
turn off delay
due to slope
velocity control
I
V
OSC
V
SRB
total current consumption
current
threshold 1
current
threshold 2
V
SRA
I
VS
D99AT421
Figure 5. Pulse diagram to explainoffset chopping.
Using offset chopping the changes of the supply current remain half as large as using non offset chop-
ping.
Turning off the oscillator for example by shorting pin OSC to ground will hinder turning on of the bridges
anymore after the comparatorshave generateda turn off signal.
External clocking is possible overdriving the charge and discharge currents of the oscillator for example
with a push pull logic gate. So severaldevices can be synchronized.
Protection and Diagnosis Functions
The L9935 provides several protection functions and error detectionfunctions. Current limitation usually
is customerdefined by the external current sense resistors. The current sensedthere is used to regulate
the current throughthe steppermotorwindings by pulse width modulation.This PWM regulation protects
the sink transistors.The source transistors are protected by an internalovercurrent shut down turning off
the source transistorsin caseof overload.
Overloaddetectionof the source transistorwill turn off thebridge and set the corresponding error flag.
To turn on the bridge again a new byte must be written into the interface. (Rising slope of CSN resets
the overloaderror flag).
Both bridges use the same flags. To locate which bridge is affected by an error the bridges can be
testedindividually(One bridge justis turnedoff to check for theerror in the other bridge).
Short from an Output to the Supply Voltage VS
The current will be limited by the pulse width modulator.The sink transistor will turn off again after some
microseconds. The transistor will periodically be turned on again by the oscillator 8 times. After having
detected short 8 times the low side transistor will remain off until the next data transfer took place. After
detection of a short to VS we suggest to turn off the corresponding bridge to reduce power dissipation
for at least1ms.
L9935
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