Grove - I2C Motor Driver v1.3 & Grove - I2C Motor Driver (L298P)

This library can be used for both I2C Motor Driver v1.3 and I2C Motor Driver (L298P) New library can run with old (L298) firmware but PWM frequence won't work. You should upgrade library and firmware on (L298): library V1.03 with firmware 103 for example.

I2C Motor Driver v1.3

I2C Motor Driver (L298P)

This library can control both I2C Motor Driver V1.3 and I2C Motor Driver (L298P). Both version use a L298P as motor controler but V1.3 uses a Atmel ATmega8L and (L298) uses a STM32F03. You must upgrade (L298P) to last firmwre to be able to change PWM frequence.

The Grove - I2C Motor Drive can directly control Stepper Motor or DC Motor. Its heart is a dual channel H-bridge driver chip（L298P）that can handle current up to 2A per channel, controlled by an Atmel ATmega8L which handles the I2C communication with for example an Arduino. Both motors can be driven simultaneously while set to a different speed and direction. It can power two brushed DC motors or one 4-wire two-phase stepper motor. It requires a 6V to 15V power supply to power the motor and has an onboard 5V voltage regulator which can power the I2C bus and the Arduino(selectable by jumper). All driver lines are protected by diodes from back-EMF.

• Grove Compatible
• I2C Interface
• Adjustable motor speed and rotation direction
• Changeable slave address by hardware

Installation

git clone https://github.com/Seeed-Studio/Grove_I2C_Motor_Driver_v1_3.git

or download the zip.

Usage

Simply copy the Grove_I2C_Motor_Driver_v1_3 folder to your Arduino library collection. For example, arduino-1.6.12/libraries. Next time you run the Arduino IDE, you'll have a new option in Sketch -> Include Library -> Grove_I2C_Motor_Driver_v1_3. Review the included examples in Grove_I2C_Motor_Driver_v1_3/examples.

1. Set the address

On I2C Motor Driver V1.3

• Set the address by dial switch is a new function added to the new I2C Motor Driver.

  

• Then keep the address setup in the program the same as the address setup on the I2C motor driver. The default address setup in the program is 0x0f.

  // default I2C address is 0x0f
  #define I2C_ADDRESS 0x0f
  
  void setup() {
    Motor.begin(I2C_ADDRESS);
  }
  

  Note: Default adress in 0x0F for (L298). Adress can be changed via I2C adress pins on PCB.

On I2C Motor Driver (L298) STM32

Default I2C address is 0x0f

Add jumper on I2C adress connector to change the address

2. Drive 2 DC motors

• There are 2 functions to control DC motors:

  // Set the speed of a motor, speed is equal to duty cycle here
  void speed(unsigned char motor_id, int _speed);
  
  // Stop one motor
  void stop(unsigned char motor_id);
  
  //Set the frequence of motor
  void frequence(unsigned int _frequence);
  

With speed() function, you are able to drive one motor at the speed you want.

motor_id represents which motor to use. You can fill MOTOR1 or MOTOR2.

_speed represents the speed you set to the motor. You can fill -100~100 here. When _speed>0, DC motor runs clockwise, while _speed<0, DC motor runs anticlockwise. And the bigger the absolute value of _speed, the faster the speed of DC motor.

With stop() function, you are able to stop a running DC motor.

motor_id represents which motor to use. You can fill MOTOR1 or MOTOR2.

_frequence represents the PWM frequence for (L298). For V1.3, choose among: F_31372Hz, F_3921Hz, F_490Hz, F_122Hz, F_30Hz Note: Only use frequence when (L298) is upgraded with the latest firmware.

3. Drive a Stepper Motor

• We provide a function to drive a stepper motor.

// Drive a stepper motor
void StepperRun(int _step, int _type=0, int _mode=0);

• _step represents the steps you set to the stepper motor to run. You can fill -1024~1024. When _step>0, stepper motor runs clockwise, while _step<0, stepper motor runs anticlockwise. When _step is 512/-512, the stepper motor will run a complete turn and if _step is 1024/-1024, the stepper motor will run 2 turns. The stepper motor will stop automatically after it finishes its steps. _type represents the type of stepper motor, 0 is for 4 phase stepper motor(default) and 1 for 2 phase stepper motor. _mode represents the operation mode. 0 for compatible mode (_step=1 corresponds 4 steps of motor), and 1 for fine mode (_step=1 corresponds 1 step of motor)

eg:

1. Set step as 512 and drive a 4 phase stepper motor.

StepperRun(512, 0);

Or

StepperRun(512);

2. Set step as 512 and drive a 2 phase stepper motor.

StepperRun(512, 1);

Note that number of pulses for "__step" is 4 (for 2-phase motor), and the number of steps of one motor turn is dependent on the spec of the stepping motor. For example, for the motor with 100 pulse per turn (3.6 degree per pulse), __step=25 will make one turn of the motor.

Stepper motor speed cannot be changed from the library. A library update could do it. Contribution welcome!