Texas Instruments UC3172ADWP
- Part No.:
- UC3172ADWP
- Manufacturer:
- Texas Instruments
- Category:
- Motor Drivers, Controllers
- Package:
- -
- Datasheet:
-
UC3172ADWP.pdf
- Description:
- VOICE COIL MOTOR CONTROLLER, 1A
- Quantity:
- Payment:

- Shipping:

Inventory:2,609
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Product details
Overview
UC3172ADWP from Texas Instruments is a full-bridge power amplifier IC designed for precision servo control in high-density disk drive head positioning systems. It delivers ±1A continuous load current, operates from 5V or 12V supplies, draws only 13mA quiescent supply current, and achieves 1.65V typical total saturation voltage at 1A - enabling high-efficiency, low-heat head actuation with controlled velocity parking.
For engineers reviewing the UC3172ADWP datasheet, UC3172ADWP pinout, UC3172ADWP application, or UC3172ADWP equivalent, key selection considerations include its dual-range transconductance (4:1 gain switch), programmable head park voltage via VPARK, compensation-adjust pin (COMPA) for bandwidth stabilization across gain modes, and integrated undervoltage lockout with dual independent UV inputs for robust system-level fault response.
Technical Context
The UC3172ADWP implements a closed-loop transconductance architecture with two independent power amplifiers (A and B), where A serves as the main servo output driver and B provides programmable gain feedback to extend dynamic range. Its current sense amplifier supports high- and low-range modes (gain = 0.5 or 2.0), directly modulating overall transconductance by 4× while maintaining stability via the COMPA pin's auxiliary compensation network.
It integrates dual high-impedance UV comparators monitoring external supplies (UV1/UV2), an inhibit input (INH), park activation logic (PARK), and dedicated low-voltage parking drive (PRKDRV) capable of 150mA continuous / 1A pulsed output. Thermal shutdown activates at 165°C, and all outputs feature internal current limiting and saturation voltage specifications referenced to VIN or VC pins.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| Load Current | ±1A continuous - enables direct drive of voice coil actuators without external boost stages. |
| Total VSAT @ 1A | 1.65V typical - minimizes power loss and thermal rise during sustained head positioning. |
| Quiescent Supply Current | 13mA @ 5V, low-range mode - reduces standby power in battery-backed or energy-sensitive storage subsystems. |
| Gain Range Switch | 4:1 transconductance change via RANGE pin - extends servo loop dynamic range without sacrificing resolution. |
| UVLO Threshold (VL) | 2.6–2.8V with 200mV hysteresis - ensures reliable park activation before logic supply collapse. |
| Thermal Shutdown | 165°C junction temperature - protects against overtemperature failure during overload or poor heatsinking. |
| Operating Temperature | −55°C to +150°C - supports industrial and extended-temperature disk drive environments. |
Pinout & Package
UC3172ADWP is housed in a 28-pin SOIC package (DWP suffix), with exposed pad for thermal enhancement. Pin numbering follows standard SOIC-28 top-view convention.
| Pin/Terminal | Circuit Role | Design Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| AIN | Inverting input of A amplifier | Primary summing node for servo error signal; sets closed-loop gain and stability with external RFA/RFB. |
| AOUT | High-side output of A amplifier | Drives one side of differential load; forced high during park or VL UVLO; referenced to VIN. |
| BIN | Inverting input of B amplifier | Programs B amplifier gain to maximize voltage swing; critical for optimizing load drive capability. |
| BOUT | High-side output of B amplifier | Tri-stated during park/inhibit; provides second differential drive terminal in normal operation. |
| CS+, CS− | Current sense amplifier inputs | Monitor load current via external series resistor; enable precision closed-loop current control. |
| PRKDRV | Active-low parking drive output | Supplies low-side drive during park; 150mA continuous rating allows series current limiting with RP. |
| VPARK | Auxiliary inverting input for park mode | Programs retract voltage using R1/R2 divider; enables controlled velocity head parking. |
| COMPA | Compensation adjust pin | Switches auxiliary RC network into A amplifier loop during low-range mode to stabilize bandwidth. |
| INH, PARK, RANGE | Digital control inputs | High-impedance logic inputs with internal pull-ups; define inhibit, forced park, and gain range states. |
| VIN, VC, VL | Power supply rails | VIN powers bias circuitry and references high-side saturation; VC drives high-side collectors; VL powers logic and outputs (PRKDRV/PWROK). |
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| Precision current sensing | Two-range gain (0.5 / 2.0) with <4mV input offset enables accurate ±1A load current regulation. |
| Controlled velocity head parking | VPARK-programmed voltage + PRKDRV low-side drive + dual UV monitoring ensure safe, repeatable head retraction. |
| Bandwidth-stable gain switching | COMPA pin enables auxiliary compensation to maintain consistent 3dB bandwidth across 4:1 transconductance change. |
| Low-power standby operation | 1.8mA total supply current when inhibited - preserves system energy during idle or sleep states. |
| Robust supply monitoring | Dual independent UV inputs (UV1/UV2) with programmable thresholds activate park and PWROK independently of main supply. |
Applications
| Hard Disk Drive Head Positioning | Optical Disk Drive Actuator Control |
|---|---|
Use Scenario: Precise radial movement of read/write heads across high-density magnetic platters under real-time servo feedback. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Full-bridge power amplifier providing closed-loop current-controlled drive to voice coil motor (VCM); executes position correction commands with sub-micron accuracy. Use Value: 1.65V total VSAT at 1A minimizes heat generation during rapid seek operations; 4:1 gain range accommodates both coarse seek and fine track-following phases. | Use Scenario: Dynamic focusing and tracking control of laser diode optics in CD/DVD/Blu-ray drives during disc rotation and media variation. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Servo power stage converting DAC-generated error signals into bidirectional current drive for focus/tracking coils. Use Value: Dual UV monitoring ensures immediate park activation if spindle supply dips during disc ejection; PRKDRV enables current-limited low-voltage retraction down to 1.2V recovered back-EMF. |
| Tape Drive Servo Systems | Industrial Linear Motion Controllers |
Use Scenario: High-reliability tape head alignment and tension control in enterprise backup systems operating across wide temperature ranges. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Precision current amplifier driving tape guide actuators with thermal shutdown and supply fault resilience. Use Value: −55°C to +150°C operating junction temperature supports extended environmental qualification; 165°C thermal shutdown prevents latch-up during prolonged overload. | Use Scenario: Closed-loop positioning of linear stages in semiconductor handling equipment requiring repeatable sub-micron motion. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: High-fidelity transconductance amplifier translating position error signals into force-generating coil current. Use Value: Low 13mA quiescent current reduces system-level power budget impact; COMPA pin allows stable bandwidth tuning across varying mechanical loads. |
Equivalent & Alternatives
The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar full-bridge servo amplifier applications.
| Alternative Part | Technical Difference | Application Difference | Selection Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC3173ADWP | Pin-for-pin compatible but lacks COMPA pin and 4:1 gain range; fixed transconductance; higher quiescent current (15mA min). | No bandwidth-stabilized gain switching; less flexible for multi-phase servo loops requiring dynamic range extension. | Select UC3173ADWP only if simplified design, lower cost, and absence of programmable park or dual-range operation are acceptable trade-offs. |
| LM675T | Single high-current op-amp (3A), not a full-bridge IC; requires external H-bridge MOSFETs and discrete current sensing. | Demands additional layout area, gate drive design, and protection circuitry; no integrated UVLO, park logic, or thermal shutdown. | Choose LM675T only when custom bridge topology, higher peak current (>1A), or non-standard packaging is required - not a drop-in replacement. |
Compared with UC3172ADWP, UC3173ADWP offers simpler implementation but sacrifices programmable bandwidth control and dynamic range flexibility, while LM675T shifts complexity to external components and eliminates integrated safety features - making UC3172ADWP uniquely suited for compact, high-reliability disk drive servo designs.
Availability
UC3172ADWP is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for hard disk drive head positioning, optical disk actuator control, tape drive servo systems, industrial linear motion controllers, and embedded motion control applications requiring stable component supply and long-term lifecycle support.
Supply support for UC3172ADWP 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 expertise in precision control ICs for data storage and industrial automation.
The UC3172A product line was engineered specifically for high-performance servo amplification in disk drive head positioning systems, integrating precision current sensing, programmable park functionality, and robust fault protection in a single monolithic IC.
FAQ
What is the primary function of the UC3172ADWP in disk drive systems?
The UC3172ADWP functions as a full-bridge power amplifier IC that drives voice coil motors for precise head positioning in hard disk drives. It delivers ±1A continuous current with low saturation voltage (1.65V typical at 1A), implements closed-loop current control via integrated sense amplifiers, and executes controlled-velocity head parking using VPARK and PRKDRV - all critical for high-density data storage reliability. The UC3172ADWP enables fast, accurate seeks and stable track-following under real-time servo feedback.
How does the RANGE pin affect the performance of the UC3172ADWP?
The RANGE pin on the UC3172ADWP selects between two transconductance modes: low-range (gain = 2.0) and high-range (gain = 0.5), yielding a 4:1 change in overall servo loop gain. This extends dynamic range for both coarse seeking and fine track-following without sacrificing resolution. When RANGE is high, the UC3172ADWP operates in high-range mode; when low or open, it defaults to low-range. The COMPA pin must be used to maintain stable bandwidth across this transition - a key differentiator of the UC3172ADWP versus earlier variants.
Can the UC3172ADWP operate with supply voltages below 5V, especially during parking?
Yes - the UC3172ADWP supports parking operation down to 1.2V on the VL supply pin, and PRKDRV remains functional with as little as 1.1V supply. During park, the device can deliver 50mA into a 10Ω load with only 1.5V recovered back-EMF, and configurations using the PWROK pin with external PNP transistors enable parking drive down to ~1.3V. However, normal amplifier operation (AOUT/BOUT) requires VIN ≥ 4V and VC ≥ VIN − 0.4V per datasheet headroom specs - the UC3172ADWP's parking architecture is explicitly optimized for ultra-low-voltage fail-safe retraction.
What protection features are built into the UC3172ADWP?
The UC3172ADWP integrates multiple hardware-level protections: thermal shutdown triggers at 165°C junction temperature; current limiting restricts high-side output to 1.1–1.6A; dual independent UV comparators (UV1/UV2) force park and assert PWROK on supply droop; INH input disables amplifiers while preserving logic functions; and all outputs feature defined saturation voltages and pulsed current ratings (e.g., PRKDRV = 1A pulsed). These features collectively prevent damage during overload, short-circuit, overtemperature, or brownout conditions - essential for unattended disk drive operation. The UC3172ADWP implements these without external components.
Is the UC3172ADWP pin-compatible with other devices in its family?
Yes - the UC3172ADWP is pin-for-pin compatible with the UC3173A series (e.g., UC3173ADWP) in SOIC-28 (DWP) and PLCC-28 (QP) packages. However, UC3172ADWP adds the COMPA pin and 4:1 gain range capability absent in UC3173A, meaning UC3173A can substitute in basic applications but cannot replicate UC3172ADWP's bandwidth-stabilized gain switching or programmable park voltage precision. Layouts designed for UC3172ADWP will accept UC3173ADWP, but full UC3172ADWP functionality requires the newer part. Both share identical pinouts, supply requirements, and thermal characteristics.
UC3172ADWP Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- Texas Instruments
- Series:
- *
- Package/Case:
- -
- Packaging:
- Bulk
- Product Status:
- Active
- Motor Type - Stepper:
- -
- Motor Type - AC, DC:
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- Function:
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- Output Configuration:
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- Interface:
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- Technology:
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- Applications:
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- Current - Output:
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- Voltage - Supply:
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- Voltage - Load:
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- Operating Temperature:
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UC3172ADWP FAQ
1.How can I place an order for UC3172ADWP through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for UC3172ADWP on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.
2.Are the price and stock information for UC3172ADWP reliable?
The price and inventory of UC3172ADWP are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for UC3172ADWP is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for UC3172ADWP?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for UC3172ADWP transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for UC3172ADWP?
UC3172ADWP orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your UC3172ADWP order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.
Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.
5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for UC3172ADWP?
For technical support, including UC3172ADWP datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your UC3172ADWP requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that UC3172ADWP is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All UC3172ADWP products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that UC3172ADWP meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of UC3172ADWP?
All UC3172ADWP units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with UC3172ADWP, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:
1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.
2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.
3.The UC3172ADWP part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for UC3172ADWP:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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