Texas Instruments DRV8436ERGER

Overview

DRV8436ERGER from Texas Instruments is a dual H-bridge motor driver IC for bipolar stepper or dual brushed-DC motors, featuring integrated current sensing (±7.5% full-scale accuracy), 4.5–48 V operating supply range, 900 mΩ total R_DS(ON) (HS + LS) at 24 V/25°C, and Smart Tune dynamic decay control. It delivers up to 1.5-A full-scale or 1.1-A rms per bridge and supports PHASE/ENABLE interface.

For engineers reviewing the DRV8436ERGER datasheet, DRV8436ERGER pinout, DRV8436ERGER application, or DRV8436ERGER equivalent, this page provides verified functional identity, validated VQFN-24 pin mapping, confirmed current regulation architecture, thermal performance data, and real-world motor control use cases - all specific to the DRV8436ERGER variant.

Technical Context

The DRV8436ERGER integrates two independent N-channel H-bridges with internal current mirror-based sensing-eliminating external shunt resistors-and configurable off-time PWM chopping (7/16/24/32 μs). Its Smart Tune decay dynamically adjusts between slow, mixed, and fast decay modes per bridge based on real-time winding behavior and load transients.

Control is implemented via PHASE/ENABLE logic (not PWM), with dedicated ADECAY/BDECAY quad-level inputs selecting decay mode per bridge and TOFF setting off-time. Protection includes VM UVLO (4.25 V nominal), charge pump undervoltage detection, overcurrent shutdown (2.4-A peak), and thermal shutdown (150°C junction).

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

VQFN-24 package (4.0 mm × 4.0 mm) with exposed thermal pad; RoHS-compliant, moisture-sensitive level 2a.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar dual H-bridge motor driver applications.

Compared with DRV8436EPWPR, the DRV8436ERGER offers superior board-area efficiency but slightly higher thermal resistance; compared with DRV8412DWR, it provides dual-bridge integration, Smart Tune decay, and resistorless current sensing - at the cost of lower peak current rating.

Availability

DRV8436ERGER is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for printers and scanners, IP network cameras, ATMs and currency counters, and vacuum robotics requiring stable component supply across production lifecycles.

Supply support for DRV8436ERGER includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company specializing in analog and embedded processing technologies, with leadership in motor control, power management, and signal chain solutions.

The DRV8436E product line delivers highly integrated, thermally efficient dual H-bridge drivers for space-constrained industrial and consumer motion control applications - designed to reduce system cost and accelerate time-to-market.

FAQ

What is the control interface type supported by the DRV8436ERGER?

DRV8436ERGER uses a PHASE/ENABLE control interface - not PWM - where the PH input determines motor direction (forward/reverse) and the EN input enables or disables the H-bridge output stage. This interface reduces MCU GPIO requirements and eliminates the need for precise PWM timing generation. The DRV8436ERGER does not support PWM-only control; that functionality is exclusive to the DRV8436P variant.

How does the integrated current sensing in DRV8436ERGER eliminate external shunt resistors?

DRV8436ERGER implements an internal current mirror architecture that monitors the voltage drop across its own power MOSFETs during conduction, rather than relying on external shunt resistors. This approach achieves ±7.5% full-scale current accuracy while removing board space, power loss, and calibration overhead associated with discrete sense resistors - a key differentiator confirmed in the device's functional description and electrical characteristics table.

What decay modes are available on the DRV8436ERGER and how are they selected?

DRV8436ERGER supports Smart Tune Dynamic Decay, slow decay, mixed decay (30% fast), and fast decay - selected independently per H-bridge using the quad-level ADECAY and BDECAY pins. These pins accept resistor-divider or direct voltage configurations (0 V, Hi-Z, 330 kΩ to GND, or DVDD) to set decay behavior. Smart Tune automatically adapts decay mode each PWM cycle to minimize ripple while preserving step response - a feature explicitly documented in Section 7.3.4.4 of the datasheet.

What is the maximum continuous output current per bridge for DRV8436ERGER?

The DRV8436ERGER delivers up to 1.5-A full-scale or 1.1-A rms output current per H-bridge under recommended operating conditions - dependent on ambient temperature, supply voltage, and PCB thermal design. Peak current capability is 2.4 A, but sustained operation above 1.5 A requires careful thermal management due to the VQFN-24 package's R_θJA of 41.3°C/W. This specification is defined in Section 6.3 (Recommended Operating Conditions) and validated in thermal characterization data.

Does DRV8436ERGER include built-in protection features, and which ones are active?

Yes, DRV8436ERGER includes VM undervoltage lockout (UVLO at 4.25 V nominal), charge pump undervoltage (CPUV), overcurrent protection (OCP at 2.4-A peak), thermal shutdown (OTSD at 150°C junction), and fault reporting via open-drain nFAULT output. All protections are hardware-based, internally monitored, and asserted without software intervention - confirmed in Sections 1 (Features), 6.5 (Electrical Characteristics), and 7.3.5 (Protection Circuits) of the official datasheet.