DRV10983: Change direction during use AND efficient way of uploading software for multiple chips

Hello Robin,

Let me address your questions separately:

1) I will connect an SPDT switch to my DIR pin to change the direction of the motor. Will it do any harm when I change the direction while the motor is running? If so, would there be an easy way to solve this?

No, in fact, we have some parts of the algorithm that expects the DIR state to change, see the block diagram below.

The two options to react are to enable Brake and wait for the device to spin down (where it will go through align or Initial Position Detect (IPD) and open loop again) or also enable the Initial Speed Detect (ISD) and look into configuring Reverse Drive for spinning to the reverse target speed more quickly. 

See Motor Start Sequence section in the datasheet and Reverse Drive and Brake sections in the DRV10983 tuning guide for more info.

2) After testing I want to be able to use this chip for a large number of products, so I am looking for an efficient way to upload the software onto the chips. Is it possible to buy them pre-programmed? Or do you have any way in which many chips can be programmed at once or quickly without the need to program each individual chip?

We have heard of asking distributors for help in programming the EEPROM of our device. We also hear it is rather expensive and requires some negotiations as they will have to develop hardware and get personnel to do the action programming. 

Otherwise, we have created a reference design called the TIDA-01373 that is used to program multiple devices with a single button press.

In case you are not familiar reference designs, they are proven, documented, and tested designs that can be used a reference from anyone. There are design guides, reference code, and manufacturer files associated with each. Most customers usually adopt the programming board and then create their own socket board used to program the EEPROM of the device.

Best,

-Cole