1. Overview

• Driver IC: TB6612FNG (dual H‑bridge).
• Motors Supported:
  • 2 DC motors (independent control).
  • 1 bipolar stepper motor (using both channels).
• Voltage Range:
  • Logic: 2.7–5.5 V (works with Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32, Raspberry Pi).
  • Motor: 4.5–13.5 V.
• Current Capacity: ~1.2 A continuous per channel, 3.2 A peak.
• Efficiency: Lower heat, higher efficiency than L293D/L298N.
• Protection: Built‑in diodes for back‑EMF.

2. Pinout

Typical breakout board pins:

3. How It Works

• Each motor channel is an H‑bridge.
• AIN1/AIN2 + PWMA control Motor A.
• BIN1/BIN2 + PWMB control Motor B.
• STBY must be HIGH to enable the driver.
• By toggling IN pins and applying PWM, you can set forward, reverse, brake, or stop.

4. Wiring Example (Arduino UNO, 2 DC Motors)

TB6612FNG Pin → Arduino Pin
AIN1 → D2
AIN2 → D3
PWMA → D5 (PWM)
BIN1 → D4
BIN2 → D7
PWMB → D6 (PWM)
STBY → D8
VCC → 5V
VM → External motor supply (e.g., 9V battery)
GND → GND

5. Arduino Code Example

int AIN1 = 2;
int AIN2 = 3;
int PWMA = 5;
int BIN1 = 4;
int BIN2 = 7;
int PWMB = 6;
int STBY = 8;

void setup() {
  pinMode(AIN1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(AIN2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(PWMA, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(BIN1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(BIN2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(PWMB, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(STBY, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(STBY, HIGH); // enable driver
}

void loop() {
  // Motor A forward
  digitalWrite(AIN1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
  analogWrite(PWMA, 200); // speed 200/255

  // Motor B reverse
  digitalWrite(BIN1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(BIN2, HIGH);
  analogWrite(PWMB, 150); // speed 150/255

  delay(2000);

  // Stop both motors
  digitalWrite(AIN1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(AIN2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(BIN1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(BIN2, LOW);
  delay(1000);
}

6. Applications

• Robotics: drive two wheels independently.
• DIY controllers: motorized sliders, toys.
• Educational kits: demonstrate PWM speed control.
• Stepper motor projects: drive one bipolar stepper using both channels.

7. Best Practices

• Always connect VM to a separate motor supply (not Arduino 5 V).
• Keep STBY HIGH or the driver will sleep.
• Use PWM pins for smooth speed control.
• For stepper motors, sequence AIN/BIN inputs carefully.