Date: 26th Jan 09

  Microchip adds development tools, boards and libraries for motion control applications

Microchip Technology offering design support solutions for motor control applications based on its dsPIC Digital Signal Controller by introducing set of new tools and libraries. They are,

1. The dsPICDEMTM MCLV Development Board: This is a new low-voltage Brushless DC (BLDC) motor-control development platform supporting the dsPIC33F family of motor control DSCs. It provides a cost-effective method for evaluating and developing sensored or sensorless BLDC and Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) control applications. The board contains a three-phase inverter bridge circuit. This circuit drives a BLDC or PMSM motor using different control techniques, without requiring any additional hardware. The dsPICDEM MCLV board is capable of controlling motors rated up to 48V and 15 Amps, and supports multiple communication channels, such as USB, CAN, LIN and RS-232. It employs a processor-differentiated Plug-In Module (PIM) strategy to support a variety of dsPIC33F motor-control DSCs with different memory and pin configurations. A dsPIC33FJ32MC204 PIM (32 KB Flash and 44 pins) is included with the dsPICDEM MCLV Development Board.

2. Two new motor-control software solutions: one shows how Power Factor Correction (PFC) algorithms can be combined with sensorless motor-control algorithms on a single chip. The second software solution demonstrates how to run an AC Induction Motor (ACIM) faster than its rated speed for a class of applications, to lower cost, save space or reduce weight. Both are available today for free at http://www.microchip.com/DSCMOTOR

3. Application note on power factor correction plus sensorless motor control on a single chip: The worldwide demand for improved power quality standards is driving the trend to add PFC to line-powered motor control applications. Power quality can be enhanced by implementing PFC, and efficient control of a motor can be realized using sensorless Field Oriented Control (FOC) techniques. Both can be achieved by integrating PFC and sensorless FOC algorithms on a single dsPIC DSC. Microchip's Application Note 1208 describes the process of integrating these two complex functions in a PMSM application. This application note also lists the necessary hardware requirements, and provides the guidelines to optimize the development procedure. Source code is provided for dsPIC30F and dsPIC33F DSCs, along with the application note, on Microchip's Web site at http://www.microchip.com/DSCMOTOR.

4.Application note on sensorless field-oriented control of an AC induction motor using field weakening: This algorithm provides high torque at low speed and high performance, with lower torque at extended speed. It is ideal for applications such as washing machines, automotive traction control, or any ACIM application that wishes to optimize torque per amp above the rated speed or constant torque region of an ACIM. The strategy is described in Microchip's Application Note 1206, which provides source code for the dsPIC30F and dsPIC33F DSCs.

5. Enhancements to the MPLAB® IDE: To reduce motor-control development time, users can now tune motor parameters in real time, completely eliminating the "stop motor/build/reprogram/run motor" development cycle. The graphical Data Monitor and Control Interface (DMCI) in MPLAB IDE Version 8.15 has been enhanced to include a Real-Time Data Monitor (RTDM) function. DMCI enhanced with RTDM provides a graphical method to input and adjust motor parameters in real time and immediately see the effect, without halting the application. A serial USB or UART cable supports bi-directional information transfers between the host PC and the target dsPIC DSC. This tool is useful for modifying software parameters and visualizing historical data during debug sessions, so that the motor's dynamic response can be analyzed. The MPLAB IDE Version 8.15 can be downloaded for free, today, at http://www.microchip.com/mplab.

Pricing and Availability

The dsPICDEM MCLV Development Board (part # DM330021) is available now for $150.00. Source code for the motor-control libraries is available now and can be downloaded for free from http://www.microchip.com/DSCMOTOR. The MPLAB Integrated Development Environment v8.15, including RTDM and DMCI, can be downloaded from http://www.microchip.com/mplab, free of charge.