DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 - 40V 6A Automotive H-Bridge Driver | Texas Instruments
MPN: DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.9 | $3.90 |
| 10 | $3.51 | $35.10 |
| 100 | $3.12 | $312.00 |
| 500 | $2.81 | $1,405.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.53 | $2,530.00 |
DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 Overview
An H-bridge motor driver is a power management IC that controls the direction, speed, and braking of a DC motor by switching four internal power transistors in complementary pairs. H-bridge drivers sit within the motor driver family of the broader power management IC hierarchy, bridging the gap between low-voltage logic controllers and the inductive loads of brushed DC motors, stepper motors, and actuators used across automotive and industrial systems.
Key features include the integrated 40V-rated N-channel H-bridge, an integrated charge pump regulator for high-side gate drive, and on-chip current sensing with regulation that eliminates the need for external sense resistors. Control is provided through PWM or SPI interfaces, and a low-power sleep mode minimizes quiescent current for always-on automotive modules.
The DRV8242-Q1 family shares an identical pin function across variants with scalable RON (on-resistance) to match different load currents, allowing designers to scale power capability without PCB redesign. Integrated protection circuitry covers overcurrent, thermal, and supply fault conditions, and the current-proportional output feeds motor current data back to the microcontroller for closed-loop control and diagnostics.
Typical applications include automotive brushed DC motor modules such as pumps, fans, actuators, HVAC dampers, seat adjusters, and door latches, as well as industrial motion control where a compact 4.5V to 35V supply range and 6A continuous current are required.
When designing with this device, exploit the integrated current-sense regulation to remove external shunt resistors, but ensure the VQFN exposed pad is soldered to an adequate PCB thermal plane to dissipate conduction losses at full 6A load. Verify that the supply path tolerates inductive kick-back beyond the 40V rating during aggressive PWM braking.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a complete sourcing and design reference for the DRV8242SQRHLRQ1.
Drop-in alternatives for DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Control Interface, Package, Sleep Mode.
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DRV8243SQRHLRQ1
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$5.35 / Unit
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DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | DRV8242-Q1 |
| Motor Type | Brushed DC (H-bridge) |
| Motor Configuration | Full bridge (integrated N-channel H-bridge) |
| Maximum Supply Voltage | 40 V |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 35 V |
| Minimum Operating Voltage | 4 V |
| Continuous Output Current | 6 A |
| Control Interface | PWM, SPI |
| Integrated Current Sensing | Yes (high-side with regulation, proportional current output) |
| Charge Pump Regulator | Yes (integrated) |
| Sleep Mode | Yes (low-power sleep mode) |
| Protection Features | Integrated protection circuitry (OCP, TSD, supply faults) |
| Technology | Bi-CMOS |
| Package | VQFN (RHL), 20 pins, 3.5 x 4.5 x 0.9 mm, exposed pad |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C |
| Qualification | Automotive (AEC-Q100 qualified, Q1 device) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lifecycle Status | Active |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel |
DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 vqfn (rhl), 20 pins, 3.5 x 4.5 x 0.9 mm, exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 (vqfn (rhl), 20 pins, 3.5 x 4.5 x 0.9 mm, exposed pad package). This power device features gate, drain, and source terminals. For non-polarized packages, refer to the manufacturer datasheet for exact pin 1 orientation and footprint details. Common applications include power supply design, motor driving, and load switching.
No detailed pinout data available for DRV8242SQRHLRQ1.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive Pump Drivers, Automotive Fan and Blower Control, Seat Adjustment and Actuator Modules, Industrial Motion Control, Building Automation and Smart Locks, Robotics and Drone Actuation.
Automotive Pump Drivers
The DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 fits automotive pump applications such as washer pumps, fuel pumps, and coolant pumps because its 40V rating tolerates 12V rail transients and its 6A continuous current covers typical 12V pump loads with margin. The integrated high-side current sensing with a current-proportional output enables stall detection and flow diagnostics without an external shunt, a requirement in many automotive body modules. In use, the microcontroller drives the full bridge with PWM for speed control while the SPI interface reports fault status such as overcurrent or thermal shutdown. The main trade-off versus discrete FET bridges is higher conduction loss in the integrated RON, so the exposed pad must be soldered to a copper plane with thermal vias to sustain continuous pump duty at 125C ambient.
Recommended
Automotive Fan and Blower Control
HVAC blowers and radiator cooling fans benefit from the DRV8242SQRHLRQ1's PWM speed control, 4.5V to 35V supply range, and integrated diagnostics. The Bi-CMOS H-bridge supports bidirectional rotation and active braking, useful for damper positioning and fan stop control, while the low-power sleep mode keeps quiescent draw low when the HVAC module is off. The integrated current sensing reports motor load to the ECU, enabling clogged-filter or rotor-lock detection through the SPI diagnostics. Designers should PWM at frequencies above audible range where thermal budget allows, since inductive ringing on the 40V-rated bridge must be suppressed with proper freewheeling paths and TVS protection. Thermal spreading under the RHL VQFN-20 exposed pad determines continuous-current capability in enclosed blower housings with limited airflow.
Recommended
Seat Adjustment and Actuator Modules
Seat adjusters, mirror actuators, and door latches use brushed DC motors in the 1A to 5A range at 12V, squarely within the DRV8242SQRHLRQ1's 6A continuous rating. The SPI interface allows a central body controller to configure drive parameters and read per-channel diagnostics, supporting the fault reporting demanded by automotive actuator modules, while integrated current sensing detects end-of-travel stalls without limit switches. Bidirectional control via the full bridge enables extend/retract motion with dynamic braking. The 40V rating absorbs inductive kick from rapid reversal of worm-gear loads. Because these modules are often thermally constrained in trim panels, board designers should verify the junction temperature estimate at worst-case stall current, where dissipation is highest, and rely on the device protection circuitry for stall tolerance.
Recommended
Industrial Motion Control
In industrial equipment, the DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 drives 24V brushed DC motors for valves, gates, conveyors, and dosing mechanisms, thanks to its 4.5V to 35V supply range and 6A continuous current. The integrated current-sense regulation removes external shunt resistors, simplifying certification and PCB layout in compact motion modules, while PWM and SPI control accommodate both legacy firmware-driven PWM designs and modern SPI-configured systems. Protection circuitry handles overcurrent from jammed mechanisms and thermal shutdown in enclosed cabinets, and the current-proportional output feeds closed-loop speed or torque control in the PLC. Trade-off: at 24V with high-frequency PWM, switching losses rise, so verify the datasheet thermal curves and size the copper pour for worst-case duty cycles rather than nominal load.
Recommended
Building Automation and Smart Locks
Smart locks, valve actuators, and damper motors in building automation use 12V or 24V brushed motors well matched to the DRV8242SQRHLRQ1. The low-power sleep mode is critical here because these modules are battery-backed or always-on, and quiescent current directly affects standby life. Integrated diagnostics let the controller distinguish a locked rotor from a successful actuation, enabling predictive maintenance reports over the building network, while the current-proportional output supports tamper detection by sensing abnormal motor load. The 40V rating covers unregulated wall-adapter supplies with transient margin. For battery-backed designs, designers should exploit the sleep mode aggressively and confirm wake timing from the control pins, since the wake transition latency affects lock response time in security-critical installations.
Recommended
Robotics and Drone Actuation
Compact robotic mechanisms and drone payload actuators require high current density, and the DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 delivers 6A from a 3.5 x 4.5 mm VQFN-20 footprint, one of the most compact fully integrated 40V/6A H-bridge solutions in its class. The integrated current sensing supports gripper force estimation and jam detection without external circuitry, and SPI control allows a single MCU bus to configure and monitor multiple drivers. The 4V minimum operating voltage suits 2S to 8S battery rails within the 35V limit. Thermal design is the primary constraint: robotic joints run high RMS currents with limited convection, so the exposed-pad copper area and airflow must be engineered for the mission profile rather than the peak torque point. Protection circuitry provides a final safety net against stall events.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DRV8242SQRHLRQ1 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DRV8242HQRHLRQ1 | DRV8242PQRHLRQ1 | DRV8243SQRHLRQ1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | VQFN-20 (RHL) 3.5 x 4.5 mm | VQFN-20 (RHL) - same | VQFN-20 (RHL) - same | VQFN-20 (RHL) - same |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Motor Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 35 V (40 V abs max) | 4.5 V to 35 V (40 V abs max) | 4.5 V to 35 V (40 V abs max) | 4.5 V to 35 V (40 V abs max) |
| Continuous Output Current | 6 A | 6 A | 6 A | Lower (higher RON scalable variant) |
| Control Interface | SPI | Hardware pins | PHI control | SPI |
| Integrated Current Sensing | Yes (high-side, proportional output) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C |
| Automotive Qualification | Yes (Q1) | Yes (Q1) | Yes (Q1) | Yes (Q1) |
Key Differentiators
- Full diagnostic suite via SPI with integrated current sensing (vs DRV8242HQRHLRQ1)
- 6A continuous current in a 3.5 x 4.5 mm VQFN (vs DRV8243SQRHLRQ1)
- No external shunt resistors required (vs DRV8242PQRHLRQ1)
Design Notes
At 6A continuous, conduction losses in the integrated H-bridge are the dominant heat source. Estimated: with a family-typical RON in the tens of milliohms, dissipation can reach several watts, so the RHL VQFN-20 exposed pad must be soldered to a ground pour with an array of thermal vias (0.3 mm drills, filled or plugged) and at least one square inch of copper. Verify exact RON and theta-JA values in the DRV8242-Q1 datasheet, then compute junction temperature at worst-case stall current, not nominal load, since stall is the thermally critical event for actuators and pumps.
Keep the motor supply within 4.5V to 35V nominal; the 40V absolute maximum leaves limited margin for inductive kick during aggressive PWM braking of motor loads. Estimated: a pump motor with 5 mH of inductance interrupted at 6A can generate large flyback transients, so add TVS suppression across VM to GND and rely on the bridge freewheeling paths. Place a bulk electrolytic or polymer capacitor near VM for PWM ripple current and a 0.1 uF ceramic directly at the supply pin for high-frequency bypass. Check the datasheet for recommended capacitance values.
Route the high-current motor outputs as short, wide traces (at least 2 mm width per ampere on 1 oz copper as a rule of thumb) and keep the current loop VM-H bridge-motor-GND as small as possible to limit EMI radiated emissions. Star-ground the power ground and signal ground at the exposed pad. Because the SPI variant carries configuration and fault data, keep SCK/SDI/SDO/CS traces away from motor output routing and use series termination if traces exceed a few centimeters. Follow TI's DRV8242-Q1 datasheet layout section, which shows a reference PCB with via stitching under the thermal pad.
The S-suffix device is SPI-controlled; forgetting to initialize the configuration registers after power-up leaves the driver in default state and may prevent motor operation or disable diagnostic reporting. Also, do not reuse a DRV8243 (higher RON) footprint assuming equal thermal performance at 6A - the pin function is identical but the smaller die will overheat at DRV8242-class loads. Finally, confirm sleep-mode entry conditions in firmware; leaving the interface active defeats the low quiescent current that always-on automotive modules depend on.
Compliance Information
Automotive Q1 qualification confirmed by TI product page (DRV8242-Q1 family). RoHS/REACH/lead-free statements not present in retrieved data; Mouser catalog snippet indicates RoHS-compliant listing for the DRV8242 series but confirm on the TI quality page. Package group RHL per Spirit Electronics listing.
