Texas Instruments DRV8823QDCARQ1

Overview

DRV8823QDCARQ1 from Texas Instruments is an AEC-Q100 Grade 1 automotive-qualified quad H-bridge motor driver IC for dual stepper or multi-DC motor control. It delivers up to 1.5-A per winding, operates from 8 V to 32 V, supports 50 kHz (or factory-optional 100 kHz) PWM current chopping, and integrates charge pump gate drive and programmable microstepping via serial interface - used in automotive seat adjusters, HVAC actuators, and electronic throttle control modules.

For engineers reviewing the DRV8823QDCARQ1 datasheet, DRV8823QDCARQ1 pinout, DRV8823QDCARQ1 application, or DRV8823QDCARQ1 equivalent, key selection considerations include its four independent H-bridges with three-bit per-bridge current scaling (eight discrete levels), selectable slow/mixed decay modes, integrated 3.3-V regulator, and thermal/overcurrent/UVLO protection architecture.

Technical Context

The DRV8823QDCARQ1 implements fixed-frequency PWM current regulation using external sense resistors and internal 5× gain amplifiers referenced to ABVREF/CDVREF pins. Each of the four H-bridges uses N-channel MOSFETs with shoot-through prevention logic and configurable decay timing (75% mixed-decay duty cycle).

Its serial interface accepts 16-bit LSB-first commands with dual-register addressing (Motor 1: Bridges A/B; Motor 2: Bridges C/D), enabling independent phase, enable, decay mode, and 3-bit current level control per bridge - all synchronized by SCLK, latched on SSTB, and selected via SCS.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

DRV8823QDCARQ1 is housed in a thermally enhanced 48-pin HTSSOP package (12.50 mm × 6.10 mm), with exposed thermal pad connected to PGND pins (10–15, 34–39) and soldered to copper heatsink area for optimal power dissipation.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with DRV8823QDCARQ1, DRV8825QPWPRQ1 offers greater current and microstepping but sacrifices serial flexibility and compact 48-pin layout; TC78H660FNG reduces integration and thermal capability to meet aggressive cost targets - making DRV8823QDCARQ1 the balanced choice for serial-controlled dual-stepper automotive subsystems.

Availability

DRV8823QDCARQ1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive seat control, HVAC actuation, electronic throttle systems, and steering column adjustment requiring stable component supply across extended temperature and long product lifecycles.

Supply support for DRV8823QDCARQ1 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 delivering analog, embedded processing, and connectivity solutions with deep automotive qualification expertise and ISO/TS 16949-certified manufacturing.

DRV8823QDCARQ1 belongs to TI's automotive-grade motor driver portfolio designed specifically for functional-safety-critical body electronics - emphasizing robustness, thermal resilience, and AEC-Q100-compliant fault coverage.

FAQ

What is the maximum continuous current per winding for DRV8823QDCARQ1?

The DRV8823QDCARQ1 supports up to 1.5-A continuous current per winding at TA = 25°C with adequate PCB copper area and airflow. This rating decreases with rising ambient temperature and is limited by thermal resistance (RθJA = 31.3°C/W) and power dissipation - actual usable current must be validated against junction temperature limits (150°C) in the final layout. DRV8823QDCARQ1 datasheet Section 6.3 confirms IMOT = 1.5 A max under recommended conditions.

Does DRV8823QDCARQ1 require external components for gate driving?

No, DRV8823QDCARQ1 integrates a charge pump (CP1/CP2/VCP pins) that generates ~12 V above VM to fully enhance its internal N-channel high-side FETs - eliminating external bootstrap diodes or capacitors. A 0.01-μF flying capacitor between CP1–CP2 and a 0.1-μF storage capacitor from VCP to VM are required, but no external gate drivers are needed. This is confirmed in DRV8823QDCARQ1 Functional Block Diagram (Section 7.2) and Pin Functions table.

How does the serial interface of DRV8823QDCARQ1 configure microstepping?

DRV8823QDCARQ1 achieves microstepping via three serial bits (xI2:xI1:xI0) per H-bridge, selecting one of eight current levels (20–100% of full-scale) to shape winding current waveforms. These bits are programmed in separate 16-bit registers for Motor 1 (Bridges A/B) and Motor 2 (Bridges C/D), as defined in Tables 3 and 4 of the DRV8823QDCARQ1 datasheet. The device itself does not generate step pulses - external controller must sequence phase and current levels.

What protection features are built into DRV8823QDCARQ1?

DRV8823QDCARQ1 includes overcurrent protection (OCP) with 2.7-μs trip time, thermal shutdown at 150°C junction temperature, undervoltage lockout (UVLO) triggering at 6.5–8 V on VM, and hardware-level shoot-through prevention. All protections disable outputs and are self-resetting only upon VM power cycle or RESETn assertion - no software intervention required. These are detailed in Sections 7.3.2 and 6.5 of the DRV8823QDCARQ1 datasheet.

Can DRV8823QDCARQ1 drive both stepper and DC motors simultaneously?

Yes, DRV8823QDCARQ1 supports flexible motor configurations: two bipolar stepper motors (using Bridges A/B and C/D), one stepper plus two DC motors, or four independent DC motors. Each H-bridge is independently controlled via serial register bits for enable, phase, decay mode, and current level - allowing mixed topology operation without hardware reconfiguration. This capability is explicitly stated in the DRV8823QDCARQ1 device description and Section 7.4.1.