I will cover the basics of motor control and explain how the L9110 module works. I will also provide a step by step guide on how to build the module using a PCB design software called KiCad. Additionally I will discuss some practical applications of the L9110 module and provide some tips on how to use it effectively in projects. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced maker, this blog post will provide you with valuable insights into motor control and DIY electronics.

Schematic

As mentioned above I used KiCAD to do the PCB part of the project. Below is the schematic:

Now explaining each part of the schematic:

• Power Supply: +9V and GND: These labels indicate the positive voltage supply and ground, respectively. They provide the necessary power for the circuit to operate.The capacitor C1 is used for filtering out any high frequency noise or power spikes from the power supply. This helps ensure stable voltage for the circuit. The capacitor C2 helps with smoothing out any low frequency fluctuations in the power supply and also helps to ensure stable voltage.

• The other part: Each resistor has a value of 10kΩ. They are likely used for current limiting or setting bias points for the ICs. Both ICs are labeled “L9110,” which are dual-channel motor driver ICs. They control the motors based on the input signals (IA1, IA2, IB1, IB2).Both capacitors have values of 0.1µF and are connected to ground. They help filter out noise and stabilize the power supply.The diode and resistor in parallel might be used for protection or to manage current flow in specific conditions.

Now after all the connections and annotating the schematics, I ran the ERC and one error came up :

After some research, I bumped into this solution in the KiCad forum which was just to add the PwR flag on ground and VCC wire.

Layout

In all honesty, this is my favorite part in all the PCB projects I have done esp the routing part. In this section of the project I did the PCB layout and routing. So the basics ? okay let me explain.

• Layers: I decide to use four layers. This was done so as I have a seperate PwR plane with only PwR signals, GnD with no signals on the plane whatsoever (GnD layer seems abit of an introvert if you ask me). Lastly, 2 Signal layers for all other signal traces. So the order of the layers is seen below. I always try to have a GnD layer adjacent to my Signal layer, to provide an effective path for the return current.

• Layout: I tried to place the capacitors close to the L9110 module pins, ground and power as well.

After all this was done and no DRC issues, I then created the gerber files, BOM and drill files for manufacturing. This can be created according to your manufacturer.

Using it in a simple project

Here it was used in a simple DIY project I recently did :

Here it is much closer:

Thank you.