The

low voltage from TIVA GPIO pin necessitates the need for a bi-polar transistor. According to Table 24-6 (page
1360) on the TIVA datasheet, the TIVA GPIO high level output voltage (VOH) is 2.4 V (minimum) and source 2 mA,
4mA, or 8 mA depending on which drive mode is activated. Additionally, the TIVA GPIO pin cannot source the
significant amount of current needed to power the flywheel motor. Therefore, a P-channel is used to turn the
motor on when the input is high and provide a sufficient amount of current.
!" !"(!"#) 2.4 0.65
!,!"# = = = 438
4 4
Using a standard resistor value, R1 becomes 10 .
!" !"(!"#) 2.4 0.65
! = = = 175
! 10

We want to operate the BJT in the saturation region, not the linear region, in order to minimize power dissipation
and deliver the greatest voltage to the load.

Base-Emitter Saturation Voltage IC = 10 mA , IB =1.0 mA 0.65 V (min) 0.85 V (max)

(VBE(sat)) IC = 50 mA, IB = 5.0 mA 0.95 V (max)

Collector-Emitter Saturation Voltage (VCE(sat)) IC = 10 mA , IB =1.0 mA 0.2 V (max)

IC = 50 mA, IB = 5.0 mA 0.3 V (max)

The maximum value for R2 is dependent on the leakage current from the P-channel MOSFET and the threshold
voltage.

Gate to Source Reverse Leakage Voltage -100 nA (max)

Gate Threshold Voltage (VGS(th)) -2.0 (min)

For less than 1 V, set R2 to be the following:

1
!,!"# = = 10
100
This is a maximum resistance value, whereas the minimum resistance value is governed by maintaining the
transistor in the saturation region. For the NPN transistor to be operated in saturation region, the Ic/Ib ratio should
be in the 10-20 range.

! = 10! = 10 175 = 1.75

Assuming that VCE(sat) goes to zero under these operating conditions, the resistance value for R2 becomes:
! 6
!,!"# = = = 3.43
! 1.75

Therefore the resistor value can be between 3.43 and 10 , so we chose a value of ! = 3.3
! !"(!"#) 6 0.2
! = = = 1.76
! 3.3
! 1.76
= = 10.06
! 175