Product category:
Design and Development Hardware
News Release from: STMicroelectronics | Subject: STM32
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 06 February 2008
Motor control kit suits consumer
applications
The STM32 uses the ARM Cortex-M3 core, developed to address the requirements of cost-sensitive home-appliance and industrial applications
STMicroelectronics has released a complete three-phase motor-control development kit based on the STM32 Flash microcontroller The kit provides all the necessary hardware and firmware to enable users to evaluate this 32bit solution and to begin development of their own sensorless motor-control application
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 12 Jun 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Microcontrollers exhibit core benefits
32bit Flash microcontrollers are based on ARM Cortex-M3 core for embedded applications requiring a combination of high performance, low power and low cost.
Development kits support microcontroller
Starter kits, from Hitex, IAR, Keil and Raisonance make it quick and easy for users to explore the STM32's features with a minimal investment of time and money.
The STM32 uses the ARM Cortex-M3 core, developed to address the requirements of cost-sensitive home-appliance and industrial applications that need high MCU performance with exceptional energy efficiency.
ST is the first MCU supplier to offer a sensorless field-oriented motor-control solution based on the Cortex M3 core.
The kit demonstrates that the STM32 provides sufficient power, from the core and dedicated motor-control peripherals, to optimise the drive and to minimise the overall system cost.
Further reading
Development package eases programming
The STM32 Primer hand-held evaluation and development tool is designed to provide an easy introduction to the features of the STM32.
Stick starts microcontroller development
Compact tool provides easy introduction to the STM32 Flash microcontroller, with a graphical view of its performance characteristics under different conditions.
Driver drives LED efficiency
STMicroelectronics has introduced a new white LED driver with specific features for small LCD module backlight and high efficiency white LED power supply for portable applications.
A complete sensorless vector-control algorithm for three-phase brushless PMSM (permanent magnet synchronous motor) motor is executed in less than 25us, using less than 30% of the CPU's resources for most applications and leaving plenty of processing power for other application tasks.
The code size for the PMSM solution is less than 16Kbyte.
The hardware platform can be used for both PMSM and AC induction motors, operating at up to 48V.
Schematics are provided to minimise hardware design time.
The kit allows real-time control and monitoring via an onboard colour LCD and joystick, or stand-alone operation using on-board push buttons and trimmers.
The Segger J-Link USB-powered JTAG emulator is included and the Flash programming and real-time debugging capability allows the same hardware and firmware platform to be used from evaluation through to an advanced stage of development, removing the need for the user to build a platform before starting work on the target system.
A debugger and programmer are also included.
Applications that can benefit from the cost-effective motor-control capability of the STM32 include washing machines, dishwasher pumps, refrigerators and air conditioners.
It also suits industrial applications such as electric vehicles, low-end and medium-range industrial drives, office automation, HVAC actuators and fans and vending and cash machines.
Vector-control algorithms are widely used in high-performance drives, to provide precise and responsive speed control and to guarantee optimised efficiency during transient operations.
They also have the practical advantage of using the same framework to control both asynchronous and synchronous motors, a cost-saving feature for development teams dealing with a variety of applications and motor types.
In addition, most sensorless drive algorithms are based on field-orientation methodology, to further opportunities to reduce the drive cost.
The new kit enables engineers to run the included PMSM motor within minutes.
Then, through the graphical display, users can familiarise themselves with all the sensorless controls (such as PID regulators) by retuning them during run-time, using the joystick and LCD.
Finally, users can start developing their own applications, starting from the optimised C firmware libraries that have been used to build the demo application.
The C library source code is provided on the supplied CD-ROM, with the exception of the sensorless algorithm, which is delivered as object code free upon request from ST, for both types of three-phase brushless motors (AC induction in sensor mode and PMSM in sensor and sensorless modes).
By using the industry-standard ARM architecture, the STM32 allows users to save time compared with developing their motor-control solution on a proprietary architecture.
The STM32 delivers impressive levels of performance and energy efficiency, while retaining the benefits of working with the open, industry-standard ARM architecture and development environment.
The STM32F103 Performance line, with 72MHz clock frequency, provides 32bit MCU performance, while the STM32F101 'Access' line, with 36MHz clock frequency, offers users of 16bit devices a significant increase in performance, but at 16bit price levels.
The Cortex-M3 core was developed to target the low-cost requirements of a wide range of markets and applications where memory and processor size significantly impact the product cost.
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