Texas Instruments' DRV8860 provides 8-channel, low-side drivers with over-current protection and open/shorted load detection. They have built-in diodes to clamp turn-off transients generated by inductive loads, and can be used to drive unipolar stepper motors, DC motors, relays, solenoids, or other loads.

The PWP package can supply up to 330 mA x 8 channel and the PW package can supply up to 200 mA x 8 channel continuous output current. A single channel can deliver up to 560 mA continuous output current.

A serial interface is provided to control the DRV8860 output drivers, configure the internal setting register, and read the fault status of each channel. DRV8860 devices can be daisy-chained together to use a single serial interface. Energizing-time and holding-PWM duty cycles are configurable through serial interface as well. These functions allow for cooler running than always-on solutions.

Internal shutdown functions are provided for over-current protection, short-circuit protection, under-voltage lockout, and over-temperature protection. DRV8860A does not include open-load detection. Fault information for each channel can be read-out through the serial interface and indicated by an external fault pin.