1 Features
• AEC-Q100 Qualified for Automotive
• Functional Safety-Capable
– Documentation available to aid functional safety
system design
• PWM Microstepping Stepper Motor Driver
– Simple STEP/DIR Interface
– Up to 1/256 Microstepping Indexer
• Integrated Current Sense Functionality
– No Sense Resistors Required
– ±4% Full-Scale Current Accuracy
• Smart tune ripple control decay
• Stall Detection using GPIO pins
• 4.5 to 48V Operating Supply Voltage Range
• Low RDS(ON): 330mΩ HS + LS at 24V, 25°C
• High Current Capacity: 2.5A Full-Scale, 1.8A rms
• Supports 1.8V, 3.3V, 5.0V Logic Inputs
• Low-Current Sleep Mode (2 μA)
• Spread spectrum clocking for low EMI
• Small Package and Footprint
• Protection Features
– VM Undervoltage Lockout (UVLO)
– Charge Pump Undervoltage (CPUV)
– Overcurrent Protection (OCP)
– Sensorless stall detection
– Open Load Detection (OL)
– Thermal Shutdown (OTSD)
– Fault Condition Output (nFAULT)

2 Applications
• Automotive bipolar stepper motors
• Headlight position adjustment
• Head-up display (HUD)
• HVAC stepper motors
• Electronic fuel injection (EFI)
• Electronic expansion valves (EEV)

3 Description
The DRV8434-Q1 is a stepper motor driver for
automotive applications. The device is fully integrated
with two N-channel power MOSFET H-bridge drivers,
a microstepping indexer, and integrated current
sensing. The DRV8434-Q1 is capable of driving up
to 2.5A full-scale output current (dependent on PCB
thermal design).
The DRV8434-Q1 uses an internal current sense
architecture to eliminate the need for two external
power sense resistors, saving PCB area and system
cost. The device uses an internal PWM current
regulation scheme with smart tune ripple control
decay. Smart tune automatically adjusts for optimal
current regulation, compensates for motor variation
and aging effects and reduces audible noise from the
motor.
A simple STEP/DIR interface allows an external
controller to manage the direction and step rate of
the stepper motor. The device can be configured in
full-step to 1/256 microstepping. A low-power sleep
mode is provided using a dedicated nSLEEP pin.
The DRV8434-Q1 features advanced stall detection
algorithm configurable by two digital IO and one
analog IO pins, and does not require an SPI interface
to detect stall. By detecting motor stall, system
designers can identify if the motor was obstructed
and take action as needed which can improve
efficiency, prevent damage and reduce audible noise.
Other protection features include supply undervoltage,
charge pump faults, overcurrent, short circuits, open
load, and overtemperature. Fault conditions are
indicated by the nFAULT pin.