ST Augments Its STSPIN32 Programmable Motor Controller Family

STMicroelectronics expands its STSPIN32 programmable motor controller family with the STSPIN32F0B system-in-package (SiP) for cost-effective one-shunt current sensing. The new motor controller is an ideal all-in-one solution for the growing market of battery-operated power tools.

By integrating a single op-amp for current sensing, the STSPIN32F0B saves individual 3-phase BLDC coil-current sense resistors and makes extra I/O pins available for user features. The new SiP contains a 48MHz STM32F031x6 MCU capable of running a 6-step motor-control algorithm as well as other application-level functionalities.

With 20 GPIO pins the STSPIN32F0B allows easy access to the MCU’s internal features that include up to five general-purpose timers, a 12-bit ADC and a temperature sensor. The MCU also provides I2C, UART, and SPI ports.

The Key Characteristic of STSPIN32F0B SiP includes:

• triple half-bridge gate driver capable of sourcing up to 600mA per channel into external MOSFETs
• a 3.3V DC/DC buck converter
• 12V low-dropout (LDO) regulator
• Additional features – bootstrap diodes for reliable startup and protection mechanisms including real-time programmable over-current protection, cross-conduction/shoot-through prevention, under-voltage lockout (UVLO) on all power supplies, and over-temperature protection.

ST provides a selection of ready-to-use 6-step motor-control algorithms for sensored or sensorless BLDC control, as part of a complete set of hardware, software, and firmware tools that simplify and streamline new-product development with the STSPIN32 family. In addition, access to the integrated STM32’s bootloader allows Over-the-Air (OTA) firmware updates to boost flexibility and lower cost of ownership.

The STSPIN32F0B has an extended supply-voltage range from 45V down to 6.7V, allowing use in a wide variety of products including portable devices powered by as few as two lithium-polymer (LiPo) cells. To save power when the motor is idle, and thus maximize battery runtime, a standby mode is available that disables all circuitry except the DC-DC converter supplying the MCU.

The STSPIN32F0B is in production now and available in a compact 7mm x 7mm QFN package, priced from $1.605 for orders of 1000 units.