How to Use DRV8302: Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

The DRV8302 is a three-phase motor driver IC designed for driving brushless DC (BLDC) motors. It integrates a gate driver, current sensing, and protection features, enabling efficient control of motor operation with minimal external components. This component is ideal for applications requiring high-performance motor control, such as robotics, drones, electric vehicles, and industrial automation.

• Brushless DC motor control in robotics and drones
• Electric vehicle motor drivers
• Industrial automation systems
• HVAC systems
• Power tools and appliances

• Operating Voltage Range: 8 V to 60 V
• Gate Drive Current: 1.7 A source, 2.3 A sink
• Integrated Buck Converter: Adjustable output voltage (up to 60 V input, 7.5 V output)
• Current Sensing: Integrated shunt amplifier with adjustable gain
• PWM Input Frequency: Up to 200 kHz
• Protection Features: Overcurrent, overtemperature, and undervoltage lockout
• Package: HTSSOP-48 with PowerPAD for thermal management

The DRV8302 comes in a 48-pin HTSSOP package. Below is a summary of key pins:

For a complete pinout, refer to the DRV8302 datasheet.

1. Power Supply: Connect the PVDD pin to a power supply within the range of 8 V to 60 V. Ensure proper decoupling capacitors are placed close to the IC to minimize noise.
2. Gate Drive: Connect the GHx and GLx pins to the gates of external MOSFETs for each motor phase. Use low-resistance, high-speed MOSFETs for optimal performance.
3. Current Sensing: Connect shunt resistors to the SP and SM pins for phase current measurement. Adjust the gain of the current sense amplifier as needed.
4. PWM Control: Provide PWM signals to the PWM_A and PWM_B pins to control motor speed and direction.
5. Enable Gate Driver: Set the EN_GATE pin high to enable the gate driver. Use a pull-down resistor to ensure the pin is low during power-up.
6. Fault Monitoring: Monitor the FAULT pin for any error conditions, such as overcurrent or overtemperature.

• Thermal Management: Use a proper heatsink or ensure good PCB thermal design to dissipate heat from the PowerPAD.
• Decoupling: Place high-quality ceramic capacitors (e.g., 0.1 µF and 10 µF) close to the PVDD and VREG pins to reduce noise and stabilize the power supply.
• Protection: Configure the OC_ADJ pin to set the overcurrent protection threshold based on your application requirements.
• Startup Sequence: Ensure the EN_GATE pin is low during power-up to prevent unintended motor operation.

Below is an example of how to control the DRV8302 using an Arduino UNO:

// Define PWM pins for motor control
const int pwmA = 9;  // Connect to PWM_A pin of DRV8302
const int pwmB = 10; // Connect to PWM_B pin of DRV8302
const int enablePin = 8; // Connect to EN_GATE pin of DRV8302

void setup() {
  // Set up pins as outputs
  pinMode(pwmA, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(pwmB, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(enablePin, OUTPUT);

  // Enable the gate driver
  digitalWrite(enablePin, HIGH);

  // Initialize PWM signals
  analogWrite(pwmA, 128); // 50% duty cycle
  analogWrite(pwmB, 0);   // 0% duty cycle (motor stopped)
}

void loop() {
  // Example: Ramp up motor speed
  for (int speed = 0; speed <= 255; speed++) {
    analogWrite(pwmA, speed); // Increase duty cycle on PWM_A
    delay(10);                // Small delay for smooth ramp-up
  }

  // Example: Ramp down motor speed
  for (int speed = 255; speed >= 0; speed--) {
    analogWrite(pwmA, speed); // Decrease duty cycle on PWM_A
    delay(10);                // Small delay for smooth ramp-down
  }
}

1. Motor Does Not Spin:

   • Ensure the EN_GATE pin is set high to enable the gate driver.
   • Verify that the PWM signals are being generated correctly.
   • Check the connections to the external MOSFETs and motor phases.

2. Overcurrent Fault:

   • Verify the shunt resistor values and ensure they are appropriate for the motor current.
   • Adjust the OC_ADJ pin to increase the overcurrent protection threshold if necessary.

3. Overheating:

   • Ensure proper thermal management by using a heatsink or optimizing PCB layout.
   • Check for excessive current draw from the motor.

4. Fault Pin Active (Low):

   • Check for fault conditions such as overcurrent, undervoltage, or overtemperature.
   • Reset the fault by toggling the EN_GATE pin low and then high.

• Can the DRV8302 drive a brushed DC motor? No, the DRV8302 is specifically designed for three-phase brushless DC motors.

• What type of MOSFETs should I use with the DRV8302? Use low-resistance, high-speed N-channel MOSFETs rated for the motor's voltage and current.

• How do I adjust the current sense amplifier gain? The gain can be adjusted using external resistors connected to the SP and SM pins. Refer to the datasheet for detailed calculations.

• What is the maximum PWM frequency supported? The DRV8302 supports PWM frequencies up to 200 kHz. Ensure your microcontroller can generate PWM signals within this range.