MOTOR DRIVER Pt-2

Note: see motor driver H bridge "blog" for basic concept

Use of motor driver-

In the above block diagram, we can see that there is a micro controller (MCU). Now, this MCU may/may not take in inputs (inputs as in from sensors, other digital inputs, etc). Next, as per our programming, the MCU will generate control signals. Please note that the MCU will generate signals in form of HIGH (Vcc = 5v) or LOW (zero). But this voltage is insufficient to drive a motor. That’s why we need to use a Motor Driver.

A motor driver always has a battery input Vs (which depends upon the rating of the motor). In simple terms, what a motor driver does is that it directs the Vs voltage to the motors connected (or in fact, the output pins) to it. Thus, the motors behave as per the control signals generated using the MCU with the excitation from the external battery voltage.

The most commonly used motor driver is the L293D, which is a driver IC. Apart from this we have other motor driver such as L298 ,which has some advance features over L293D. Discussed separately both driver ICs.