Discontinuation notice: This product has been discontinued. Pololu recommends the much newer DRV8835 dual motor driver carrier as a higher-performance alternative.
The Sanyo LB1836M is a dual low-voltage H-bridge that can be used for bidirectional control of two DC motors or one bipolar stepper motor. With an operating voltage as low as 2.5 V for logic and 1.8 V for the motor(s), this controller is great for small motors powered from a single Li-based battery or 2-6 NiMH or alkaline cells. The peak current is up to 1 A per channel, but thermal dissipation usually limits the available continuous current to around 0.5 A (this depends on the PCB layout and heat sinking).
The motor driver features thermal shutdown that can help the chip withstand over-current and short-circuit situations. The IC is only available in a surface-mount package, but the 1.0 mm pitch is relatively accessible even with a standard soldering iron, making it an attractive option for those wanting to build small motion control systems.