
Diagnosisof a Shortto Ground
Detecting an overload will set an overcurrent error (Error2 = LOW) (bit6). To reset the error flag a new
byte mustbe writteninto the interface.(Reset of theerror flag takes placeat therising slope of CSN).
ShortedLoad
With a shorted load both, the sink- and the source protection or the PWM alone will respond. In either
case therewill be no flybackpulse.
Diagnosisof a ShortedLoad
Shorting the load two eventsmay takeplace:
- overload(of the high side transistor) while low side transistorovercurrent is detectedwill set the
followingcombinations:
bit6 = LOW
bit7 = HIGH
- overloadis marginal. So the low side driver may turn off beforeoverloadis detected.This leads to the
combinationbit6 = HIGH and bit7 = LOW.
Open Load
An open load will not lead to any flyback pulses. Error detectionwill take advantageof theflyback pulse.
Missing the flybackpulse after reversing the polarity of a motor winding bit7 will become LOW.
Open load will not be testedin the low current mode (current bits HL) to avoidthe risk of instable diagno-
sis at low flayback currents. Open load immediately after reset or power down may on random be de-
tectedin the low current mode too. This diagnosishowever will not persistlonger than 8 changes of po-
larity. We stronglysuggest to test open load at a high current mode (combination LH or LL).
OvertemperaturePrealarm
Typically 20K before thermal shut down takes place an overtemperature prealarm (bit7 and bit6 low)
takes place. Typically overtemperatureprealarmtemperatureis between 150
°
Cand 160
°
C.
Application hints using a high resistivestepper motor
The L9935 was originally targeted on stepper chopping stepper motor application with typical resis-
tances of 8..12W. Using motors with higher resistance will work too but diagnosis behaviour will slightly
change. This paragraph showsthe details that should be taken in account usingdiagnosis for high resis-
tivemotors.
Startup behaviour:
The device has simple digital filter to avoid triggering diagnosis at a single event that could be random
noise. This digital filter needs 4 chopping pulses to settle. Using a high resistive motor this chopping
does not take place. Instead the digital filter samples each time a polartychange takes place. So the first
three response telegrams after reset may show an ’open load’ error.
Input data
High resistive motor (error bits)
Low resistive motor (error bits)
Standby
1st telegram (550mA or900mA)
Reverse phase (550mA or 900mA)
Reverse phase (550mA or 900mA)
Any data
Any data
HH
XH
XH
XH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
HH
H meanscheck for HIGH at the error bits.
X means don’t care becausefilter is not yet settled.
L9935
10/19