When starting a DC motor, large currents can be required that place a burden on the motor driver and power supply. This article will discuss using the current regulation function integrated into many motor driver ICs, while using examples from Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) to address high-current conditions. In many cases, using current regulation can allow designers to use a smaller motor drive...

Many motion control applications use permanent magnet DC motors. Since it is easier to implement control systems using DC motors compared to AC motors, they are often used when speed, torque, or position needs to be controlled. There are two types of commonly used DC motors: Brushed motors, and brushless motors (or BLDC motors). As their names imply, DC brushed motors have brushes, which are used...

Solenoid drivers are used in many applications to provide linear or rotational actuation in mechanical systems. Although driving solenoids can be as simple as switching the current flow on and off, oftentimes better performance can be obtained using a dedicated IC to drive them. In this article, we will examine how drive circuitry affects the electromechanical performance of solenoids. Two differ...

Although there are various power supply types, this article will focus on Power over Ethernet (PoE) power supplies. In particular, PoE power supplies where the power sourcing equipment (PSE) supplies power to the powered device (PD) terminal equipment through the network cable. Figure 1 shows common PoE power supply equipment, including the PoE switch as well as power-receiving equipment (e.g. wir...

Reliable and affordable energy sources are required to power the economy and meet daily needs. Without these energy sources, economic growth and development stalls. Dependence on foreign sources for energy can also lead to vulnerability to geopolitical conflicts. With ongoing concerns regarding climate change, ensuring energy security has environmental implications as well, with efforts to increas...

When designing a motor control circuit, it is vital to determine how to deliver the high current required to drive the motor. Designers must choose whether to use monolithic integrated circuits that have internal power devices, or gate driver ICs and discrete external power MOSFETs. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each approach and provides guidance on when to choose eit...

Modern devices are increasingly powered by Power over Ethernet (PoE), such as IP phones, wireless APs, and IP cameras. Customer premise equipment (CPE) and small base stations in the 5G era also require PoE power. Figure 1 shows common applications powered by PoE. This article discusses MPS’s comprehensive suite of power management solutions for a wide range of switches, including PSE, boo...

Stepper motors are often used for positioning since they are cost-effective, easy to drive, and can be used in open-loop systems — meaning that they do not require position feedback like servo motors. Steppers are used in small industrial machines, such as laser engravers, 3D printers, and office equipment like laser printers. There is a wide array of options when it comes to stepper motors. For ...

Power failures tend to cause a domino effect of disruptions, resulting in system failures and data loss, as well as damage to servers and equipment. This article describes how to use the MP5515 to protect solid-state drives (SSDs) against sudden power failure. There are three main issues if an SSD experiences a power failure: The MP5515 is an input power conditioning PMIC that provides a compact...

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a power supply scheme that uses a network cable to transmit power. This scheme includes power sourcing equipment (PSE), a powered device (PD), and a network cable. With the popularity of IP device applications, PoE has become widespread among users due to its low installation costs, scalability, ease of management, and global compatibility. After over a decade since t...