Motor Drive & Control - TI E2E Community

TI is a global market leader that leverages its rich history in advanced motor drive and control, with broad analog and microcontroller portfolios, to deliver complete motor system solutions.

Jitin George
- Dec 28, 2017
Cycle scavenging on C2000™ MCUs, part 7: PWM valley switching

In the sixth (and most recent ) installment of this series , I started the discussion about actuation by highlighting the importance of the delayed trip feature in implementing deadband delays in peak current-mode control with zero software overhead. In this installment, I will explore pulse-width modulation (PWM) valley switching, which is a soft switching technique geared toward scavenging several central processing...
Jitin George
- Dec 14, 2017
Cycle scavenging on C2000™ MCUs, part 6: the delayed trip mechanism

In the very first installment of this blog series , I claimed that C2000™ microcontrollers (MCUs) are equipped with an array of unique features geared toward scavenging cycles at each of the three stages of real-time closed-loop systems. Since t...
Krushal
- Dec 11, 2017
Integrated intelligence part 3: motor startup from standstill position

In part 2 of the integrated intelligence motor driver blog post series, I discussed the open-loop acceleration phase for motor startup. In this third installment, I will discuss techniques for starting a motor from a standstill state. The driver need...
Krushal
- Dec 4, 2017
Integrated intelligence part 2: motor startup open loop acceleration

In part 1 of the integrated intelligence motor driver blog post series, I discussed electromagnetic interference (EMI) management and various ways to reduce electromagnetic radiation using integrated solutions. In the second and third installments, I...
Jitin George
- Nov 30, 2017
Cycle scavenging on C2000™ MCUs, part 5: TMU and CLA

In parts 1 through 4 of this series , I’ve described several differentiating features built around the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) modules that enable C2000™ microcontrollers (MCUs) to scavenge cycles at the sensing stage. In this installment, I’ll turn my attention to the processing stage and focus on some of the built-in features that enable C2000 MCUs to minimize processing latency and meet...
Jitin George
- Nov 16, 2017
Cycle scavenging on C2000™ MCUs, part 4: ADC post-processing blocks

The idea of “cycle scavenging” is built into the DNA of C2000 microcontrollers (MCUs), which enables them to minimize latency at every stage of real-time control without compromising performance. In previous installments of this series , I looked at a number of features on C2000 MCUs, including zero-wait-state analog-to-digital converter (ADC) transfers, multiport ADC reads, start-of-conversion timing and...
Jitin George
- Nov 2, 2017
Cycle scavenging on C2000™ MCUs, part 3: ADC start-of-conversion timing and configurable interrupt delay

In the first two installments of this series , I looked at how zero-wait-state transfers and multiport analog-to-digital converter (ADC) reads help C2000™ microcontrollers (MCUs) scavenge cycles at the sensing stage of real-time control systems. In this installment, I’ll remain focused on sensing and look at how ADC start-of-conversion timing and configurable ADC interrupt delay differentiate C2000 MCUs from...
Richard Wang11
- Oct 26, 2017
Brush up on the latest motor design considerations for appliances

Variable-frequency home appliances such as washing machines, air conditioners and refrigerators are commonly using brushless DC motors (BLDCs). These motors are popular in home appliances because of their high efficiency, low audible noise and stepl...
Jitin George
- Oct 19, 2017
Cycle scavenging on C2000™ MCUs, part 2: ADC zero-wait-state and multiport reads

As I explained in the first installment of this series , the idea of cycle scavenging is built into C2000™ microcontrollers (MCUs), enabling them to minimize latency at every stage of real-time control without compromising performance. I introduced the concept of real-time control and talked about minimizing the time delay between the sensing, processing and actuation stages as one of the biggest challenges that...
Jitin George
- Oct 17, 2017
Cycle scavenging on C2000™ MCUs, part 1: introduction

Many engineers in the field of power electronics are developing closed-loop control systems for applications needing real-time motor control and power conversion technology. A closed-loop control system consists of three main stages that repeat...
Harald Parzhuber
- Sep 25, 2017
Top design challenges in precise motor control for industrial robotics

Industrial automation applications are incorporating more industrial robots and automated machinery. For example, robots can pick up an engine block, place it into a car chassis exactly, and return to their original position to perform another task w...
Manu Balakrishnan
- Sep 14, 2017
Improve the performance of your power tool design with power blocks

Appliances like power tools , garden tools and vacuum cleaners use low-voltage (two- to 10-cell) lithium-ion battery-powered motor drives. These tools use brushed DC (BDC) or three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motors . BLDC motors are more efficient and h...
Matt Hein
- Aug 28, 2017
Six weird ways to design with a brushless-DC driver

There are two absolute truths that I have come to know. First, brushless-DC motor drivers are cool . Everyone loves the thrill of spinning motors, and brushless-DC motors amp up the wow factor by being high speed, high power and high efficiency. Secon...
Krushal
- Aug 10, 2017
Integrated intelligence part 1: EMI management

Intelligent integrated motor drivers and brushless DC (BLDC) motors can both help electric vehicles and next-generation automobiles become more attractive, viable, and reliable. Integrated motor drivers combine everything required to drive a motor, s...
Matt Hein
- Jul 19, 2017
A basic brushless gate driver design – part 2

Before we jump into the fun, let’s recap from part 1 : Brushless DC motors are cool (and can help you make friends). No one likes talking about the actual hardware (but I’m going to do it anyway). There are advantages and disadvantages to...
Brian Fortman
- Jun 27, 2017
Achieve unprecedented current-loop performance from an off-the-shelf MCU

TI’s expertise in real-time control architectures and experience with industrial drive control systems over the last 20 years has led to many cycle scavenging enhancements to its C2000™ family of real-time microcontrollers (MCUs) and corr...
Matt Hein
- Jun 12, 2017
A basic brushless gate driver design – part 1

Brushless DC motors are definitely the cool thing in motor drives – and for good reason. You get higher efficiency, higher power, higher torque, lower noise, lower electromagnetic interference (EMI), lower vibration, longer battery life, longer...
Brett Barr1
- May 23, 2017
Demand for higher power density drives innovative power tool solution

There has been a big shift in the preferred configuration for DC motors in power tools away from brushed DC toward more reliable and efficient brushless DC (BLDC) solutions. Typical brushed DC topologies like chopper configurations often implement on...
James Lockridge19
- Mar 16, 2017
Liberate your solenoid or relay from the bonds of supply voltage

One of the things I love about my job as an applications engineer is pretending that I’m a TI customer. I spend my days dreaming of all the possible ways customers use solenoids, design solenoids and drive solenoids. Today, I’m considerin...
Wenjia Liu
- Jan 9, 2017
The story of motor-drive integration

Just like every MOSFET needs a gate driver to switch it, there’s always a driving force behind each motor. Depending on the complexity level and the system’s cost, size and performance requirements, there are different ways to drive motors. The most simple and discrete solution is a totem-pole/push-pull circuit consisting of two transistors. These transistors, which can be different combinations of NPN...
Zoé Pál Bőle
- Dec 12, 2016
Gallium nitride transistors open up new frontiers in high-speed motor drives

Unlike switched-mode power supplies, three-phase motor-drive inverters generally use low switching frequencies; only a few tens of kilohertz. High-power motors were large with high inductance windings; therefore, the current ripple was acceptable eve...
ChrisClearman
- Nov 17, 2016
The other motors in electric vehicle systems (part 4)

Electric power steering (EPS) is another example of non-traction motor control in electric vehicles (EV) . In EPS systems, an electric motor is used to supplement or replace traditional hydraulic systems to produce assisting torque that helps th...
Manny Soltero
- Nov 8, 2016
Five benefits of enhanced PWM rejection for in-line motor control

There’s almost always more than one way to solve a problem. Sometimes the most widely used method doesn’t yield the biggest benefit. System designers working on motor control projects use various current measurement methods to ensur...
Sanjay Pithadia
- Nov 2, 2016
Increase the reliability of industrial drives with an EMC-compliant resolver sensor interface based design

Resolvers provide accurate and high-reliable position feedback in industrial drives like servo drives, especially in harsh industrial environments with dust and temperatures above 150°C. A resolver is an absolute mechanical angle sensor and opera...
Jose Gonzalez Torres
- Nov 1, 2016
How to create a dynamic power solution for stepper motors, relays and LEDs

As you can see from my previous blog , my dad has always been a great source of inspiration and knowledge for me. There is one piece of advice that keeps coming back to me: “Measure twice and cut once.” However, as engineers, whenever we are challenged to design a control or power circuit for stepper motors, LEDs and other peripherals, we like to adapt the system to specific rules and conditions. We are essentially...