Texas Instruments BOOSTXL-ULN2003 User manual

BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver
BoosterPack Hardware
User's Guide
Literature Number: SLCU002
September 2016

2SLCU002–September 2016
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Table of Contents
Contents
1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack Overview ........................................ 5
2 Hardware Description........................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Top and Bottom View.................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Board Overview .......................................................................................................... 6
2.3 Block Diagram............................................................................................................ 7
2.4 Connector, Switch, and LED Descriptions............................................................................ 8
2.5 Powering the BOOSTXL-ULN2003................................................................................... 11
2.6 Other Hardware Highlights ............................................................................................ 13
3 Interfacing With External Hardware ...................................................................................... 15
3.1 Connecting to a LaunchPad........................................................................................... 15
3.2 Connecting a Motor or Other Peripherals ........................................................................... 15
3.3 Connecting to Other Development Boards.......................................................................... 16
4 Functional Modes............................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Modes of Operation Overview ........................................................................................ 17
4.2 3-pin Serial Mode....................................................................................................... 18
4.3 8-pin Parallel Mode..................................................................................................... 19
5 Additional Information ........................................................................................................ 20
5.1 Design Files ............................................................................................................. 20
5.2 Software.................................................................................................................. 20
5.3 Hardware Change Log................................................................................................. 20
5.4 Schematic................................................................................................................ 21

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List of Figures
List of Figures
1 BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Connected to MSP-EXP430F5529LP........................................................... 5
2 Top View of BOOSTXL-ULN2003......................................................................................... 6
3 Bottom View of BOOSTXL-ULN2003 ..................................................................................... 6
4 BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Top Side Overview................................................................................. 6
5 BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Block Diagram...................................................................................... 7
6 BOOSTXL-ULN2003 2x20 Header Description.......................................................................... 8
7 Board Image of Switches................................................................................................... 9
8 Schematic View of Switches ............................................................................................... 9
9 Board Image of LEDs...................................................................................................... 10
10 Schematic View of LEDs.................................................................................................. 10
11 External Supply Connected to Motor Supply Pins ..................................................................... 11
12 On-Board Power OR-ing .................................................................................................. 11
13 USB Powering a Single Motor (See NOTE) ............................................................................ 12
14 BoosterPack With ULN2003A ............................................................................................ 13
15 BoosterPack With ULN2803A ............................................................................................ 13
16 Board Image of LED Section ............................................................................................. 14
17 LED Section With R5 Depopulated ...................................................................................... 14
18 Board Image of COM Diode Section .................................................................................... 14
19 COM Diode Section With R14 Depopulated............................................................................ 14
20 BoosterPack Connected to MSP430F5529 LaunchPad .............................................................. 15
21 BoosterPack With Two Stepper Motors................................................................................. 15
22 BoosterPack with Motor and Male Expansion Header ................................................................ 16
23 BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Mode Overview ................................................................................... 17
24 3-Pin Mode Abbreviated Schematic (Zoom for Higher Resolution).................................................. 18
25 8-Pin Mode Abbreviated Schematic (Zoom for Higher Resolution).................................................. 19
26 BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Schematic (Zoom for Higher Resolution)...................................................... 21

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List of Tables
List of Tables
1 J1 and J2 Connector Pinout Description ................................................................................. 8
2 Dip Switch Description ...................................................................................................... 9
3 LED Description ............................................................................................................ 10
4 Description of Hardware Changes ....................................................................................... 20

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BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack Hardware
User's Guide
SLCU002–September 2016
BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver
BoosterPack Hardware
1 Introduction
1.1 BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack Overview
The BOOSTXL-ULN2003 provides an easy-to-use development board to interface with up to two unipolar
stepper motors using any Launchpad in the Launchpad Ecosystem. This user’s guide details a hardware
description of the BoosterPack, how to interface the BoosterPack with external hardware, various modes
of operation, and additional features.
The BOOSTXL-ULN2003 allows for the control of eight high-current (up to 500 mA per channel), high
voltage (up to 30 V), sink outputs. These outputs are controlled either through a serial (3-pin) or parallel
(8-pin) mode. Using the BOOSTXL-ULN2003 in serial 3-pin mode allows for control of two unipolar
stepper motors while only requiring 3 General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins, ultimately allowing for
flexibility in design and reduction in the number of GPIO pins required.
The BOOSTXL-ULN2003 can not only be used to provide an interface to unipolar stepper motors, but also
can be used in the following applications.
• Relay Driving
• Solenoid Driving
• LED Driving
• High-Voltage Logic Level Shifting
For additional information regarding these applications, see What is a Peripheral Driver? Applications and
Design Considerations.
The Boosterpack is not limited to one specific application at a time, but can be used for all of these
applications simultaneously. For example, one BoosterPack could enable driving one stepper motor,
driving one relay, driving two LEDs, and shifting a 3.3-V logic signal to a 24-V logic signal at the same
time.
Figure 1. BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Connected to MSP-EXP430F5529LP

J1, J3 Standard
BoosterPack Header
J2, J4 Standard
BoosterPack Header
Header for Other Dev Board Compatibility
Dev Board
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BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack Hardware
2 Hardware Description
2.1 Top and Bottom View
Figure 2 is a top view of the BOOSTXL-ULN2003, and Figure 3 is a bottom view of the
BOOSTXL-ULN2003.
Figure 2. Top View of BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Figure 3. Bottom View of BOOSTXL-ULN2003
2.2 Board Overview
Figure 4 shows an overview of the BOOSTXL-ULN2003 BoosterPack. The main features such as devices,
switches, connectors, and LEDs are highlighted.
See Section 2.4 for additional details regarding each section.
Figure 4. BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Top Side Overview

VCC
3V3
MSP430
Launchpad
40-pin
BoosterPack
Interface
ULN2003A
+
CSD17571Q2
SN74HC595
CH1-4 + Vcc
[Motor 1]
[4 Relays]
[4 LEDs]
CH5-8 + Vcc
[Motor 2]
[4 Relays]
[4 LEDs]
3-Pin
Mode
Dip Switches (x4) 8-Pin
Mode
Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack
BOOSTXL-ULN2003
Inputs Outputs
Motor Supply
-
+
AGND
VIN
+
5V
+
3V3
-
DGND
VIN
5V Power
OR-ing
VCC
VCC
VCC
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BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack Hardware
2.3 Block Diagram
Figure 5 details a block diagram of the BOOSTXL-ULN2003 BoosterPack. The 40-pin BoosterPack
header allows the BoosterPack to be interfaced with any LaunchPad in the MSP430 LaunchPad
ecosystem. See ti.com/launchpad for a list of all available MSP430 LaunchPads. A row of four switches
allow the user to choose between a parallel, direct-drive (8-pin) mode and a serial (3-pin) mode of control
of the ULN2003A.
The ULN2003A is a 7-channel Darlington pair array that is used to drive motors, solenoids, LEDs, or
relays. See the ULN2003A product folder for additional overview regarding this device. The CSD17571Q2
is a TI N-Channel NexFET Power MOSFET that is paired with the ULN2003A in order to enable an eighth
output channel. See the CSD17571Q2 product folder for additional overview regarding this device. The
SN74HC595 shift register enables the 3-pin control mode, ultimately reducing the number of GPIOs
required for driving eight output channels. See the SN74HC595 product folder for additional overview
regarding this device. See Section 4 for additional information on how to select between 3-pin mode and
8-pin mode.
Figure 5. BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Block Diagram

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BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack Hardware
2.4 Connector, Switch, and LED Descriptions
2.4.1 Connectors
The signal assignment on the BoosterPack pin connectors is shown in Figure 6. The J1-J4 descriptions on
the BoosterPack follow the J1-J4 convention for the Launchpad ecosystem. See ti.com/launchpad for
further description of the 40-pin BoosterPack standard.
Only the outer two pin columns, J1 and J2 (highlighted in red below) are required for BoosterPack
operation, the inner 2 columns, J3 and J4, are provided to pass signals from any 40-pin Launchpad to
other BoosterPack boards that may require these pins. The additional headers, J0, J5, and J6 are for
interfacing with other development boards. See Section 3.3 for details regarding connecting to other
development boards.
(1) Pins with no name/description are not connected. Pins with the same name/description are shorted together.
(2) *~ These pins are not required for BoosterPack operation.
(3) * These pins are not connected out of the box. To enable control of this board through these pins, see
Section 4.3.1.
(4) ~ This pin is connected to IN4 out of the box. This allows for channels IN1-IN4 to be driven directly using 8-
pin parallel mode. A resistor is connected to protect the line from bus contention if 3-pin mode is being used
and this pin is being used for another purpose.
Figure 6. BOOSTXL-ULN2003 2x20 Header Description
Table 1. J1 and J2 Connector Pinout Description
Direction Pin Name Pin Number Pin Number Pin Name Direction
POWER VDD J1.1 J2.20 DGND POWER
INPUT GP2* J1.2 J2.19
J1.3 J2.18
J1.4 J2.17
J1.5 J2.16
INPUT GP6* J1.6 J2.15
J1.7 J2.14
INPUT GP8~ J1.8 J2.13 GP13 INPUT
INPUT GP9* J1.9 J2.12 GP12 INPUT
INPUT GP10* J1.10 J2.11 GP11 INPUT

GP11 GP12 GP13
SRCLK
IN3
RCLK
IN2
SER
IN1
OE
DGND
3V3
3
1
2
6
4
5
S2
3
1
2
6
4
5
S1
560
R11
560
R12
560
R13
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BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack Hardware
2.4.2 Switches
The four on-board dip switches are used to select between 3-pin mode and 8-pin mode operation of the
BoosterPack. Descriptions for each of the switches are provided in Table 2.
Figure 7. Board Image of Switches
Figure 8. Schematic View of Switches
Table 2. Dip Switch Description
Reference Description
S1 - GP11
This SPDT switch directs the signal from BoosterPack header input GP11. If the switch
is down, it connects GP11 to the SER input of the SN74HC595. If the switch is up, it
connects GP11 directly to IN1 – ultimately connected to the gate of the CSD17571Q2
FET.
Switch Down = 3-pin Serial Mode
Switch Up = 8-pin Parallel Mode
S1 - GP12
This SPDT switch directs the signal from BoosterPack header input GP12. If the switch
is down, it connects GP12 to the RCLK input of the SN74HC595. If the switch is up, it
connects GP12 directly to IN2 – ultimately connected to 1B of the ULN2003A device.
Switch Down = 3-pin Serial Mode
Switch Up = 8-pin Parallel Mode
S2 - GP13
This SPDT switch directs the signal from BoosterPack header input GP13. If the switch
is down, it connects GP13 to the SRCLK input of the SN74HC595. If the switch is up, it
connects GP13 directly to IN3 – ultimately connected to the 2B of the ULN2003A
device.
Switch Down = 3-pin Serial Mode
Switch Up = 8-pin Parallel Mode
S2 - HC595
This SPDT switch connects the OE pin either to 3V3 or DGND. This determines
whether or not the SN74HC595 outputs are enabled or are in high-impedance (Hi-Z)
mode. If the switch is down, it enables the SN74HC595 outputs. If the switch is up, it
disables the SN74HC595 outputs. Disabling these outputs is required for 8-pin Parallel
Mode to avoid bus contention at the inputs of the ULN2003A and the CSD17571Q2
FET.
Switch Down = 3-pin Serial Mode
Switch Up = 8-pin Parallel Mode

Green
12
D1
Green
12
D2
Green
12
D3
Green
12
D4
DGND
IN1 IN2 IN3 IN4
0
R5
1.0k
R1
1.0k
R7
1.0k
R3
1.0k
R4
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BOOSTXL-ULN2003 Dual Stepper Motor Driver BoosterPack Hardware
2.4.3 LEDs
The four on-board LEDs provide visual feedback for the IN1 through IN4 signals. When operating in 3-pin
mode these LEDs are driven by the SN74HC595, and when operating in 8-pin mode these LEDs are
being driven directly by the MSP430 GPIO pins.
If the user wants to disable the onboard LEDs, resistor R5 can be removed. Additional details are found in
Section 2.6.2.
Figure 9. Board Image of LEDs Figure 10. Schematic View of LEDs
Table 3. LED Description
Reference Description
D1 D1 is connected to the signal IN1. D1 is on when IN1 is high, and is off when IN1 is low. When IN1 is high, M1_CH1 is activated – ultimately being pulled to AGND as the CSD17571Q2
inverts the logic signal.
D2 D2 is connected to the signal IN2. D2 is on when IN2 is high, and is off when IN2 is low. When IN2 is high, M1_CH2 is activated – ultimately being pulled to AGND as the ULN2003A inverts
the logic signal.
D3 D3 is connected to the signal IN3. D3 is on when IN3 is high, and is off when IN3 is low. When IN3 is high, M1_CH3 is activated – ultimately being pulled to AGND as the ULN2003A inverts
the logic signal.
D4 D4 is connected to the signal IN4. D4 is on when IN4 is high, and is off when IN4 is low. When IN4 is high, M1_CH4 is activated – ultimately being pulled to AGND as the ULN2003A inverts
the logic signal.