PI launches BridgeSwitch IC-driven single-phase brushless DC motor fine-tuning control software

Power Integrations introduces fine-tuning control software for single-phase brushless DC motors using BridgeSwitch ICs as drivers

Power Integrations, a leading company in high-efficiency power conversion with high-voltage integrated circuits, today released Motor-Expert software, a C-language application, library and control GUI. The software enables designers using the company's BridgeSwitch brushless DC (BLDC) motor driver ICs to precisely control and adjust the operating performance of single-phase motors. Brushless DC motors are widely used in modern high-efficiency home appliance applications, such as compressors, fans and pumps in home appliances, as well as ceiling fans and indoor air conditioning systems.

Brushless DC motors typically use three windings (multi-phase) and require six high-voltage IGBTs or MOSFETs to operate. Motor-Expert software supports cost-effective single-phase motor architectures, which can significantly reduce the number of high-voltage devices and related costs, reduce system complexity, and reduce inventory burdens. It supports both sensored and sensorless operation modes, providing developers with more options to reduce system costs, and the software can also be ported to many other common embedded microcontrollers.

Comments Cristian Ionescu-Catrina, senior product marketing manager: “Brushless DC motors are growing exponentially in home appliances and other markets due to new energy efficiency regulations. The BridgeSwitch Motor-Expert software reduces the cost and complexity of brushless DC drives. The new software comes with ready-to-use application examples that enable constant speed and constant torque operation, all within the IEC6730 Class A control standard. Power Integrations developed Motor-Expert with design engineers in mind – it radically simplifies the design process and reduces time to market.”

Motor fine tuning is performed through the Motor-Expert user interface, and new control loop coefficients can be updated in real time without recompiling the code. The software interface also enables users to visualize system operation, displaying the status of various data, including current, speed, operating status, current error, and speed error. The fault diagnosis interface in the software helps users gain in-depth understanding of the operation of the inverter and motor.

The Motor-Expert software features precise speed and current control loop adjustment. The modularity and flexibility of the API-based software architecture allow users to add new use cases and functions. Users can also port the software to the microcontroller they like to use, or use it in conjunction with other code in the system CPU. The software supports static (MISRA) and dynamic performance analysis, including latency, modulation, and execution time. It only requires 14kB of code memory and 5kB of SRAM, which is suitable for microcontrollers with smaller storage capabilities. BridgeSwitch motor driver ICs can be used with 3V and 5V MCUs and do not require external current sense resistors.

The BridgeSwitch integrated half-bridge IC product family greatly simplifies the development and production of high-voltage inverters for single-phase or multi-phase permanent magnet motors and brushless DC motor drives. The excellent efficiency and distributed heat dissipation architecture of the BridgeSwitch motor drive eliminates the need for heat sinks, helping to reduce system cost and weight. Integrated hardware-implemented motor overcurrent protection enhances safety and reliability, simplifies the IEC60335-01 and IEC60730-01 certification process, and greatly shortens time to market.