TMC6460ATU - 36V/3A Smart FOC BLDC cDriver | Analog Devices
MPN: TMC6460ATU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.85 | $6.85 |
| 10 | $6.16 | $61.60 |
| 100 | $5.47 | $547.00 |
| 500 | $4.93 | $2,465.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.31 | $4,310.00 |
| 3,000 | $3.95 | $11,850.00 |
TMC6460ATU Overview
A brushless DC (BLDC) motor driver is a power-electronics IC that electronically commutates the stator phases of a permanent-magnet motor using position feedback. Within the broader motor-control hierarchy, a BLDC driver sits above discrete H-bridges and below complete motion modules; integrated servo ICs like the TMC6460 add closed-loop FOC and current-sensing on-chip, bridging the gap between simple stepper/BLDC drivers and full-fledged DSP-based motor controllers. The FOC algorithm is implemented in dedicated silicon rather than firmware, which is why the part is positioned by the vendor as a 'cDriver' (controller + driver).
Key specifications include a 2.4V to 36V motor supply range, up to 3A RMS phase current, integrated NMOS FET power stage, on-chip current sensing, and host interfaces including I2C, SPI, and UART. The 38-TQFN exposed-pad package provides a low thermal-resistance path for dissipating motor-conduction losses, supporting continuous high-current operation without external heat sinking in typical fan, pump, and small-drivetrain designs.
Architecturally, the TMC6460 is built around a hardware FOC engine that converts measured phase currents into quadrature vectors and drives the integrated three-phase half-bridge via an internal PWM modulator. Compared to software-FOC MCUs, the hardware engine closes the current loop in microseconds, reduces CPU overhead, and removes firmware development for the commutation/vector-control block - the host MCU only sets target torque/position via the digital interface.
Typical use cases include BLDC servo pumps, e-bike hub drives, robotics joint motors, computer and server cooling fans, HVAC blowers, and small industrial spindle drives where size, EMI performance, and torque-ripple minimization are priorities. The 38-TQFN footprint suits space-constrained PCBs.
Design tip: route the motor phase traces as a symmetric star from the IC, keep the exposed pad soldered to a continuous copper pour of at least 1 square inch, and place low-ESR decoupling within 5 mm of the VM and GND pins to keep current-sensing noise out of the FOC loop. Use TMCL/ADI Trinamic evaluation firmware when bringing up a new motor for fastest auto-tuning.
Drop-in alternatives for TMC6460ATU — 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 TMC6460ATU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Control Algorithm, Evaluation Kit, Motor Type, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
TMC6460ATU+T
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →TMC6460ATU+TTR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TMC6460ATU+TDKR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TMC6300-WA
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TMC6460ATU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Motor Type | Brushless DC (BLDC), 3-phase |
| Control Algorithm | Hardware Field-Oriented Control (FOC) |
| Motor Supply Voltage (VM) | 2.4 V to 36 V |
| Maximum Phase Current | 3 A (RMS) |
| Output Stage | Integrated NMOS FET half-bridge (3-phase) |
| Current Sensing | On-chip |
| Host Interfaces | I2C, SPI, UART |
| Feedback Engine | Integrated (hardware FOC + commutation) |
| Package | 38-TQFN (5x7 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Configuration | PCB Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Recommended for New Designs | Yes (per ADI product page) |
| Evaluation Kit | TMC6460-EVKIT |
TMC6460ATU 38-tqfn (5x7 mm) with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for TMC6460ATU (38-tqfn (5x7 mm) with 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 TMC6460ATU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
TMC6460ATU is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC Pump and Fluid Handling, E-Bike Hub and Small EV Drives, Server / Datacenter Cooling Fans, Robotics Joint and Gimbal Actuators, HVAC Blowers and Ventilation, Drones and UAV Propulsion.
BLDC Pump and Fluid Handling
The TMC6460ATU's hardware-FOC engine and 2.4-36 V supply range make it ideal for closed-loop BLDC pumps and dosing systems. The on-chip FOC eliminates torque ripple that would otherwise cause audible noise and flow pulsation in peristaltic or centrifugal pumps, while the 3 A RMS rating covers most sub-100 W pump designs directly from a 24 V industrial rail. Place the IC near the motor connector, keep the exposed pad on >= 1 sq inch of copper, and use TMCL scripts for auto-tuned current-loop commissioning.
Recommended
E-Bike Hub and Small EV Drives
For e-bike hub motors and small light-EV traction drives, the TMC6460ATU delivers up to 3 A RMS from a 36 V pack with hardware-closed torque loop. The hardware FOC runs faster than software implementations, giving smoother torque at standstill - critical for hill-start scenarios - while the integrated current sensing removes external shunt resistors and reduces PCB area. Pair with an SPI-controlled battery monitor for pack-level coordination.
Recommended
Server / Datacenter Cooling Fans
The TMC6460ATU's quiet-FOC operation and 38-TQFN exposed-pad package suit high-density server cooling fans where acoustic noise and PCB height are constrained. Hardware-FOC torque-ripple suppression yields sub-25 dBA acoustic profiles even at full duty, while the 36 V rating supports 24 V backplane rails with margin for transient spikes. The exposed pad provides the thermal headroom required for continuous 3 A operation in 1U chassis.
Recommended
Robotics Joint and Gimbal Actuators
In 6-DoF robot arms, gimbals, and pan-tilt heads, the TMC6460ATU provides position/velocity control without burdening the host MCU with FOC math, freeing CPU cycles for kinematics and vision. The 3 A capability covers most sub-50 W gimbal joints, and the 38-TQFN (5x7 mm) footprint fits into the dense multi-DOF PCB layouts typical of humanoid and collaborative robots. Pair with a magnetometer for absolute heading.
Recommended
HVAC Blowers and Ventilation
The TMC6460ATU drives HVAC variable-speed blowers directly from 24 V HVAC rails with closed-loop airflow regulation via the hardware-FOC current loop. Integrated current sensing enables stall detection and filter-clog alerts without external hardware, while the 2.4 V minimum VM allows operation from 12 V emergency-backup rails during power transitions. Use TMCL firmware scripts for soft-start to avoid inrush trips on shared breakers.
Recommended
Drones and UAV Propulsion
For sub-250 g and industrial UAV propulsion, the TMC6460ATU's small 38-TQFN footprint and 36 V/3 A envelope cover 3S-8S Li-ion packs at sub-100 W per motor. Hardware-FOC delivers the fast torque response required for stable flight control, while integrated current sensing enables per-motor telemetry over the SPI bus back to the flight controller. The exposed pad handles short full-throttle bursts without thermal throttling in well-ventilated airframes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for TMC6460ATU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | TMC6460ATU+T | TMC6460ATU+TTR | TMC6460ATU+TDKR | TMC6300-WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 38-TQFN (5x7) exposed pad | 38-TQFN (5x7) - same | 38-TQFN (5x7) - same | 38-TQFN (5x7) - same | 38-TQFN - same footprint, different silicon |
| Brand | Analog Devices (formerly Trinamic) | Analog Devices | Analog Devices | Analog Devices | Analog Devices |
| Motor Type | BLDC 3-phase (with FOC) | BLDC 3-phase (FOC) | BLDC 3-phase (FOC) | BLDC 3-phase (FOC) | BLDC (open-loop only) |
| Supply Voltage (VM) | 2.4 V to 36 V | 2.4 V to 36 V | 2.4 V to 36 V | 2.4 V to 36 V | 1.8 V to 11 V |
| Max Phase Current | 3 A RMS | 3 A RMS | 3 A RMS | 3 A RMS | ~2 A peak |
| Integrated Current Sensing | Yes (on-chip) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (external shunt required) |
| Hardware FOC Engine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (open-loop block commutation) |
| Host Interfaces | I2C, SPI, UART | I2C, SPI, UART | I2C, SPI, UART | I2C, SPI, UART | I2C, UART |
| 1ku Unit Price | $4.31 | $4.31 | $4.31 | $4.31 | ~$2.10 |
Key Differentiators
- Hardware FOC engine removes firmware FOC math (vs TMC6300-WA (open-loop commutation))
- Wide 2.4-36 V supply range covers 24V industrial and 8S Li-ion (vs TMC6300-WA (1.8-11 V only))
- Triple host interface (I2C/SPI/UART) for flexible MCU pairing (vs TMC6300-WA (I2C/UART only, no SPI))
Design Notes
Estimated: at VM=24 V, Vout_phase=12 V avg, and 3 A RMS, conduction losses in the integrated NMOS half-bridge reach roughly 1.5 W. With a 38-TQFN exposed pad and a recommended >= 1 sq inch copper pour on top + bottom layers, junction rise stays under 30 C above ambient. Avoid placing the IC adjacent to tall inductors that block airflow across the pad.
Place VM bulk decoupling (>= 100 uF low-ESR aluminum polymer or ceramic) within 5 mm of the VM and GND pins to suppress the high-di/dt transients from the 3-phase PWM switching. Keep motor phase traces symmetric and as short as possible; a star-ground topology with the exposed pad as the central ground reference minimizes current-sensing distortion that would otherwise leak into the FOC loop.
Do not exceed the absolute-maximum VM rating of 36 V; back-EMF from a free-spinning motor can exceed VM and trigger over-voltage lockout. Ensure the host MCU initializes all unused GPIO as analog (high-Z) before the TMC6460ATU powers up, otherwise SPI bus contention can prevent the FOC engine from starting. Always run the ADI Trinamic TMCL evaluation firmware first to validate motor parameters before porting custom code.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per ADI product page; not AEC-Q100 qualified (consumer/industrial grade). Lead-free terminations. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the datasheet excerpt.
