2 Gate Driver IC Configurations

Bridge topologies for motor drive typically consist of one or more half-bridge stages: single half-bridge, two half-bridges (H-bridge), three half-bridges (BLDC), or four half-bridges (stepper). From TI’s portfolio of gate driver ICs, you can choose a single driver that integrates multiple phases or opt for standalone half-bridges. This choice often comes down to the preference of the designer, considering points like:

• H-bridge and three-phase BLDC motor drivers simplify designs by integrating multiple half-bridge stages into one package.
• Using one half-bridge driver per phase minimizes the space between the driver and the power switch, reducing switching losses and EMI challenges.
• For more complex motor control, multi-phase devices sometimes offer automatic motor tuning, sensorless control, and system-level integration.
• Half-bridge drivers are more general-purpose, so a single part number can be used across different platforms (for example, three in a BLDC motor system and four in a stepper motor system).

For driving power switches referenced to ground, low-side drivers can also be considered for motor drive applications. One of the most common motor applications for low-side drivers is a brushed DC motor. These often use a single-switch chopper topology, which only requires a single-channel low-side driver. If the system has multiple low-side switches to drive, designers can also consider dual-channel low-side drivers.

While many topics covered in this document can be applicable to multiple device categories, this application note focuses primarily on standalone half-bridge and low-side gate drivers ICs (without integrated control or power switches). To browse all of TI’s drivers for motor drives, visit the Motor Drivers overview page.