STMicroelectronics L298P013TR

Overview

L298P013TR from STMicroelectronics is a high-voltage, high-current dual full-bridge driver IC designed for bidirectional control of DC and bipolar stepper motors. It supports up to 46 V supply voltage, delivers up to 4 A total DC current (2 A per channel), features low saturation voltage (1.8 V typical total drop at 1 A), includes overtemperature protection, and accepts standard TTL logic inputs with high noise immunity (logical "0" up to 1.5 V). It is used in industrial motor control, robotics, and motion systems requiring discrete H-bridge functionality.

For engineers reviewing the L298P013TR datasheet, L298P013TR pinout, L298P013TR application, or L298P013TR equivalent, key selection considerations include its dual-channel 2 A DC current rating per bridge, PowerSO-20 thermal performance (R_{th j-amb} = 13 °C/W on aluminum substrate), sensing resistor interface (pins 1 & 15), and independent enable control (pins 6 & 11) for precise PWM timing and current limiting.

Technical Context

The L298P013TR integrates two identical full-H-bridge output stages, each driven by TTL-compatible inputs (IN1–IN4) and independently enabled via ENA/ENB. Each bridge uses NPN/PNP bipolar transistor pairs with emitter-connected sense terminals (Sense A/B) for external current monitoring and overcurrent shutdown.

It separates power (VS, up to 46 V) and logic (VSS, 4.5–7 V) supplies, enabling operation with microcontrollers at 5 V while driving high-voltage motors. Switching performance includes 25–40 kHz commutation frequency at 2 A load, with sub-microsecond rise/fall times (e.g., 0.7 μs source rise time) and enable-controlled turn-on delays as low as 0.25 μs.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: PowerSO-20 - thermally enhanced surface-mount package with exposed lead slug (pin 8) connected to GND for low-junction-to-case thermal resistance (R_{th j-case} = 3 °C/W).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with STK682-050-E and TB6612FNG, the L298P013TR uniquely balances 46 V operation, 2 A/channel DC capability, integrated thermal protection, and flexible TTL/enable-based control-making it optimal for industrial 24–42 V motor systems requiring field-proven reliability and design transparency.

Availability

L298P013TR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial CNC axis control, autonomous mobile robot drive, lab equipment motor stages, and 3D printer extruder & Z-axis applications requiring stable component supply across multi-year production cycles.

Supply support for L298P013TR 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 automotive, industrial, and power management ICs with broad manufacturing scale and AEC-Q100/IEC 60730 compliance expertise.

The L298 belongs to ST's legacy power driver product line, engineered specifically for ruggedized, high-current motor interfacing in industrial automation, robotics, and precision motion control systems where bipolar transistor robustness and thermal resilience are critical.

FAQ

What is the maximum continuous current per channel for L298P013TR?

The L298P013TR supports 2 A DC current per channel under recommended operating conditions (T_case ≤ 75 °C, with adequate heatsinking on the PowerSO-20 exposed slug). This is confirmed in Table 1 (Absolute Maximum Ratings) and Table 4 (Electrical Characteristics) of DS0218 Rev 5, where I_O DC operation is specified as 2 A per channel. Exceeding this without thermal derating risks thermal shutdown or long-term reliability degradation.

Can L298P013TR drive a unipolar stepper motor?

No, the L298P013TR is designed exclusively for dual full-bridge operation and is optimized for bipolar stepper motors (e.g., 2-phase, 4-wire) and brushed DC motors. Unipolar steppers require center-tapped windings and phase-specific current sinking-functionality not supported by the L298's H-bridge architecture or pinout. Using it with unipolar motors would result in incorrect excitation and potential driver damage.

How should the Sense A and Sense B pins be connected?

Sense A (pin 1) and Sense B (pin 15) must each connect to one end of a low-inductance, precision shunt resistor (e.g., 0.5 Ω), with the other end tied to GND. The voltage across each resistor (V_sens) is monitored externally for current limiting or closed-loop control. Per DS0218 Section 3, these pins tolerate –1 V transiently but require ≥ –0.5 V in steady state to avoid erroneous overcurrent triggering.

Is L298P013TR RoHS compliant and halogen-free?

Yes, the L298P013TR is manufactured in STMicroelectronics' ECOPACK2-compliant PowerSO-20 package, meeting RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU and halogen-free requirements per IEC 61249-2-21. This is documented in Section 6 ("Package information") of DS0218 Rev 5, which references ST's public ECOPACK specifications and environmental compliance status available at www.st.com.