AM2434: Reset Specification

Part Number: AM2434


The control board integrates a motor drive circuit and a microcontroller-based control circuit. When switching the power devices, a reset occurred on the microcontroller.
Please answer the following questions based on the situations described below.

Situation 1: Behavior at Power-On When the power was turned on, after the POR was released, MCU_RESETSTATz and RESETSTATz rose in sequence (Fig.1).

Additionally, the clock signal (green) for the delta-sigma module is output from the PRU core, but it starts about 2.5 seconds after the microcontroller reset occurs (Fig.2).

Situation 2: When Switching Operation Starts
Immediately after switching started, a reset occurred (Fig.3).
At the same timing as the reset was released, the clock signal (green) for the delta-sigma module started operating (Fig. 4).
(PWM is also output in conjunction with switching, resulting in irregular behavior.)

Question 1
Under what conditions does a reset occur where MCU_RESETSTATz, PORz_OUT, and RESETSTATz all fall and rise at the same timing?
Also, based on the above situation, it seems that the microcontroller’s internal software processing is temporarily halted during the reset. If there are conditions under which such a phenomenon occurs in the microcontroller, please let me know.

Question 2
Please tell me how to avoid unintended resets like the above, or what countermeasures can be taken when they occur.

260106_Reset_Specification.jpg

  • Hello Matsumoto-san

    What did you mean by "switching operation starts" in Situation 2. 

    >> When switching the power devices, the unexpected reset occurred on the AM2434.

    I am assuming the application is booting from flash and at normal power on boot up it takes 2.5 for PRU to start. 

    Unclear what you are doing different in second situation - are you seeing some spurious reset?

  • Hello Katayama-san,

    I've asked a reset expert. Please allow 1-2 working days for their response.

    Thank you,

    Stan

  • Hello,

    “Switching operation” means that the microcontroller has started issuing PWM signals to the GaN device. The link to the related question is as follows.


    e2e.ti.com/.../am2434-unexpected-reset-behavior-on-am2434-when-switching-circuit-operates

  • Hello Matsumoto-san and  Katayama-san,

    Question 1:

    I've checked internally and I got confirmation that Fig. 3 and Fig.4 are showing abnormal behavior that should never happen during normal operation of the SoC.
    A couple the reasons this is seen could be:

    • Partial and abnormal reset
    • Software issue, software restarts, flashing issue
    • No reset is occurring actually, software is running but pin output drivers are being temporarily gated internally e.g. in PADCONF registers
    • As the previous but due to IO pin power supply failure
    • A combination of some or all of the above 


    The direct cause this happens I think we all agree it is 99.9% the start of the motor causing voltage spikes, noise, drops, etc.. The root cause however can be challenging to discover.

    Note that my below suggestions are not related to any TI internal specifics.

    1. To narrow down the cause, I would disconnect the SoC PWM pins from PWM driver IC
    2. Firstly, this way we can check if the issue disappears and also to examine the PWM pins are switching as expected on scope. I expect the issue (abnormal pin held low) to disappear because the motor standing still, but it is also important to know if PWM pins are switching in the expected manner. For example, due to inadequate dead time or even wrong phase sequence.
    3. Secondly, I would attach another good-known PWM generator device (ASIC or microcontroller based) to the PWM driver's PWM inputs. This way to check if motor is rotating as expected and the driver circuitry works correctly. Additionally, you can check again for the pin-held-low issue with the SoC.

    Question 2:

    I can give only very general suggestions without knowing more about your project:

    • Most important is to follow the motor driver's datasheet requirements for schematics and PCB design and layout
    • Split the power supplies for SoC and driver IC. GNDs to be connected at only one place.
    • High-voltage (motor) supply adequate de-coupling
    • measures against back-EMF and supply pumping. See Overvoltage FAQ:  [FAQ] How to *not* damage your motor drive system from overvoltage 

    In case you are using one TI's DRV series, you may want to search the motor forum and FAQs: Motor drivers forum 

    Thanks and regards,

    Stan