Integrated three-phase BLDC fan driver with PWM speed control
The Texas Instruments DRV10963JUDSNT is a fully integrated driver combining control logic and power stage for brushless DC (BLDC) fan motors. It integrates three half-bridge outputs with Power MOSFETs on-chip, eliminating external FETs and simplifying the BOM for space-constrained fan designs. The PWM interface accepts a direct duty-cycle input from a microcontroller or system controller for variable-speed fan control without external DACs or analog conditioning.
Supply range and output current — fitting the fan load
The DRV10963 operates from a 2.1V to 5.5V supply and load voltage range, covering both 3.3V and 5V system rails common in telecom, server, and industrial equipment. The 500mA continuous output current rating handles small to medium BLDC fans — think 40mm to 80mm chassis fans, CPU cooler fans, or ventilation blowers in power supplies. At 5V supply, the driver can deliver roughly 2.5W to the motor, sufficient for most low-power fan applications.
Package and thermal management for compact layouts
Housed in a 10-UFDFN Exposed Pad package (3x3mm body, 10-SON supplier package), the DRV10963JUDSNT is designed for surface-mount assembly on dense PCBs. The exposed pad must be soldered to a thermal land on the PCB and connected to a ground plane with thermal vias to dissipate heat from the integrated power MOSFETs. At 500mA output, the junction temperature rise depends on the PCB copper area — a 1-inch-square copper pour on a two-layer board keeps the junction within the -40°C to 125°C operating range under most fan loads. The package is MSL-rated per standard JEDEC profiles; no special bake is needed if the moisture barrier bag is intact.
Lifecycle and sourcing — active production, no LTB risk
The DRV10963JUDSNT carries an active lifecycle status, meaning Texas Instruments continues to manufacture it without a last-time-buy notice. For new designs, this avoids the supply-chain disruption of an NRND or EOL part. The device is ROHS3 compliant, meeting current European and global environmental requirements.
PWM interface — direct speed control from any MCU
The PWM input allows the DRV10963 to be driven directly from a microcontroller's timer output or a dedicated fan controller IC. No I2C, SPI, or analog voltage is required — a simple PWM signal sets the motor speed proportionally. This keeps the firmware overhead low and the interface compatible with most system controllers.