TI introduces industry's smallest 1.8-A brushed DC motor driver for battery powered applications

DALLAS, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) today expanded its growing family of low-voltage DRV8x motor drivers with the industry's smallest 1.8-A brushed DC motor driver. The DRV8837 is 75 percent smaller than the nearest competitor, enabling smaller, sleeker, more innovative system design. It also extends battery life and improves thermal performance in battery-powered or low-voltage motion control applications by reducing R_DS(ON) by 50 percent and sleep current by 75 percent, compared to existing devices. For more information or to place an order, visit http://www.ti.com/drv8837-pr.

Key features and benefits of the DRV8837:

• Extends battery life: Low R_DS(ON) of 280 milliohms and an ultra-low sleep current as low as 35 nA improve thermal performance and extend battery life in applications such as toys, gas or water smart meters, electronic locks, micro printers and cameras.  
• Improves performance: Separate logic and motor supplies improve performance in battery powered applications during start up and stall conditions.
• Wide/low-voltage operating range: 1.8-V to 11-V operating range supports up to 6-stack alkaline or 2-stack Li-ion battery pack applications.
• Reduces board space: Tiny 2-mm x 2-mm WSON package enables smaller, sleeker design.
• Advanced on-chip protection: Over-current, over-temperature, shoot-through and under-voltage protection increase system reliability and reduce design complexity.

Tools and support

The DRV8837 evaluation module is available today for a suggested retail price of US$25. Features of the DRV8837EVM include:

• On-board speed, sleep and direction controls.
• Micro-USB connection for easy evaluation/power-up.
• On-board MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) to fully evaluate DRV8837 performance with the added flexibility to use an external MCU.
• Easy access to critical control and test points.

Package, availability and pricing

The DRV8837 is available now in an 8-pin, 2-mm x 2-mm WSON package for US$0.45 in 1,000-unit quantities.

Drop in and spin with DRV8x motor drivers

DRV8x motor drivers integrate many of the functional blocks needed in a motor system, such as gate drive circuitry, MOSFETs, protection circuitry and current regulation circuitry. DRV8x motor drivers make it easy to drive a wide range of stepper, brushed DC and brushless DC motors in portable and wired applications, such as printers, video surveillance, fans, pumps, valves, power tools, textile manufacturing machines, e-locks and consumer electronics. 

Learn more about TI's motor control solutions by visiting the links below:

• Order samples of the DRV8837: www.ti.com/drv8837-pr.
• See the full portfolio of DRV8x motor drivers: www.ti.com/drv8x-pr.
• Ask questions, help solve problems in the Motor Drivers Forum in the TI E2E™ Community: www.ti.com/e2emotor-pr.
• Follow the musings of TI's motor experts in the Motor Solutions blog in the TI E2E Community: www.ti.com/motorblog-pr.
• Check out motor drive and control selection guides, training, videos, application notes and block diagrams: www.ti.com/motor-pr.

TI spins motors

TI combines a rich history in motor drive and control, a broad portfolio of analog and microcontroller products and a comprehensive offering of tools, software and support to deliver efficient, reliable, cost-effective motor solutions. Customers can get the right solutions at the right performance level to quickly spin any motor, including AC induction (ACIM), brushed DC, brushless DC (BLDC), PMSM and stepper.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 90,000 customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be – smarter, safer, greener, healthier and more fun. Our commitment to building a better future is ingrained in everything we do – from the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities. This is just the beginning of our story.  Learn more at www.ti.com.

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SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated