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Texas Instruments UC3172AQP
- Part No.:
- UC3172AQP
- Manufacturer:
- Texas Instruments
- Category:
- Motor Drivers, Controllers
- Package:
- -
- Datasheet:
-
UC3172AQP.pdf
- Description:
- VOICE COIL MOTOR CONTROLLER, 1A
- Quantity:
- Payment:
- Shipping:
Inventory:346
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Product details
Overview
UC3172AQP 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, features 1.65V typical total VSAT at 1A, supports dual-supply operation (5V or 12V), and integrates precision current sensing with programmable 4:1 gain range switching via the RANGE pin.
For engineers reviewing the UC3172AQP datasheet, UC3172AQP pinout, UC3172AQP application, or UC3172AQP equivalent, key selection considerations include its controlled-velocity head parking capability, low quiescent supply current (13mA), thermal shutdown protection, and pin-for-pin compatibility with UC3173A in PLCC-28, SOIC-28, and TQFP-48 packages.
Technical Context
The UC3172AQP implements a dual-amplifier architecture: Amplifier A serves as the main transconductance stage with COMPA-pin-adjustable compensation, while Amplifier B provides programmable gain to maximize voltage swing across inductive loads. Its current sense amplifier operates in two discrete gain modes (0.5× or 2.0×) selected by the RANGE input, enabling dynamic transconductance scaling without loop instability.
Integrated auxiliary functions include dual independent UV comparators (UV1/UV2), an inhibit input (INH), park activation logic (PARK), and dedicated low-voltage parking drive (PRKDRV) capable of 150mA continuous output. The device maintains full parking functionality down to 1.2V on VL and supports head retract velocity limiting via VPARK-programmed voltage feedback.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| Continuous Load Current | ±1A - enables direct driving of voice coil motors in HDD actuator arms without external boost stages. |
| Total VSAT at 1A | 1.65V typical - minimizes power loss and thermal stress during full-current head seek operations. |
| Quiescent Supply Current | 13mA at 5V - reduces standby power in battery-backed or energy-sensitive storage subsystems. |
| Standby Supply Current | 1.8mA when inhibited - ensures ultra-low power consumption during idle or park states. |
| Gain Range Switching | 4:1 ratio (0.5×/2.0×) - extends servo loop dynamic range while maintaining stability via COMPA-pin compensation network. |
| UVLO Threshold (VL) | 2.6–2.8V - triggers automatic head park before supply collapse, preventing mechanical damage from uncontrolled coast-down. |
| Parking Drive Output | 150mA continuous (PRKDRV) - drives series impedance to limit peak retract current and control head velocity profile. |
Pinout & Package
UC3172AQP is packaged in PLCC-28 (Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier), a surface-mount, leaded package with 28 pins arranged in a square grid. It features gull-wing leads compatible with standard reflow processes and provides robust thermal performance for high-current servo applications.
| Pin/Terminal | Circuit Role | Design Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| AIN | Inverting input of A amplifier | Primary summing node for closed-loop transconductance control; connects to current-sense feedback network. |
| AOUT | High-side output of A amplifier | Drives one side of differential load during normal operation and park; forced high during VL UVLO. |
| BIN | Inverting input of B amplifier | Programs B amplifier gain to maximize voltage swing; referenced to REFIN. |
| BOUT | High-side output of B amplifier | Drives second side of differential load; tri-stated during park/inhibit for safe head retraction. |
| CS+, CS− | Current sense amplifier inputs | Monitor load current via single series resistor; enable precision ±1A closed-loop current control. |
| RANGE | Gain mode select input | Logic-level input selecting 0.5× (high range) or 2.0× (low range) current sense gain for 4:1 transconductance scaling. |
| PRKDRV | Low-side parking drive output | Active-low 150mA sink output used to drive load low-side during park; enables current-limited retract velocity control. |
| INH | Inhibit control input | High-impedance logic input disabling A/B amplifiers and current sense; internal pull-up ensures safe default state. |
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| Controlled Velocity Head Parking | VPARK-programmable voltage feedback + PRKDRV current-limited drive enables precise, repeatable head retract velocity profiles. |
| Dual Independent UV Monitoring | UV1/UV2 inputs monitor separate supplies; either low condition forces park and activates PWROK for system-level fault signaling. |
| Compensation Adjust (COMPA) | Switches auxiliary RC network into A amplifier feedback path during low-range mode to maintain constant bandwidth across 4:1 gain change. |
| Low-Voltage Parking Operation | Full park functionality operational with VL ≥ 1.2V; supports reliable head retraction using recovered back-EMF down to 1.3V. |
| Thermal Shutdown Protection | 165°C junction temperature threshold disables outputs and preserves device integrity during overload or poor heatsinking conditions. |
Applications
| Hard Disk Drive Actuator Control | Optical Disk Drive Focus/Tracking |
|---|---|
Use Scenario: High-precision positioning of read/write heads over rotating platters in enterprise and desktop HDDs. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Full-bridge power amplifier providing ±1A servo current with sub-millisecond response to position error signals. Use Value: 1.65V total VSAT at 1A minimizes heat generation during rapid seeks, extending actuator coil life and improving positional accuracy. | Use Scenario: Driving focus and tracking actuators in CD/DVD/Blu-ray optical pickup units requiring stable low-noise current control. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Precision transconductance amplifier with programmable gain range for adaptive loop bandwidth across varying disc rotational speeds. Use Value: 4:1 RANGE-selectable gain allows consistent servo performance from 200 RPM (CD) to 10,000 RPM (Blu-ray), eliminating need for multiple controller variants. |
| Tape Drive Servo Systems | Industrial Linear Motion Controllers |
Use Scenario: Controlling tape head positioning and tension regulation in LTO and enterprise backup tape drives. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Dual-supply (5V/12V) full-bridge driver with integrated UVLO and park logic for fail-safe tape rewind on power loss. Use Value: Dual UV inputs (UV1/UV2) allow independent monitoring of logic and motor supplies, triggering park before mechanical slippage or tape damage occurs. | Use Scenario: Closed-loop control of voice-coil or piezoelectric actuators in semiconductor wafer inspection stages and precision metrology equipment. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: High-fidelity current-mode amplifier with <4mV input offset and 90dB CMRR for nanometer-level position resolution. Use Value: Precision current sense amplifier (2.0mV offset in low range) enables sub-10µA current resolution, critical for minimizing mechanical jitter in sub-100nm positioning systems. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC3173AQP | Pin-for-pin compatible but lacks COMPA pin and has higher quiescent current (15mA vs. 13mA); no programmable parking voltage via VPARK. | Supports basic head parking but cannot implement velocity-controlled retract profiles; limited bandwidth stability across gain changes. | Select UC3173AQP only if COMPA-based bandwidth stabilization and VPARK-programmable park voltage are not required. |
| LM675T | Single high-current op-amp (3A), not a full-bridge IC; requires external H-bridge MOSFETs and discrete current sensing; no integrated UVLO, park logic, or RANGE control. | Used in general-purpose power amplification where servo-specific features (parking, dual UV, gain switching) are unnecessary. | Choose LM675T only for non-automotive/non-storage applications lacking strict fail-safe requirements and where board space permits discrete bridge implementation. |
Compared with UC3172AQP, UC3173AQP offers identical pinout and core amplification but omits advanced servo features like COMPA-adjustable compensation and VPARK-programmable retract voltage, while LM675T requires significant external circuitry to approach UC3172AQP's integrated functionality-making UC3172AQP uniquely suited for compact, safety-critical head positioning systems.
Availability
UC3172AQP is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for hard disk drive actuator control, optical disk drive focus/track servo systems, and industrial linear motion controllers requiring stable component supply and long-term design continuity.
Supply support for UC3172AQP 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 company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, specializing in analog and embedded processing technologies for industrial, automotive, and computing applications.
The UC3172AQP belongs to TI's legacy Unitrode servo amplifier product line, engineered specifically for high-reliability magnetic storage systems requiring fail-safe head parking, precision current control, and multi-supply monitoring under dynamic voltage conditions.
FAQ
What is the primary function of the UC3172AQP in disk drive systems?
The UC3172AQP serves 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 1.65V typical total VSAT, integrates precision current sensing, and executes controlled-velocity head parking upon power loss or fault detection-ensuring mechanical safety and data integrity. Its design directly supports the demanding servo loop requirements of high-density storage devices.
Does the UC3172AQP support both 5V and 12V supply operation?
Yes, the UC3172AQP is explicitly rated for dual-supply operation at either 5V or 12V across VIN, VC, and VL rails. Electrical characteristics-including 13mA quiescent current at 5V and 14–20mA at 12V-are specified across both voltages. The device maintains full functionality including parking, current sensing, and UVLO detection regardless of supply choice, making UC3172AQP suitable for mixed-voltage storage subsystems.
How does the RANGE pin affect the UC3172AQP's performance?
The RANGE pin selects between two fixed current sense amplifier gains: 0.5× (high range) or 2.0× (low range), producing a 4:1 change in overall transconductance. This allows the UC3172AQP to adapt servo loop sensitivity dynamically-e.g., high gain for fine-positioning accuracy and low gain for large-swing seek operations-without sacrificing stability, thanks to the COMPA pin's auxiliary compensation network that maintains consistent bandwidth across both modes.
What happens to the UC3172AQP outputs during an undervoltage condition on the VL supply?
When the VL supply drops below 2.6–2.8V (UVLO threshold), the UC3172AQP immediately forces AOUT high (source-only), tri-states BOUT, activates PRKDRV, and pulls PWROK low. This initiates controlled head parking using recovered back-EMF, even as VL falls to 1.2V. The device remains fully functional in park mode down to this level, ensuring mechanical safety without external supervision-core behavior confirmed in UC3172AQP's absolute maximum ratings and application diagrams.
Is the UC3172AQP pin-compatible with any other devices?
Yes, the UC3172AQP is explicitly documented as pin-for-pin compatible with the UC3173AQP in PLCC-28, SOIC-28, and TQFP-48 packages. Both share identical pin assignments, electrical interfaces, and basic amplifier functionality. However, UC3172AQP adds enhancements including the COMPA compensation adjust pin, lower quiescent current, and VPARK-programmable parking voltage-making it a functional superset rather than a drop-in replacement in designs leveraging those advanced features.
UC3172AQP Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- Texas Instruments
- Series:
- *
- Package/Case:
- -
- Packaging:
- Bulk
- Product Status:
- Active
- Motor Type - Stepper:
- -
- Motor Type - AC, DC:
- -
- Function:
- -
- Output Configuration:
- -
- Interface:
- -
- Technology:
- -
- Step Resolution:
- -
- Applications:
- -
- Current - Output:
- -
- Voltage - Supply:
- -
- Voltage - Load:
- -
- Operating Temperature:
- -
- Grade:
- -
- Qualification:
- -
- Mounting Type:
- -
- Supplier Device Package:
- -
UC3172AQP FAQ
1.How can I place an order for UC3172AQP through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for UC3172AQP 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 UC3172AQP reliable?
The price and inventory of UC3172AQP are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for UC3172AQP is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for UC3172AQP?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for UC3172AQP transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for UC3172AQP?
UC3172AQP orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your UC3172AQP 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 UC3172AQP?
For technical support, including UC3172AQP datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your UC3172AQP requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that UC3172AQP is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All UC3172AQP 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 UC3172AQP meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of UC3172AQP?
All UC3172AQP units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with UC3172AQP, 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 UC3172AQP part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for UC3172AQP:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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