SLVAES1A June 2020 – May 2022 DRV8300
Brushless-DC (BLDC) motor usage is becoming more and more common for various applications due to the performance benefits they have over alternate motor types such as brushed-DC and stepper motors. As Table 1-1 shows, BLDC motors are more efficient, quieter, and have better power density, higher torque, higher speed, and longer lifetime when compared to brushed-DC and stepper motors.
Motor Type | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Brushless DC | Long life, quiet, optimal power density | Design complexity, higher cost |
Brushed DC | Low cost, easy to use | Noisy, EMI wear-out, sparking |
Stepper | Long life, quiet, open-loop position and speed control | Current control needed, not as power efficient as BLDC, noisy |
The significant benefits that BLDC motors have come with one important disadvantage: higher design complexity. Product development with BLDC motors requires knowledge of how to design an efficient system and get the motor to spin. Texas Instrument’s BLDC team is working to reduce this barrier to entry and simplify BLDC design with innovative motor driver devices. This document serves to simplify BLDC design by exploring the considerations in selecting a BLDC motor driver (Figure 1-1).