Microstepping motor driver has high accuracy control of large currents

Toshiba Electronics has a new 50V/5A rated bipolar stepping motor driver that supports 1/128 microstepping. The new TB67S128FTG meets the often conflicting demands of high speed, high performance and reduced power consumption making it perfect for a mixture of modern applications including office equipment, 3D printers, amusement machines, cash dispensers, and home appliances. At the heart of the new device is the company's Active Gain Control that optimises the drive current to suit the required torque, which prevents stalling and achieving power savings. Popular in office applications where high accuracy and quiet operation are crucial, the device reduces noise and vibration by delivering 128 microstepping, compared to the 32 steps of other drive ICs. It also includes Selectable Mixed Delay (SMD) – a current adjustment function that chooses the best SMD configuration and optimises the drive current to suit the motor. The company's original current detection technology, Advanced Current Detection System enables the control of motor current without needing an external current detection resistor, which reduces the space needed for layout, and the BoM cost. Higher torque operation is facilitated by the high current drive (50V/5A) while the low on-resistance (0.25Ohm) decreases heat generation. The device also combines some protection functions including thermal shutdown, overcurrent protection and an open detection function that detects motor disconnection. In the event of a fault being detected, error flags are set, ensuring equipment safety.