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This section provides an overview for motor drivers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 18 motor driver manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked motor driver companies as of January, 2025: 1.Lin Eng. Inc., 2.Power Integrations, Inc., 3.SparkFun Electronics.
Table of Contents
A motor driver is a device that controls the drive related to motor rotation. Combined with a computer such as a microcontroller, it controls the timing and speed of motor rotation by applying the appropriate voltage and current.
The motor driver IC, which is the heart of the motor driver, is very small, so it has the advantage of reducing the mounting area compared to building a separate motor control circuit by combining stand-alone components. In addition, some motor drivers are equipped with protection functions against overcurrent and overheating, enabling users to drive motors safely.
The appropriate motor driver is selected based on the type of motor. Typical motors include brushed DC motors, brushless motors, stepper motors, and linear motors.
DC motors are simple, inexpensive, and versatile motors used in a variety of applications, including home appliances such as washing machines. They are also used in linear motors where the magnetic poles are changed by changing the direction of the current. The linear bullet train is a synchronous linear motor, and the motor driver is used to control the propulsion by changing the magnetic poles of the rails.
The principle of operation of a motor driver depends on the type of motor being controlled. Specifically, the configuration of the bridge circuit for switching the energization differs.
For example, a DC motor driver controls the direction of rotation by switching the direction of the current flowing to the electromagnets. For example, applying current in the opposite direction to a motor rotating at high speed will brake the rotation and thus reduces the speed of rotation.
In this case, a half-bridge circuit is constructed using multiple transistors. The direction of current flow is determined by the combination of transistors. In brushless motors and stepping motors, it is the half-bridge circuit that controls the current corresponding to the number of coils (number of phases) drawn from the motor.
For brushless motors, there are single-phase and three-phase circuits, and for stepping motors, there are two-phase and five-phase circuits. In addition, there is another method to control the rotation speed by combining PWM control, which modulates the width of the pulse voltage.
The motor driver market can be broadly divided into the aforementioned DC motors (with brushes), brushless motors, and stepping motors. Brush DC motors are easy to handle because they can be easily driven by applying voltage, but they are cost-prohibitive in a market where many types of motors are available.
Brushless motors are used in PC cooling fans and other applications that require relatively efficient operation and high reliability. Stepping motors, as the name suggests, are characterized by their ability to provide sophisticated control of motor rotation, and are used in industrial applications such as high-precision actuator control for factory automation, as well as in consumer devices such as printers.
In the automotive market, represented by the recent shift to EVs, highly efficient operation of motors using motor drivers is indispensable, because motors must be able to handle a wide range of motor control, from high torque at low speeds to high speeds, and the life of the battery until discharge directly affects the driving distance. To achieve this, PWM control of the motor driver using a microcontroller is an essential technology, along with inverter control technology for high power output for in-vehicle use.
Although motor drivers are a technical field in which even beginners can make their own motor drivers using single components, full-scale control requires an understanding of the principles of motor operation, control algorithms using a microcontroller, and software support.
Therefore, some of the latest motor drivers are equipped with dedicated application software to make it easy for users to use them.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Sensitron Semiconductor, founded in 1969 with corporate headquarters located in the USA, is a manufacturer of power electronic components and systems for the defense, aerospace, space, and medical markets. The company's products include high-power rectifier bridges, motion control modules, TVS modules, solid-state power controllers, and high voltage diode assemblies, as well as various services including, engineering, electrical and mechanical design, material science expertise, and testing of a finished power system. The company's facility includes a wafer fabrication clean room and a microelectronics manufacturing clean room.
Lin Eng. Inc., established in 1987 and headquartered in Fremont, California, is a manufacturer, specializing in motion control solutions. Its product range encompasses stepper motors, including hybrid, PM, and integrated options, facilitating precise motion control. The company also offers a diverse selection of BLDC motors, from frameless to servo, ensuring smooth motion control. Additionally, provided too are motion control components such as drivers, controllers, encoders, and gearboxes, enabling the creation of customized motion control systems. The company keeps data with accordance to ISO9001:2015, AS9100D and many other standards, and its motors can be found in numerous FDA and FAA-approved applications.
Power Integrations, a manufacturer of power semiconductor solutions, was established in 1988 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. The company provides cutting-edge technologies for high-efficiency power conversion, serving industries such as electronics, consumer electronics, and industrial. The company also offers a range of services to its customers, including design support, application engineering, and product training. The company intends to help its customers design and implement efficient and dependable power solutions possible.
SparkFun Electronics is a manufacturer of modernized and cutting-edge electronic components and tools founded in 2003 and was established in USA. The company broad selection of goods includes sensors, development boards, kits, and modules for both experts and enthusiasts. Quality is crucial at SparkFun Electronics, and they work hard to satisfy their clients. They stand out for their adherence to open-source hardware and wealth of instructional resources, which enables them to support a thriving and cooperative community of makers and innovators.
ADVANCED Motion Controls, founded in 1987 and based in Camarillo, California, is a manufacturer and supplier of servo drives and motor controllers. Its product offerings include servo drives, the AxCent Drive Family for servo motor control, FlexPro and DigiFlex Performance Digital Drives for precise motor control, mounting cards for secure drive installation, and power supplies to provide necessary electrical power. Its 20-90 VDC Micro-Sized FlexPro servo drives received 3rd place in the Motion Control category at the 2023 Leap Awards, benefiting the engineering design industry.
Cissoid, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Walloon Region, is a manufacturer of high temperature semiconductors. They deliver standard products and custom solutions for power management, power conversion and signal conditioning in extreme temperature and harsh environments. Their solutions range from system-on-chip to complete SiC and GaN based inverter platforms to support an ever-growing range of e-mobility and high-power applications. The company has been supplying products to leaders in the Oil & Gas, aeronautic, Industrial and automotive markets.
Hitachi Power Semiconductor Device, Ltd., established in 2013, is a designer, manufacturer, and retailer of semiconductor components and application equipment headquartered in Ibaraki, Japan. The company’s product portfolio includes IGBT/SIC, high-voltage monolithic ICs, and diodes used in automotive, industry, railway, and consumer field applications. Their diode product portfolio includes zener, surge suppressor, alternator, general-use rectifier, and high-voltage diodes. They offer high-voltage monolithic ICs including high-voltage analog switches, single-chip inverter ICs, and IGBT/power MOSFET driver ICs.
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc., established in 1959, and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of semiconductors and electronic components. The company specializes in producing integrated circuits, discrete semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, which caters to industries such as telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics. The company holds ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certifications, ensuring quality in their products which are used for various applications, including wireless communication, automotive systems, and industrial automation, providing crucial electronic components for advanced technologies in various industrial and commercial sectors.
Renesas Electronics Corporation was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas is a global research, design, and manufacturer of semiconductors used in industries spanning automotive, consumer electronics, the internet of things, power & energy, and industrial sectors. Renesas manufactures both analog and digital products. Analog products include amplifiers, audio & video devices, data converters, PLC, and switches & multiplexers. Digital products include microcontrollers, memory components, sensors, wireless connectivity products, and others. Renesas also offers design resources such as kits, development tools, partner programs, and design tools.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation is a division of Toshiba focusing on providing designs for end-product developers as well as semiconductor and drive equipment for automotive, industrial equipment, green energy, and consumer and personal electronic devices. Toshiba’s storage products include cloud-scale and enterprise-level products, and PC hard drives. Semiconductor products include Si Cower devices, MOSFETs, IGBTs, IEGTs, isolators, solid state relays, power management and intelligent power ICs, diodes, bipolar transistors, microcontrollers, automotive devices, ICs for wireless communication equipment, general purpose logic ICs, radio-frequency devices, sensors, and linear image sensors.
ST Micro Electronics is a global semiconductor company serving customers with innovations to have a positive impact on people's lives. Their product line is micro electronic systems, such as switches, controllers, sensors and drivers. The main selling point of ST Micro Electronics is its provision of sustainable products, and introducing their electronics to create a more sustainable world. The company, as well as providing the electronic devices, also provides software and support, ensuring that all fields are covered to provide a fully provide a supported and strong relationship with their customer base. ST Micro Electronics believe that technology plays a key role in helping to solve environmental and social challenges, which is why their semiconductor technologies start with their employees, their customers and partners.
Monolithic Power Systems (MPS), founded in 1997 and headquartered in San Jose, California, is a manufacturer of integrated circuits (ICs). Their product range includes switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) for converting AC or DC power to lower voltage DC power, LED drivers for driving LED lights, battery management ICs to manage power in portable devices, power factor correction (PFC) ICs for improving power supply efficiency, and sensorless motor control ICs to control motors without position sensors. MPS's solutions find applications in consumer electronics, industrial, and automotive industries, offering efficient power management solutions to enhance various electronic devices.
JVL A/S, established in 1974 and founded in Denmark, is a manufacturer and supplier of IntegraMotion Motors. The company's product range includes integrated servo motors and stepper motors, such as MAC motors, QuickStep motors, MIS motors, and StepMax. These products find utility in various industries, including automation, and motion control. Whether it's robotics, CNC machines, wind turbines, or medical equipment, JVL A/S's motors cater to a wide range of applications. As a certified ISO 9001:2015 company, it provides quality products and services.
Elmo Motion Control is headquartered in Israel and has offices globally. As per its namesake, Elmo motion control servos, drives, controllers, software and more for customers across a wide array of industries. These include medical, packaging, robotics, laboratory automation, semiconductors, laser processing, and aerospace. Elmo also offers products designed for underwater systems, harsh environments, and warehouse management.
NIPPON PULSE MOTOR Co., Ltd. established in 1952 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision motion control products. The company's product range includes controllers, drivers, various motors, industrial fields, and mechatronic systems. These products find their application in valves/fluid control, medical and analytical instruments, industrial machinery, and semiconductor manufacturing. It serves industries such as industrial machines, semiconductor manufacturing, valve mechanisms, and medical analytical instruments. Its services include product design, manufacturing, global distribution, and technical support.
Ranking as of January 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lin Eng. Inc. |
19.5%
|
| 2 | Power Integrations, Inc. |
13.0%
|
| 3 | SparkFun Electronics |
11.0%
|
| 4 | Sensitron Semiconductor |
10.4%
|
| 5 | Cissoid |
7.1%
|
| 6 | Elmo Motion Control Ltd. |
7.1%
|
| 7 | Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. |
5.8%
|
| 8 | Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. |
5.2%
|
| 9 | Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage |
5.2%
|
| 10 | JVL A/S |
4.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the motor driver page as of January 2025. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
8 | 53.3% |
|
United States of America
|
5 | 33.3% |
|
Belgium
|
1 | 6.7% |
|
Denmark
|
1 | 6.7% |
144 products found - Page 3
144 products - Page 3
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■Summary ・DC input ・Full closed loop control ・High-precision submicron positioning ■Full-closed control of stepping motor At the start of posit...
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■Summary EtherCAT is an open standard that has high real-time performance among industrial Ethernet and is effective for systems that require motio...
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■Summary ・Integrated hollow table and closed loop stepping motor ・Also available with servo motor ・Mounting angle 60~200mm, hollow diameter φ28~...
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■Summary AiC-MT series is a ModbusTCP communication type closed loop stepping system. This product supports Ethernet Modbus TCP communication and c...
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■Summary AiC-EC series is an EtherCAT communication type closed loop stepping system. This product provides seamless compatibility with various mas...
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■Summary The AiCA series is an AC-powered closed-loop stepping system that integrates a stepping motor driver and motion controller. This product c...
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■Summary AiC-CL series is a closed loop stepping system compatible with CC-Link communication. This product can be controlled in a Mitsubishi PLC c...
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Compatible with DC motors and brushless motors. Mechanically friendly driver with low loss. ■Features ・Rotation control possible by PWM voltage c...
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For Mtype replacement.
TSUKASA ELECTRIC CO.,LTD
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For brushless motors/DC motors only. ■Features of TCP-S27A - Abundant protection functions (overload, overcurrent, sensor abnormality, motor shaft...
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