Microchip: Motor control eval board enhances DSC-based apps

Microchip Technology has announced a BLDC motor-control development platform for evaluating and developing sensored or sensorless BLDC and PM synchronous motor control applications. Supporting the company's dsPIC33F family of motor control digital signal controllers, the dsPICDEM MCLV development board (part # DM330021) contains a three-phase inverter bridge circuit, which drives a BLDC or PMSM motor using different control techniques, without requiring any additional hardware.

The board is capable of controlling motors rated up to 48 V and 15 A, and supports communication channels such as USB, CAN, LIN and RS-232. In addition, it supports a variety of dsPIC33F motor-control DSCs with different memory and pin configurations, and includes a dsPIC33FJ32MC204 PIM (32 KB Flash and 44 pins).

Also announced were two new motor-control software solutions: one showing how PFC algorithms can be combined with sensorless motor-control algorithms on a single chip, and the second demonstrating how to run an AC induction motor faster than its rated speed for a class of applications. In addition, the company said that its MPLAB IDE Version 8.15 has been enhanced to include a real-time data monitor function.

The dsPICDEM MCLV development board is priced at $150. Source code for the motor-control libraries can be downloaded for free (see links below), as can MPLAB IDE v8.15 (www.microchip.com/mplab).

Microchip Technology, 1-888-628-6247, www.microchip.com

Related links:
dsPICDEM MCLV Development Board information page
Application Note 1208 & Source Code (Power Factor Correction plus Sensorless Motor Control on a single chip)
Application Note 1206 & Source Code (Sensorless Field-Oriented Control of an AC Induction Motor using Field Weakening)
Microchip Motor Control Design Center
Design Tools for Brushless DC & Permanent Magnet Motors (YouTube video)