STMicroelectronics Introduces First Sensorless Field-Oriented Motor-Control Solution for ARM Cortex Based Devices

STMicroelectronics Introduces First Sensorless Field-Oriented Motor-Control Solution for ARM Cortex Based Devices

STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) has announced a complete three-phase motor-control development kit based on the breakthrough STM32 Flash microcontroller – launched mid-2007 – which provides all the necessary hardware and firmware to enable users to evaluate this 32-bit solution, and to begin development of their own sensorless motor-control application. The STM32 uses the powerful ARM® Cortex™-M3 core, developed specifically to address the requirements of cost-sensitive home-appliance and industrial applications that need high MCU performance with exceptional energy efficiency.

STM32 implementation uses less than 30% of CPU resources for sensorless PMSM vector-control drive

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 optimize the drive and to minimize the overall system cost. A complete sensorless vector-control algorithm for three-phase brushless PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) motor is executed in less than 25 microseconds, using less than 30% of the CPU’s resources for most applications, and leaving plenty of processing power for other application tasks, if required. The code size for the PMSM solution is less than 16 Kbytes.

The hardware platform can be used for both PMSM and AC induction motors, operating at up to 48V; schematics are provided to minimize hardware design time. The kit allows real-time control and monitoring via an on-board color LCD and joystick, or standalone 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.