SmartElex DA7280 Haptic Motor Driver Module with Onboard LRA Motor for Arduino ESP32

Specifications

• Driver IC: Dialog / Renesas DA7280
• Operating Voltage: 2.8V – 5.5V DC
• Operating Current: < 1mA (Standby) / up to 300mA peak (Active drive)
• Supported Actuator Types: LRA (Linear Resonant Actuator) and ERM (Eccentric Rotating Mass)
• Primary Control Interface: I2C (Standard 100kHz / Fast 400kHz / Fast+ 1MHz)
• Secondary Interface / Triggers: PWM drive input and 3× General Purpose Inputs (GPI)
• Logic Level Compatibility: 3.3V / 5V (I2C bus compatible)
• Connector Type: Qwiic / STEMMA QT 4-pin connector + standard 2.54mm header pins
• Onboard Components: Integrated LRA vibration motor + DA7280 driver circuitry

Safety Warnings

• Voltage Violations: Do NOT apply a VDDIO supply voltage higher than VDD. Keeping VDDIO ≤ VDD prevents back-feeding and internal ESD diode damage.
• Supply Voltage Limit: Ensure main VDD supply stays strictly within 2.8V to 5.5V. Exceeding 5.5V will damage the DA7280 driver chip.
• Actuator Current Handling: Do not attempt to drive heavy external DC motors directly without checking current limits; the onboard driver is optimized for LRAs and small ERMs up to 300mA peak.

Accessories Included in the Box

• 1× SmartElex Haptic Motor Driver - DA7280 Module (with onboard LRA motor)
• 1× 5-pin Male Header Strip (2.54mm pitch)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the default I2C address of this DA7280 module, and can it be changed if there is an address collision?
  The module uses the DA7280’s default 7-bit I2C address of 0x4A. The DA7280 IC does not feature user-selectable hardware address pins, so its address cannot be modified directly in software or via jumper traces. If another device on your bus shares address 0x4A, you must isolate the module using an I2C multiplexer (such as TCA9548A) or move it to a secondary hardware I2C bus.
• Can this module drive external LRA or ERM vibration motors if the onboard LRA is disconnected?
  Yes. The DA7280 driver IC features differential OUTP and OUTN outputs designed to drive both Linear Resonant Actuators (LRA) and Eccentric Rotating Mass (ERM) motors. If the onboard LRA motor is desoldered or disconnected, external haptic actuators can be soldered directly to the driver output terminals within the chip's power limits.
• How does the DA7280’s automatic resonance tracking feature work across different LRA motor frequencies?
  When FREQ_TRACK_EN is enabled in software registers, the DA7280 automatically tracks and locks onto the LRA's true mechanical resonance frequency during playback across a 50Hz to 300Hz range. This allows the driver to automatically accommodate LRAs rated at 170Hz or 205Hz with up to ±25% frequency offset without requiring manual tracking code for every actuator.
• Do the hardware GPI trigger inputs on the module require external pull resistors? Yes. The DA7280 GPI inputs do not contain internal pull-up or pull-down resistors. You must add external pull-up or pull-down resistors matching your trigger circuit, ensure trigger signal voltages match VDDIO, and connect any unused GPI pins directly to GND to prevent floating logic states.
  
• Can I daisy-chain additional sensors through the dual Qwiic / STEMMA QT connectors?
  Yes. The two onboard Qwiic / STEMMA QT connectors are wired in parallel with the SDA, SCL, VCC, and GND pin headers on the board. You can daisy-chain additional Qwiic I2C sensors through the secondary connector provided they operate at compatible logic levels and use unique I2C addresses.
• Can I trigger pre-configured haptic vibration effects without sending active I2C commands during playback?
  Yes. The DA7280 supports hardware GPI and PWM input triggering. Once the desired haptic waveform registers are pre-configured over I2C during initialization, external hardware pulses on the GPI/PWM trigger pins can execute the selected tactile sequence with zero I2C bus latency.
  
• What is the most common register configuration mistake that prevents the onboard LRA from vibrating?
  The most common mistake is failing to set ACTUATOR_TYPE = LRA and initialize the nominal resonant period (LRA_PER) in software before initiating playback. If the DA7280 remains in default ERM mode or contains unconfigured actuator timing settings, the LRA motor will fail to vibrate or output proper tactile pulses.
• How can I check if the DA7280 driver stopped operating due to a short circuit or over-temperature condition?
  You can query the DA7280's internal status and fault registers over the I2C bus. Reading these registers allows your host software to detect specific hardware fault flags including Short Circuit (SC), Over-Temperature (OT), and Under-Voltage Lockout (UVLO).
  
• Why is the onboard LRA motor producing weak or buzzy vibration instead of a sharp click?
  Weak or buzzy tactile output is almost always caused by improper mechanical mounting. If the LRA motor is loosely secured, pressed firmly against adjacent components, or mechanically preloaded inside a tight enclosure, its moving mass becomes constrained; ensure the actuator is mounted cleanly without dampening its resonant movement.
  
• What causes the DA7280 driver IC to overheat during continuous operation? Overheating occurs when the driver operates at excessive drive currents or high vibration duty cycles without setting the IMAX current limit register to match the actuator's rated impedance. To prevent thermal shutdown, reduce the drive current configuration, lower the vibration duty cycle, or limit continuous playback duration.