Texas Instruments DRV8823DCA

Overview

DRV8823DCA from Texas Instruments is a dual stepper motor driver IC integrating four N-channel H-bridge drivers, serial digital control interface, and PWM current regulation for bipolar stepper motors. It operates from 8 V to 32 V, delivers up to 1.5 A per winding, supports 3-bit programmable current scaling (20–100% full-scale), and implements slow/mixed decay modes - used in printers, scanners, and office automation equipment requiring precise microstepping control.

For engineers reviewing the DRV8823DCA datasheet, DRV8823DCA pinout, DRV8823DCA application, or DRV8823DCA equivalent, this page provides verified technical context, validated pin functions, confirmed thermal and electrical specifications, real-world application mappings, and two rigorously validated alternative parts with documented functional and application differences.

Technical Context

The DRV8823DCA integrates four independent NMOS H-bridges (A/B/C/D) with dedicated current sense inputs (ISENA–ISEND), reference voltage inputs (ABVREF, CDVREF), and output pins (AOUT1/AOUT2, BOUT1/BOUT2, COUT1/COUT2, DOUT1/DOUT2). Each bridge supports 3-bit current scaling (eight discrete levels) and selectable decay mode (slow or mixed, with 75% fast-decay portion).

It employs fixed-frequency PWM current chopping at 50 kHz (factory-optional 100 kHz), uses an internal charge pump (VCP ≈ 12 V relative to VM) for gate drive, and includes built-in 3.3-V regulator (V3P3) with 3.2–3.4 V output. Protection includes overcurrent (IOCP = 1.5–4.5 A), thermal shutdown (TTSD = 150 °C), undervoltage lockout (VUVLO = 6.5–8 V), and shoot-through prevention.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

DRV8823DCA is housed in a thermally enhanced 48-pin HTSSOP package (6.10 mm × 12.50 mm), with exposed thermal pad connected to PGND pins (10–15, 34–39) that must be soldered to copper heatsink area.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar dual stepper motor driver applications.

Compared with TB6600HG and LV8729V, the DRV8823DCA uniquely balances serial configurability, integrated power management (charge pump + V3P3), and 1.5-A capability in a thermally optimized HTSSOP package - making it optimal for compact, intelligent office automation motion subsystems requiring firmware-controlled current and decay tuning.

Availability

DRV8823DCA is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for printer paper feed mechanisms, scanner carriage drives, office document handlers, and gaming machine ticket dispensers requiring stable component supply across multi-year production cycles.

Supply support for DRV8823DCA 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 leader specializing in analog, embedded processing, and power management technologies, with decades of motor control IP and automotive-grade reliability validation.

The DRV8823DCA belongs to TI's precision motor driver product line, engineered specifically for mid-power office automation and industrial motion applications demanding integrated protection, serial configurability, and thermal resilience in surface-mount packages.

FAQ

What is the maximum continuous output current per winding for the DRV8823DCA?

The DRV8823DCA supports 1.5 A continuous current per winding at T_A = 25 °C on a JEDEC high-K board. This value decreases with rising ambient temperature and depends on PCB copper area and airflow. Derating curves in the datasheet (R_θJA = 31.3 °C/W) must be applied for designs operating above 25 °C ambient or with limited heatsinking. The DRV8823DCA will enter thermal shutdown if junction temperature exceeds 150 °C.

Does the DRV8823DCA require external components for gate drive or logic supply?

No - the DRV8823DCA integrates both an internal charge pump (generating ~12 V relative to VM for NMOS gate drive) and a 3.3-V linear regulator (V3P3 output). External components required are only: 0.01-μF CP1–CP2 flying capacitor, 0.1-μF VCP-to-VM capacitor, 0.47-μF V3P3 bypass capacitor, and current sense resistors on ISENA–ISEND pins. No external gate drivers or logic LDOs are needed.

How does the DRV8823DCA implement microstepping?

The DRV8823DCA achieves microstepping through its 3-bit per-bridge current control (AI[2:0], BI[2:0], etc.), which scales winding current to 8 discrete levels (20–100% of full scale). Combined with external step sequencing logic (e.g., MCU firmware), it enables fractional steps such as 1/8-step. Decay mode selection (slow or mixed) further refines torque linearity and low-speed smoothness - critical for quiet, jitter-free motion in office equipment.

What protection features are built into the DRV8823DCA?

The DRV8823DCA includes overcurrent protection (OCP) with analog current limiting and digital trip detection, thermal shutdown (TSD) at 150 °C, undervoltage lockout (UVLO) at 6.5–8 V on VM, and shoot-through prevention circuitry. All protections disable outputs and require VM power cycle or RESETn assertion to recover - ensuring fail-safe behavior in printers, scanners, and automated kiosks.

Can the DRV8823DCA drive two stepper motors simultaneously and independently?

Yes - the DRV8823DCA contains four fully independent H-bridges (A/B for Motor 1, C/D for Motor 2), each with dedicated current reference (ABVREF/CDVREF), sense (ISENA–ISEND), and control bits (xENBL, xPHASE, xDECAY, xI[2:0]) in its 16-bit serial registers. This allows simultaneous, asynchronous control of two bipolar stepper motors with different current profiles, decay modes, and stepping sequences - essential for multi-axis office automation systems.