SLVSAX9G September   2011  – November 2025 DRV8818

PRODUCTION DATA  

  1.   1
  2. Features
  3. Applications
  4. Description
  5. Pin Configuration and Functions
  6. Specifications
    1. 5.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
    2. 5.2 ESD Ratings
    3. 5.3 Recommended Operating Conditions
    4. 5.4 Thermal Information
    5. 5.5 Electrical Characteristics
    6. 5.6 Timing Requirements
    7. 5.7 Motor Driver Timing Switching Characteristics
    8. 5.8 Typical Characteristics
  7. Detailed Description
    1. 6.1 Overview
    2. 6.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 6.3 Feature Description
      1. 6.3.1 PWM H-Bridge Drivers
      2. 6.3.2 Current Regulation
      3. 6.3.3 Decay Mode
      4. 6.3.4 Microstepping Indexer
      5. 6.3.5 Protection Circuits
        1. 6.3.5.1 Overcurrent Protection (OCP)
        2. 6.3.5.2 Thermal Shutdown (TSD)
        3. 6.3.5.3 Undervoltage Lockout (UVLO)
    4. 6.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 6.4.1 Sleep Mode
      2. 6.4.2 Disable Mode
      3. 6.4.3 Active Mode
      4. 6.4.4 Decay Modes
  8. Application and Implementation
    1. 7.1 Application Information
    2. 7.2 Typical Application
      1. 7.2.1 Design Requirements
      2. 7.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure
        1. 7.2.2.1 Stepper Motor Speed
        2. 7.2.2.2 Current Regulation
      3. 7.2.3 Application Curves
    3. 7.3 Power Supply Recommendations
      1. 7.3.1 Bulk Capacitance
    4. 7.4 Layout
      1. 7.4.1 Layout Guidelines
        1. 7.4.1.1 Heatsinking
      2. 7.4.2 Layout Example
      3. 7.4.3 Thermal Considerations
        1. 7.4.3.1 Power Dissipation
  9. Device and Documentation Support
    1. 8.1 Documentation Support
      1. 8.1.1 Related Documentation
    2. 8.2 Receiving Notification of Documentation Updates
    3. 8.3 Support Resources
    4. 8.4 Trademarks
    5. 8.5 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    6. 8.6 Glossary
  10. Revision History
  11. 10Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

Current Regulation

In a stepper motor, the set full-scale current (IFS) is the maximum current driven through either winding. This quantity depends on the VREF analog voltage and the sense resistor value (RSENSE). During stepping, IFS defines the current chopping threshold (ITRIP) for the maximum current step. The gain of DRV8818 is set for 8V/V.

Equation 7. DRV8818

To achieve IFS = 1.25A with RSENSE of 0.1Ω, set VREF to 1.56V.