The new IC adopts a four-port interface control technique using the PHASE and ENABLE signals. Control is achieved with only three ports, unlike previous devices that required all four ports for complete stepper motor control. This addresses the challenges in applications where a lack of MCU control ports is a problem.
The TC78H620FNG is compatible with low-voltage drives (2.5V and above for the motor driver, 2.7V and above for the logic controller), making it suitable for mobile devices with a 3.7V lithium-ion battery. It can control either two brushed DC motors or a single stepper motor. A maximum current draw of 1µA in standby mode contributes to low power consumption.
The new Toshiba controller comes in a compact SSOP16 package, allowing for a smaller mounting footprint and helping to reduce board size and cost. Built-in motor protection and safety features include overcurrent detection, thermal shutdown, and undervoltage lockout functionality. Additionally, shoot-through current protection supports motor control without the need to account for downtime when switching the output to ON/OFF.
Note: [1] H bridge: a circuit formed by the alignment of transistors in the shape of an H. It is used to control brushed DC motors and stepper motors with "forward" and "reverse" control.
