I'm working on a project where low cost and small BOM is just as important as optimal functionality. The goal is to drive a cheap DC motor (aka 'yellow motor'), in two directions, optionally with PWM.
We drive both a microcontroller and this motor from a regulated 3.3V source, which is able to provide more than enough current. The MCU (obviously) controls the motor direction. The motor consumes ±60mA when free running, which I think is pretty close to what it will be doing in the actual product (light load).
If I'd take the 'safe' route, I'd use the TI DRV8837 H-bridge IC and get a really small BOM and tiny footprint and be done with it. The unit price on a 3K reel for this on Digi-Key is €0,33. This is about 7% of the total product cost (± €5,-).
So IMO there is a case to look into a basic H-bridge made from transistors. For a BJT solution, I'd need the following:
- 2x NPN
- 2x PNP
- 4x back EMF Schottky diode
- 4x base R
When I choose the cheapest parts on Digi-Key for 3K reels, I get SOT-23 3904/6 transistors, some SOD-123, MINIMELF or SOT-23 Schottky diodes and a bag full of 0402 1K resistors, which would add up to only €0,16. That's less than half the price. Using GP 4148 type diodes would save me another 2 cents.
Using 2 P/N MOSFETs pairs, I could drop the base resistors, altough when I search for the optimal solution, I would ideally need gate resistors AND pull-downs. Also, there many questions on this board regarding the need for back-EMF Schottkies in parallel with the MOSFETs, when there are body-diodes in the MOSFET, too. My question is, would the body-diode inside the MOSFETs be good enough for this particular situation? Let's assume not and look for the cheapest parts again:
- 2x 2N7002 2 * €0,024
- 2x BSS84 2 * €0,038
- 4x Schottky 2 * €0,022
This adds up to €0,17 even with some resistors thrown in. So I guess using MOSFETs is just about as economically attractive as using BJTs. But again, dropping the back-EMF diodes would save a lot.
Say we would drop the (optional) requirement to PWM the drive signals, then the amount of switching would be extremely low. How much an impact would back-EMF have considering the circumstances?
— update
Using a pair of dual Schottky common anode/cathode diodes in SOT-23-3, I can shave another 4 cents off, but adds another unique part to the BOM.
Best Answer
I would look at small/cheap NMOS/PMOS FETs, for example: AO3400 / AO3401
These can handle a very large Id (more than 4 A) which is overkill for your application but means that the current that the Body diodes can handle is also increased (compared to low current MOSFETs). The body diodes in the AO340x can handle 2 A so in my view they can take over the task of the back EMF diodes easily.
I would ideally need gate resistors AND pull-downs.
That depends entirely on how your H-bridge controls the MOSFETs. If you're controlling the MOSFETs directly from a microController then you only need a high value resistor between gate and source of the MOSFETs. That is needed to keep the MOSFETs off when the microController initializes and its outputs are high impedance / undefined.