Automotive apps get fully integrated extended-memory motor controller

By Carolyn Mathas, contributing writer

TDK-Micronas unveiled the HVC 4420F embedded motor controller to satisfy the automotive industry’s need to provide smart actuator diagnostics, aimed at small stepper or brushless motors. The newest member of the company’s high-voltage controller (HVC) family combines an Arm 32-bit Cortex-M3 standard microcontroller core with 64-KB flash memory and a wide range of functions to achieve compact and cost-effective system designs for automotive applications including grille shutter, smart valves and pumps, and HVAC flaps.

Thanks to its larger memory and built-in diagnostic features, the HVC 4420F offers both the storage capacity and processing capability to execute the diagnostics needed for smart actuators.

The HVC 4420F consists of timers/counters, interrupt controllers, multi-channel ADC, SPI, and enhanced PWMs with diagnosis functions. Other features include an advanced LIN UART with a LIN 2.x transceiver and voltage regulators. Multiple power management modes reduce current consumption, and external components are minimized with the use of integrated circuit units such as comparators with virtual star point reference, current scaling, and an embedded programmable gain amplifier.

The HVC 4420F allows complex motor control algorithms including space vector modulation (SVM), six-step commutation with sensor feedback or sensorless control, and various stepper configurations. The device includes production-ready parameterizable firmware with communication, monitoring, and power management functions, as well as a configuration tool.

Samples are available in March 2019, with production planned for 2020. For more information on embedded motor controllers for smart actuators, visit TDK-Micronas .