STMicroelectronics EVAL6208PD

Overview

EVAL6208PD from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board for the L6208 DMOS dual full-bridge driver IC, designed to control bipolar stepper motors in industrial motion systems. It supports 8–52 V supply voltage, delivers up to 5.6 A peak output current per bridge, features non-dissipative overcurrent protection, dual independent constant t_OFF PWM current controllers, and full/half-step decoding logic - enabling precise open-loop positioning in CNC stages and automated valve actuators.

For engineers reviewing the EVAL6208PD datasheet, EVAL6208PD pinout, EVAL6208PD application, or EVAL6208PD equivalent, this board provides validated hardware reference for L6208-based stepper motor drive design, including charge pump implementation, thermal management layout, decay mode configuration, and real-world current regulation tuning with external RC networks on RCA/RCB pins.

Technical Context

The EVAL6208PD implements the L6208's dual DMOS full-bridge architecture with integrated fast freewheeling diodes, bootstrap charge pump (VCP oscillator at 600 kHz), and cross-conduction protection via 1 µs deadtime. It routes all 36 pins of the PowerSO36 package-including VSA/VSB power inputs, OUT1A/OUT2A/OUT1B/OUT2B motor outputs, SENSEA/SENSEB current sense nodes, and RCA/RCB t_OFF timing networks-to accessible test points and screw terminals.

It supports all L6208 operational modes: full-step (two-phase-on/wave), half-step, fast/slow decay selection via CONTROL pin, and direction/clock sequencing via CW/CCW and CLOCK inputs. The board includes on-board 220 nF C_BOOT, 10 nF C_P, 100 Ω R_P, and 1N4148 diodes for the charge pump circuit, matching ST's recommended values in DocID7514 Rev 2.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVAL6208PD is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial automation, laboratory motion control validation, and embedded stepper drive development requiring stable component supply, rapid prototyping turnaround, and production-ready reference design fidelity.

Supply support for EVAL6208PD 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

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, specializing in power management, motor control, and automotive-grade analog/mixed-signal ICs.

The EVAL6208PD belongs to ST's Motor Control Evaluation Kit product line, engineered to accelerate design-in of high-current bipolar stepper drivers in factory automation, robotics, and precision instrumentation where reliability under continuous PWM operation is critical.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the EVAL6208PD evaluation board?

The EVAL6208PD is a fully assembled, tested reference design platform for the L6208 stepper motor driver IC. It enables engineers to validate motor current regulation, decay mode behavior, thermal performance, and charge pump functionality without custom PCB development. All L6208 control signals - CLOCK, CW/CCW, HALF/FULL, CONTROL, EN, RESET - are brought out to headers for direct microcontroller interfacing.

Does EVAL6208PD support both PowerSO36 and SO24 package variants of the L6208?

No - EVAL6208PD is specifically designed for the PowerSO36 package of the L6208, as confirmed by ST's official documentation (DocID7514 Rev 2, Section 9). Its layout, thermal pad connection, and pin mapping match the 36-pin PowerSO36 footprint, including slug-to-GND internal connection on pins 1, 18, 19, and 36. It does not support SO24 or PowerDIP24 variants.

How is overcurrent protection implemented on this board?

EVAL6208PD implements the L6208's non-dissipative overcurrent protection using the IC's internal high-side sensing architecture. When current exceeds the threshold set by VREFx and sense resistor value, the device disables the affected bridge within 200 ns (t_OCD(ON)) and asserts fault via the EN pin's open-drain structure. No external current-limiting resistors or fuses are required - protection is inherent to the L6208 silicon and validated on this board.

Can EVAL6208PD be used with microcontrollers operating at 3.3 V logic levels?

Yes - all logic inputs (CLOCK, CW/CCW, HALF/FULL, CONTROL, EN, RESET) are TTL/CMOS compatible with V_IL ≤ 0.8 V and V_IH ≥ 2.0 V, making them interoperable with 3.3 V microcontrollers. Pull-up resistors on these lines are included on the board, and no level-shifting circuitry is needed. Input hysteresis (0.25–0.5 V) ensures noise immunity in electrically noisy motor drive environments.