600-mΩ RDS(on) (High-Side + Low-Side)
  • High output current capability: 3.7-A Peak, 2-A RMS
  • PWM with I2C control interface
    • Configuration and diagnostics on I2C registers
    • Multi-follower operation support
    • Supports standard and fast I2C mode
  • Supports 3.3-V, and 5-V logic inputs
  • Integrated current sensing and current regulation
  • Analog current sense output (IPROPI)
  • Internal charge pump with 100% duty cycle
  • Long battery life with low-power sleep mode
    • < 1 µA maximum sleep current
  • Small package and footprint
    • 16-Pin WQFN with PowerPAD™, 3 × 3 mm
  • Integrated protection features
    • VM undervoltage lockout (UVLO)
    • Overcurrent protection (OCP)
    • Thermal shutdown (TSD)
    • Stall detection
    • Overvoltage protection (OVP)

  • N-channel H-bridge brushed DC motor driver
  • 4.5-V to 38-V operating supply voltage range
  • Ripple counting feature for:
    • On-chip Speed and Position detection
    • Integrated Voltage and Speed regulation
  • Soft-Start and Stop feature for inrush current protection
  • 600-mΩ RDS(on) (High-Side + Low-Side)
  • High output current capability: 3.7-A Peak, 2-A RMS
  • PWM with I2C control interface
    • Configuration and diagnostics on I2C registers
    • Multi-follower operation support
    • Supports standard and fast I2C mode
  • Supports 3.3-V, and 5-V logic inputs
  • Integrated current sensing and current regulation
  • Analog current sense output (IPROPI)
  • Internal charge pump with 100% duty cycle
  • Long battery life with low-power sleep mode
    • < 1 µA maximum sleep current
  • Small package and footprint
    • 16-Pin WQFN with PowerPAD™, 3 × 3 mm
  • Integrated protection features
    • VM undervoltage lockout (UVLO)
    • Overcurrent protection (OCP)
    • Thermal shutdown (TSD)
    • Stall detection
    • Overvoltage protection (OVP)

The DRV8234 is a high-performance integrated H-bridge motor driver with integrated speed and position detection using ripple counting along with additional features like motor speed and voltage regulation, stall detection, current sense output, current regulation, and protection circuitry.

The integrated ripple counting algorithm counts the number of ripples in the motor current to determine motor relative position and speed eliminating the potential need for encoders, hall sensors, or optical sensors. This reduces board space and design complexity, and saves on overall system cost. Integrated speed regulation is used to maintain constant motor speed over varying input supply voltages which minimizes current consumption and saves power over time. This is critical in applications that have different loading conditions or rely on battery power for operation where the input voltage is not constant. Soft-start and stop allows for a controlled turn-on and turn-off time, reducing large inrush currents to protect the motor windings from damage, thereby increasing system reliability and longevity.

An internal current mirror implements current sensing and regulation. This eliminates the need for a large power shunt resistor, saving board area and reducing system cost. The IPROPI current sense output allows a microcontroller to detect motor stall or changes in load conditions. Using the VREF pin, this device can regulate the motor current during startup and high-load events without interaction from a microcontroller. The device supports sensorless motor stall detection and reporting to microcontroller.

The DRV8234 is a high-performance integrated H-bridge motor driver with integrated speed and position detection using ripple counting along with additional features like motor speed and voltage regulation, stall detection, current sense output, current regulation, and protection circuitry.

The integrated ripple counting algorithm counts the number of ripples in the motor current to determine motor relative position and speed eliminating the potential need for encoders, hall sensors, or optical sensors. This reduces board space and design complexity, and saves on overall system cost. Integrated speed regulation is used to maintain constant motor speed over varying input supply voltages which minimizes current consumption and saves power over time. This is critical in applications that have different loading conditions or rely on battery power for operation where the input voltage is not constant. Soft-start and stop allows for a controlled turn-on and turn-off time, reducing large inrush currents to protect the motor windings from damage, thereby increasing system reliability and longevity.

An internal current mirror implements current sensing and regulation. This eliminates the need for a large power shunt resistor, saving board area and reducing system cost. The IPROPI current sense output allows a microcontroller to detect motor stall or changes in load conditions. Using the VREF pin, this device can regulate the motor current during startup and high-load events without interaction from a microcontroller. The device supports sensorless motor stall detection and reporting to microcontroller.

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Technical documentation

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Type Title Date
* Data sheet DRV8234 2-A Brushed DC Motor Driver with Ripple Counting, Stall Detection, and Speed Regulation datasheet PDF | HTML 30 Aug 2022
Application note Solving Sensorless Brushed DC Motor Speed and Position Control Using Ripple Counting (Rev. A) PDF | HTML 29 May 2024
EVM User's guide DRV821x and DRV823x Evaluation Module User's Guide (Rev. A) PDF | HTML 03 Apr 2024
Application brief Sensorless Position Control For Brushed DC Motors PDF | HTML 02 Feb 2024
Certificate DRV8234EVM EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) 19 Sep 2023

Design & development

For additional terms or required resources, click any title below to view the detail page where available.

Evaluation board

DRV8234EVM — DRV8234 evaluation module for brushed DC motor driver with stall detection and ripple counting

The DRV8234 evaluation module (EVM) allows for easy evaluation of the DRV8234 device. The EVM has been programmed and configured to work out of the box and begin spinning motors right away.

The DRV8234 is an integrated motor driver with N-channel H-bridge, charge pump, current sense output, (...)

User guide: PDF | HTML
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WQFN (RTE) 16 Ultra Librarian

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