The DRV8870, DRV8251, and DRV8231 devices come in an industry standard package footprint in the DDA package. When the system needs current sensing, a current-sense amplifier may be used across the R_SENSE resistor to provide an amplifed signal back to an microcontroller ADC as shown in Figure 9-16. To reduce the size of the system bill of materials and cost, the IPROPI function in DRV8231A/51A can replace the current sense amplifer. During the board design process, both solutions, IPROPI and industry standard shunt devices, can be accomodated in the same board layout by placing and not placing (DNP) components as shown in Figure 9-17. This allows the system to be flexible for lowest cost with the DRV8231A/51A or for use with second-source devices with the same pinout as DRV8870, DRV8231, and DRV8251.

Figure 9-16 Standard Pinout with Current Sense Amplifier

Figure 9-17 DRV8231A/51A Device Using IPROPI to Integrate The Current Sense Function into The Motor Driver