application spotlight on motion control · 2014-07-01 · application spotlight on motion control...

Application Spotlight on

MotionControl

Component Focus: pages 2-10 Revolutionary e-field gesture-sensing technology in Microchip’s MGC3130

Design Note: pages 11-12 CUI explains a capacitive-modulation method formeasuring angular rotation

Application Spotlight: pages 13-21 STMicroelectronics’ SLLIMM™ intelligent powermodules integrate inverter power functions

Technical View: pages 22-23 New industrial uses for MEMS devices morecommonly found in smartphones and tablets

S T A R P R O D U C T

2 EMAIL [email protected] FOR SAMPLES AND DATASHEETS

The Atmel SAM R21 MCUs, which are aimedat Internet of Things designs, provide forextremely low-power performance thanks to theefficiency of the ARM Cortex-M0+ core. Thedevices are capable of operating at a corefrequency of up to 48MHz, achievingperformance of 2.14 CoreMark/MHz. Drawingless than 70µA/MHz and featuring dynamicclock switching, the SAM R21 devices arecapable of supporting battery-less and energy-harvesting designs.

The 2.4GHz transceiver integrated into theSAM R21 can run either a proprietarycommunication stack or radio protocolscomplying with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.The chip’s ‘antenna diversity’ design improveswireless connectivity and extends range.

The chip’s architecture is built for flexibility,providing up to five configurable serialcommunication modules, each of which mayact as a UART/USART, SPI or I2C interface.

In addition, all SAM R21 devices includeintelligent and flexible peripherals, Atmel EventSystem technology for inter-peripheralsignalling, and support for capacitive-touchbutton, slider and wheel user interfaces.

The SAM R21 series consists of two pin- andcode-compatible product series and a total of

24 different MCUs. They alluse the same processor,bus matrix, interrupt systemand other core features, butare available in either 32- or48-pin packages, and withdifferent memoryspecifications, peripheralsand temperature ratings.They support simple andintuitive migration, providingidentical peripheral modules,hex-compatible code, anidentical linear address map,and pin-compatiblemigration paths between alldevices in the series.

The new SAM R21 MCUsare part of Atmel’s

SmartConnect productfamily, which also

includes 8-bit AVRmicrocontrollerswith anintegrated

2.4GHz RFtransceiver.

Ultra low-power wireless MCU provides idealfeature set for Internet of Things designs

STARPRODUCT

Launch of family of USB power-delivery controllersMicrochip Technology has announced a newfamily of USB Power-Delivery (UPD)controllers, the UPD100x. The devicesfeature an industry-standard power-deliveryand battery-charging protocol. When usinga UPD100x part, a single USB cable can beused for data, while simultaneouslydelivering up to 100W of power from asingle standard USB port. This is 40 timesmore than can be delivered by USB2.0technology.

New proximity and ambientlight sensor for vehiclesVishay has introduced an automotive AEC-Q101-qualified, fully integrated proximity andambient light sensor module.

The VCNL4020X01 combines an IR emitter,proximity photodiode, ambient light sensor,signal-processing IC and 16-bit ADC in asingle 4.9mm x 2.3mm x 0.8mm package.

New AC-DC power suppliesboost efficiencyCUI Inc., has introduced four new series ofcompact, open-frame AC-DC powersupplies, supplying loads ranging from 30Wto 85W. The VOF series single-outputsupplies extend the company’s existingrange, offering higher efficiencies, improvingno-load performance, and providing a boostin power output compared to the previousgeneration.

©Copyright 2014 Future Electronics Ltd. All trademarks contained herein are theproperty of their respective owners. Applications for product samples, badgeboards, demonstration boards, Future Electronics’ boards and other advertisedmaterials from Future Electronics are offered subject to qualification.

N E W S I N B R I E F

For more information [email protected]:

SAM R21 MCUs: Event System accelerates inter-peripheralcommunications

A new family of ARM® Cortex®-M0+wireless microcontrollers from Atmel®

provides a combination of 32-bitprocessing capability, a wide choice ofperipherals and a 2.4GHz radio in asingle chip.

APPLICATIONS• Consumer electronics• Industrial equipment• Internet of Things

FEATURES• Up to 256kbyte of embedded Flash• 12-channel DMA and Event System• Full-Speed USB device and embedded host• 12-bit, 300kbits/s ADC• Real-time clock and calendar• Up to three 16-bit timers/counters

SECURITYAUTOMOTIVEMEDICALLIGHTINGINDUSTRIALENERGY CONSUMER TELECOMMS

For samples or pricing [email protected]:

Internet of Things designThe Atmel® SAM R21 Xplained Pro evaluation kit is ahardware platform for evaluating the ATSAMR21G18Amicrocontroller. Supported by the Atmel Studio integrateddevelopment platform, the kit provides easy access to thefeatures of the Atmel ATSAMR21G18A and explains howto integrate the device in a custom design.

The Xplained Pro MCU series evaluation kits includean on-board embedded debugger; no external tools arenecessary to programme or debug the ATSAMR21G18A.The Xplained Pro extension kits offer additional peripheralsto extend the features of the board and to ease thedevelopment of custom designs.Orderable Part Number: ATSAMR21-XPRO

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Apply now at my-boardclub.comFast-track board request code: FTM47A

ATMEL

C O M P O N E N T F O C U S

32-bit MCUs reach new low power benchmark

The latest STM32L0 series of MCUs fromSTMicroelectronics enables customers’applications to achieve record low powerconsumption.

The MCUs are based on the energy-efficientARM® Cortex®-M0+ core supporting anarchitecture built for low power consumptionand implemented in STMicroelectronics’ ownultra low-power wafer-fabrication processtechnology. Combined with various power-management modes and low-power peripherals,the energy-saving features in the new STM32L0devices provide for class-leading efficiency.

In operating mode, the chips draw just87µA/MHz. In Stop mode, which offers fullRAM data retention, the devices drain just400nA. The low-power 16-bit timer remainsavailable in Stop mode and can be used as apulse counter or low-power timer counter,drawing only 40nA. At the same time, the fastwake-up time from Stop mode of only 3.5µs,means that designs using the STM32L0 canmake intensive use of its energy-saving modes.

The STM32L0 series is also notable for itstemperature stability. Many low-power 32-bit

Buck converters offer higherefficiency at light loads

Diodes Incorporated has introducedtwo new families of synchronous DC-DCbuck converters featuring an algorithmwhich improves light-load efficiency.

Diodes’ buck converters: support transient peak current up to 7A

STMICROELECTRONICS

DIODES INCORPORATED

3VISIT THE ONLINE FTM MAGAZINE AT: WWW.My-FTM.COM

The AP6550x and AP6540x buck convertersuse a current-mode control scheme whichproduces a fast transient response and whichmakes control-loop stabilisation simple. Thisensures dependable line and load regulation indistributed point-of-load power-managementapplications.

Efficiency peaks at 96% when supplyingcontinuous load currents of 5A withthe AP6550x, or 4A for theAP6540x.

Operating at high fixed switchingfrequencies of 500kHz and750kHz, these highly integratedconverters help designers to shrinkthe footprint of their design sincethey only require small externalinductors and capacitors.

A wide operating voltage range of 4.75V to 17Vmeans the converters are suited to both 5Vand 12V bus-system designs. All the devicestolerate a transient peak current of up to 7A.

Component packaging is the industry-standard exposed pad SO-8EP; pin-outs areidentical throughout the product family.

The new converters integrate a broad rangeof protection features, including thermal shut-down, under-voltage lock-out, over-voltageprotection and current-limit protection. Acapacitor-programmed soft-start function is alsoprovided to control inrush current and output-voltage overshoot.

APPLICATIONS• Games consoles • TVs and monitors• Set-top boxes• Networking equipment• Distributed power systems• Home audio• Power supplies to FPGAs, DSPs and

ASICs

FEATURES• Programmable soft-start• Enable pin



APPLICATIONS• Computer peripherals• Healthcare monitors and trackers• Industrial sensors• Smart-home devices

FEATURES• 12-bit DAC• Two ultra low-power comparators• 7-channel DMA controller• Pre-programmed bootloader• Power supply range: 1.65V to 3.6V



Diode’s AP65x0: page 3PARTNERWORKING

ST’s STM32L053R8: page 3PARTNERWORKING

Part Number

MinimumInputVoltage

MaximumInputVoltage

OutputVoltage

OutputCurrent Frequency

AP65400

4.75V

18V0.925Vto 16V

4A 340kHzAP65500 5AAP65402

17V

4A 500kHzAP65502 5AAP65403

2.5V to 16V 4A 750kHzAP65503 5A

MCUs draw a rapidly increasing current asoperating temperatures rise. A benefit of ST’sunique process technology is its stability over a wide temperature range, ensuring that theSTM32L0 series offers the world’s lowestpower consumption at 125°C.

The STM32L0 series also sets the benchmarkfor ADC power consumption. The 12-bit on-chipADC draws only 48µA when operating at100ksamples/s. Built-in hardware over-samplingincreases the ADC’s resolution to 16 bits.

With more than 30 parts in the series,designers can choose from basic entry-levelconfigurations up to variants featuring USBconnectivity and the option of an 8x28segment LCD controller. Devices supportingUSB Full-Speed offer crystal-less operation,USB battery-charger detection and energy-saving link power management.Support for the STM32L0 has been added tothe enhanced STM32Cube™ design tools,which include the STM32CubeMX. Thisincludes a power-consumption calculationwizard and also helps to accelerate thegeneration of initialisation code, and simplifyporting of designs between STM32 devices.

Package options range from a 2.7mm x2.7mm WLCSP36 to a 10mm x 10mm LQFP64.

Development of the STM32L0 familyOrderable Part Numbers: STM32L0538-DISCONUCLEO-L053R8

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E-field technology enables mobile-friendly 3D gesture interfaces

Microchip’s MGC3130 is an E-field-based, configurable 3D gesturecontroller which enables designers toeasily implement precise, fast androbust hand-position tracking andfree-space gesture recognition.

MGC3130 gesture controller: consumes just 150µW in active-sensing mode

MICROCHIP

Unlike conventional camera-based gesturesystems, the MGC3130 can be used inbattery-powered products: in its active sensingstate, supporting always-on 3D gesturerecognition, it consumes just 150µW. Indeed,the MGC3130’s low-power design and variousconfigurable power modes provide the lowestpower consumption of any 3D sensingtechnology, and as much as 90% lower thancamera-based systems.

The MGC3130’s precise gesture-recognitioncapability is attributable to Microchip’spatented GestIC® technology and an on-chiplibrary, called the Colibri Suite, of intuitive andnatural human gestures.

The Colibri Suite gives designers a reliableset of common 3D hand and finger gesturesthat can be easily realised in their products.Such gestures include wake-up on approach,position tracking, flick, circle and symbol.

APPLICATIONS• Contactless user interfaces• Battery-powered consumer devices• Windows 8-compatible keyboards

FEATURES• Detection range up to 15cm• Mouse-like 150dpi resolution• Fast 200Hz sampling rate • Automated self calibration• 70-130kHz E-field with frequency hopping



Multi-function logic gate fitsin tight power limits

The 74AXP1G57 from NXPSemiconductors is a low-power, low-voltage device providing configurablelogic-gate functions.

The output state is determined by eightpatterns of 3-bit input. Thedevice may be configured asa two-input AND, OR, NAND,NOR, XNOR, inverter orbuffer. All inputs can beconnected to the supply railor to ground.

The 74AXP1G57 isintended for use in low-voltage, power-sensitiveapplications that have atightly-specified powerbudget: static and dynamicpower consumption are verylow across the entireoperating voltage range from0.7V to 2.75V.

The input pins tolerate over-supply voltages,supporting translation between high- and low-level voltages using AXP logic.

The device is fully specified for partial power-down applications. The power-down circuitrydisables the output, preventing any damagingbackflow current from going through the devicewhen it is powered down.

Schmitt trigger inputs make the circuittolerant of slow input rise and fall times acrossthe entire supply-voltage range.

NXP SEMICONDUCTORS

Seven-in-one: the 74AXP1G57 supports seven different logic-gate functions

FEATURES• 0.5pF input capacitance• 1.0pF output capacitance• 0.6µA maximum static power

consumption• High noise immunity• Package options:

SOT886, SOT1115 and SOT1202



Gesture controlMicrochip’s Sabrewing MGC3130 Single Zone EvaluationKit, which provides a selectable electrode size of 5” or 7”,comes with the AUREA graphical user interface to allowdesigners to easily match their system commands toMicrochip’s Colibri Suite. Orderable Part Number: DM160217

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Demonstrate seven different logic functionsThe 74AXP1G57 demo board contains seven74AXP1G57 devices, each of which may be configuredfor a different logic function. Each 74AXP1G57 part hasan identical y output which is connected to NXP’s74AVC8T245 8-bit level shifter for translation between1.2V and 3.3V. The 3.3V output of the 74AVC8T245 isused to drive seven NXP PMBT3904 transistors whichturn on or turn off a green or red LED. Three push-buttonswitches are provided to toggle three input pins. Orderable Part Number: 74AXP1G57 Demo board

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They can be configured to perform functionssuch as on/off, open application, point, click,zoom, scroll, free-space mouse-over and others.

The MGC3130 also provides developerswith the flexibility to use pre-filtered electrodesignals to support additional functionality.

GestIC technology utilises thin sensingelectrodes made of any conductive material,such as PCB traces or a touch sensor’sindium tin oxide coating, to enable invisibleintegration behind the device’s housing. Thisallows for visually appealing industrial designsat low system cost.

Additionally, the technology provides 100%surface coverage, eliminating the blind spotsfound in other technologies.



425W AC-DC power supply is idealfor precision instrumentation

SL Power Electronics’ new 425W, single-output TU425 series provides the cleanand reliable AC-DC power supplyrequired by high-performance test andmeasurement equipment and industrialprocess-control systems.

The power supply complies with the heavyindustrial grades of the IEC 61000-4 standardsfor interferenceimmunity, and withthe Class-Bconducted EMIstandard with a 6dBmargin. The highlevel of interferenceimmunity providedby the TU425 savesdesigners the task ofisolating the sensitivemeasurement-system power supplyfrom externalinfluences.

The compactTU425 productfamily measures only3” x 6.2” x 1.62”,

easily fitting into a 1U chassis. From this smallfootprint it can support loads of up to 300Wwith convection cooling, and as much as425W with forced-air cooling. The powersupply is configured to provide active currentsharing for redundant applications.

Specified with a wide -10°C to 70°Coperating temperature range, the TU425 serieswill start up at just -40°C, eliminating the needfor a costly heating element.

The TU425 is rated for a 350,000-hour meantime before failure. Its long operating life isunderpinned by its use of electrolyticcapacitors with a 7-year minimum lifespan.

Reliable chip capacitor for high-frequency RF designs

Vishay Intertechnology has added toits QUAD HIFREQ series of high-powersurface-mount Multi-Layer CeramicChip capacitors (MLCCs) with a newdevice in the quad 2525 case size.

QUAD HIFREQ 2525: ‘Q’ rating more than 4,000

SL POWER ELECTRONICS

VISHAy

This means that the Vishay Vitramon QUADHIFREQ series of MLCCs is now available in0505, 1111, and 2525 case sizes. With theaddition of the 2525 device, the series nowoffers maximum capacitance values up to2,700pF and working voltages up to 3,600V.

Based on an extremely stable ceramicdielectric and offering high serial and parallelresonant frequencies, the new capacitor isdesigned to provide reliable performance in awide range of RF applications.

The new 2525 device features a very high‘Q’ rating of more than 4,000 at 10MHz, andlow equivalent series resistance of as little as0.018Ω.

The QUAD HIFREQ family is manufactured innoble metal electrode technology with a wet-build process. It is available with RoHS-compliant nickel barrier terminations with 100%matte tin plates for reflow assembly, and with aminimum 4% lead-bearing termination finish.

TU425: no heating element required for start-up at low temperature

APPLICATIONS• MRI coils and generators• RF instrumentation• Telecoms basestations• Lasers• Military communications systems • RF power amplifiers• Filter and impedance-matching networks• Timing circuits• Mixers• Oscillators

FEATURES• Working voltage range: 300V to 3600V • ±0.1pF tolerance on capacitance rating• Operating temperature range:

-55°C to 125°C



APPLICATIONS• Oscilloscopes• Signal generators• Analysers• Test boards• Chromatography mass detectors• Process control systems

FEATURES• Inhibit, Power Fail and DC OK signals • Approved to CSA/EN/IEC/UL60950-1,

2nd Edition• 90% typical efficiency• Three-year warranty• 0.95 power factor at 230V AC, full load



Dielectric Case MaximumVoltage

Capacitance (pF)

Minimum Maximum

NP00505 250V 1.0 1001111 1500V 1.0 10002525 3600V 1.0 2700

Model Number VoltsOutput Current

Efficiency(Main Output)

Ripple & Noise(mVpk-pk)With Forced

Air CoolingConvectionCooled

TU425S12E12V5Vsb

12V Fan

32.2A2.0A1.0A

22.0A2.0A0.5A

88%120mV100mV360mV

TU425S18E18V5Vsb

12V Fan

21.4A2.0A1.0A

14.6A2.0A0.5A

88%180mV100mV360mV

TU425S24E24V5Vsb

12V Fan

16.8A2.0A1.0A

11.9A2.0A0.5A

90%240mV100mV360mV

TU425S48E48V5Vsb

12V Fan

8.4A2.0A1.0A

5.9A2.0A0.5A

90%480mV100mV360mV

TU425S56E56V5Vsb

12V Fan

7.2A2.0A1.0A

5.1A2.0A0.5A

90%560mV100mV360mV



NXP Semiconductors has introducedthe first 10A Schottky barrier rectifiersto be housed in its new Clip FlatPowerPackage 15 (CFP15 or SOT1289).

The CFP15 package design has a solid clipand exposed heat-sink to keep the package’sthermal resistance to a minimum and tofacilitate the transfer of heat to the ambientenvironment. This helps designers to realisesmaller and thinner chargers. The front sidesof the package leads are also tin-plated and100% solderable, enabling optical solderinspection.

NXP SEMICONDUCTORS

The appeal of the new PMEG45U10EPD andPMEG45A10EPD stems from the compactdimensions of the new package design, whichis intended to support forward currents of upto 15A. At just 4.3mm x 5.8mm x 0.8mm, thenew rectifiers are thinner than the pin-compatible PowerDI5 and SMPC (TO-277A)rectifier packages available on the markettoday.

This small form factor, combined withexcellent electrical performance, make thePMEG45U10EPD and PMEG45A10EPD idealfor use in power adapters for the nextgeneration of consumer devices such assmartphones and tablets.

The new 10A Schottky rectifiers are notablefor their low forward voltage drop, whichsupports the high efficiency and output-power

ratings needed for fast battery-chargingcycles. They also feature high peak-currentcapabilities and a guaranteed breakdownvoltage of more than 45V, helping designers tosatisfy the safety demands of chargers ratedfor up to 15W and a 5V output.

The two new devices differ in their forwardvoltage and capacitance ratings: thePMEG45A10EPD has the lower capacitance,at just 900pF at 1V, while its forward voltage isa typical 473mV at 10A. The PMEG45U10EPDoffers the lower forward voltage, a typical430mV at 10A. Its capacitance is rated at1,200pF at 1V.

APPLICATIONS• Low-voltage rectification• DC-DC conversion• Switch-mode power supplies• Freewheeling applications• Reverse polarity protection

FEATURES• ≤10A average forward current• ≤45V reverse voltage• High power capability



16V op amp features high stability over widetemperature range

The TSX711 operational amplifier fromSTMicroelectronics offers precisefunctioning combined with a low input-offset voltage.

The device’s input-offset voltage is rated at amaximum of just 200µV at 25°C. The op amp isone of the main circuits in a signal-conditioningchain, and the amplifier’s input offset is a majorcontributor to the accuracy of the entire chain.The TSX711’s low input offset helps designersto maintain high accuracy over a wideoperating temperature range, keeping to aminimum the amount by which the circuit mustbe compensated for variations in temperature.

The TSX711 also offers a rail-to-rail input andoutput, allowing the product to be used overthe full input and output range withoutlimitation. This is particularly useful whenworking with a low-voltage supply.

The TSX711’s operating supply range startsat 2.7V and extends up to 16V. This gives thedesigner flexibility to use the same op amp in

multiple applications, while also using a singlereference voltage.

Featuring a low input bias current, theTSX711 is ideal for signal conditioning insensor interfaces. In addition, the rail-to-railinput and output characteristics of the devicemake it suitable for low- and high-side currentmeasurement.

With ESD tolerance of 4kV (Human BodyModel) and a wide operating temperaturerange, the TSX711 may be reliably deployed inautomotive applications.

STMICROELECTRONICS

TSX711: rail-to-rail input and output

APPLICATIONS• Battery-powered instrumentation• Instrumentation amplifiers• Active filtering• DAC buffer

FEATURES• Draws maximum 800µA current • 2.7MHz typical gain bandwidth product • Unity gain stable• 50pA maximum input bias current• Operating temperature range:

-40°C to 125°C



Efficient 10A Schottky rectifiers ideal for smallbattery chargers

Schottky rectifiers housed in new Clip FlatPower package



Low-jitter clock generator suppliesPCIe and sRIO frequencies

ON Semiconductor has introduced aclock generator featuring low phasenoise which is suitable for designsemploying PCI Express (PCIe) or serialRapidIO (sRIO) communicationsinterfaces.

The NB3N51044 accepts a 25MHzfundamental-mode parallel resonant crystal, ora 25MHz single-ended reference clock signal.From this input, it generates four differentialHCSL/LVDS outputs of a user-selectable100MHz or 125MHz clock frequency.

The clock signals generated by theNB3N51044 are notable for their extremely lowjitter. Typical phase jitter at 125MHz, integrated1.875MHz to 20MHz, is just 0.2ps, and typicalpeak cycle-to-cycle jitter over 10,000 cycles at100MHz is rated at 20ps.

The NB3N51044 may be configured tobypass the PLL from the signal path, providingthe output frequency through its dividernetwork. All clock outputs may be individually

enabled and disabled through hardware inputpins. In addition, the device can be reset usingthe Master Reset input pin.

To control the output drive, the internalcurrent reference can be adjusted by changingthe value of an external precision resistorconnected from the IREF pin to ground.

Aluminium capacitors offer long life at high temperatures

Vishay Intertechnology offers twoadvanced BCcomponents series ofsurface-mount aluminium capacitorswhich support operation for longperiods at high temperatures.

Both the 146 CTI and 160 CLA are AEC-Q200automotive qualified parts.

They are ideally suited to filtering,smoothing, buffering and voltage-decouplingapplications in high-temperature environments.The 4-pin and 6-pin versions of both series arespecified for applications exposed to highlevels of vibration.

Vishay aluminium capacitors: no peak-current limitation

ON SEMICONDUCTOR

VISHAy

Rated for 125°C and 150°C, respectively, the146 CTI and 160 CLA series of polarisedaluminium electrolytic capacitors have a non-solid, self-healing electrolyte. They are charge-and discharge-proof, which means that theyhave no peak-current limitation.

The 146 CTI devices are available in nine casesizes ranging from 8mm x 8mm x 10mm up to18mm x 18mm x 21mm, with capacitancevalues from 22µF to 4,700µF. The parts arerated for voltages from 16V to 63V.

The 160 CLA capacitors are available in sixcase sizes, ranging from 12.5mm x 12.5mm x13mm to the largest at 18mm x 18mm x21mm. The parts are available in capacitancevalues from 100µF to 3,300µF over a voltagerange between 16V and 63V.

Both the 146 CTI and 160 CLA parts offerlow impedance down to 0.035Ω at 20°C and100kHz, helping to provide for high performanceand reliability. The 146 CTI can tolerate highripple currents of up to 1.75A at 125°C and100kHz; with 1.35A at 150°C and 100kHz forthe 160 CLA.

NB3N51044 from ON Semiconductor: 0.2ps phase jitter

APPLICATIONS• Automotive power trains• Chassis electronics• Switched-mode power supplies• Industrial drives and machinery• Renewable energy equipment

FEATURES• Useful life:

146 CTI: up to 6,000 hours at 125°C160 CLA: up to 2,000 hours at 150°C

• Meets IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020 solderingguidelines for severe reflow conditions



APPLICATIONS• Switches and routers• Set-top boxes• Servers and PCs• Multi-function printers• Automated test equipment

FEATURES• Individual Output Enable tri-state outputs• Exceeds requirements for PCIe Gen 1,

Gen 2 and Gen 3 compliance• 3.3V supply voltage • Operating temperature range:

-40°C to 85°C



Phase Noise @ 100MHz

Offset Noise Power

100Hz -101dBc/Hz

1kHz -123dBc/Hz

10kHz -133dBc/Hz

100kHz -136dBc/Hz

1MHz -141dBc/Hz

10MHz -155dBc/Hz



The new PBSS4360Z from NXPSemiconductors is a 60V, 3A NPNtransistor characterised by its lowcollector-emitter saturation voltage.

Breakthrough In Small Signal (BISS) technology

NXP SEMICONDUCTORS

Based on the fourth generation of NXP’sBreakthrough In Small Signal (BISS)technology, this transistor is housed in amedium-power SOT223 (SC-73) surface-mount plastic package.

Maximum saturation voltage is rated at avalue as low as 75mV at a pulsed 500mAcollector current, and an ambient temperatureof 25°C. Even at a pulsed current of 3A, thesaturation voltage is rated at only 400mV.Collector capacitance is rated at a maximum14pF.

At the same time, the PBSS4360Z is notablefor its high collector-current capability, whichpeaks at 6A for a single pulse of ≤1ms.

Thermal resistance is 16K/W from the junctionto the solder point. Due in part to its goodthermal performance, the PBSS4360Z hasbeen qualified in accordance with AEC-Q101stress-test qualification for discretesemiconductors, and is suitable for use inautomotive applications. The low amounts ofwaste heat generated by the device provideevidence of its high efficiency.

The PNP complement of the device is thePBSS5360Z.

APPLICATIONS• DC-to-DC conversion• Supply-line switching• Battery chargers• LCD backlighting• Low-voltage drivers for lamps and LEDs• Inductive load drivers• Relays• Buzzers • Motors

FEATURES• 60V maximum collector-emitter voltage• DC current gain at 3A: 75 (minimum)• 140mΩ collector-emitter saturation

resistance at 2A



The M24SR from STMicroelectronics is adynamic NFC/RFID tag IC with an I2Cinterface and embedded EEPROMmemory.

STMICROELECTRONICS

APPLICATIONS• Consumer devices• In-home patient-monitoring equipment• Android peripheral devices

FEATURES• Supply voltage range: 2.7V to 5.5V• 106kbits/s data rate• 8kbyte EEPROM• 200 years’ data retention• Rated for one million erase-write cycles



NFC/RFID developmentThe M24SR-DISCOVERy demonstration kit helpsdesigners to quickly create an example application usingthe M24SR. The kit includes an STM32F103 MCU todrive the EEPROM via I2C and an LCD screen via theserial peripheral interface. Orderable Part Number: M24SR-DISCOVERy

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This same memory can be accessed by anNFC phone or reader and by an I2C host, suchas a microcontroller.

Automotive-qualified transistor handles 3Acontinuous current

This means that the device can be used as abi-directional, contactless bridge between anMCU-based system and an RFID reader orNFC host device, such as a smartphone ortablet computer.

The M24SR’s RF interface is based on theISO/IEC 14443 Type A (RFID) standard. Thedevice is also compatible with the NFC ForumType 4 tag specifications, and supports all therelevant commands.

The M24SR uses the NFC forum NDEFmessage protocol, which can launch aninstruction to a smart phone to act. Suchactions can include:• to go to a specific internet address (URL)• to send an email to a specific address • to launch an application and exchange data

with it

The I2C interface uses a two-wire serialinterface consisting of a bi-directional data lineand a clock line. Each M24SR device carries abuilt-in 4-bit device-type identifier code inaccordance with the I²C bus protocol.

The device behaves as a slave in an I2Csystem. The management of the interfaceselection is controlled by the M24SR itself.

NFC tag IC forms bridgebetween MCU and phones

BUILDINGTHE

INTERNET OF THINGS

How Future Electronicsputs all the pieces in placeThe Internet of Things is the next disruptive technologywhich will revolutionise how we interface with the outsideworld. But how is a designer to architect innovative IoTsolutions, while making sure the systems are interoperablewith other manufacturers’ IoT products?

The answer: with expert help from Future Electronics.

Today, our technical specialists are helping early adoptersget to market quickly by supporting them with a portfolioof the world’s best solutions for IoT designs, in a systemcalled Collect, Control, Communicate.

COLLECT. Devices that acquire data, including MEMS andsilicon sensors, and precise, low-power signal-processingcomponents.CONTROL. Ultra-low power microcontrollers based onpopular cores such as ARM®, MIPS and AVR®.COMMUNICATE. RF technologies, including Bluetooth®

Low Energy, ISM-band licence-free radios, ZigBee®, Wi-Fi®and NFC.To pull all the pieces together, Future Electronics providesIoT SOLUTIONS. This includes dedicated experts inconnectivity, power and energy systems, advanced ARM-accredited engineers, and strategic partnerships to provideyou with both security solutions and cloud-based datastorage capability.So talk to Future Electronics, and let us help you to buildinnovative IoT solutions, one block at a time.



WAGO

APPLICATIONS• Railway equipment and locomotives• Industrial equipment

FEATURES• Pre-assembled unit saves installation time• Marking options available



10A board-to-board connectorabsorbs large misalignments

The FX30B 10A board-to-board connectorfrom Hirose offers designers the abilityto handle high currents while absorbingmating tolerances in applicationsrequiring multiple connectors.

±0.3mm and ±1mm in the z direction, enablingit to absorb mating misalignment, vibration andsizing discrepancies.

This capability is a feature of the connector’sdesign, which offsets the blade contacts on theheader and the unique spring contacts on thereceptacle, providing sufficient deflection rangein a limited space. In addition, the gold-platedcontacts feature four independent angledcontact points to guarantee a secure contact.The effective mating length of 2mm also helpsto ensure high contact reliability.

The moulded guide posts on the headerengage with the ribson the receptacle toallow for a matingalignment movementof ±1.3mm in the x,y directions. Thissimplifies matingoperation andprevents incorrectinsertion. In addition,there are six keysaround the matingface which preventreverse insertion.

HIROSE

Hirose board-to-board connectors: offset blade contacts

Three different variants of the FX30B areavailable, supporting vertical, parallel or co-planar board-to-board connection.

Hirose’s popular FX18 high-speed connectorcan be used on the same board as an FX30Bconnector to offer a flexible, high-speed andhigh-current capability.



C O M P O N E N T F O C U SP • I • ES E C T I O N

APPLICATIONS• Industrial equipment• Broadcast equipment• Medical devices• Basestations• Measuring instruments • Projectors

FEATURES• Contact positions: 2, 3, 4, 5 • 3.81mm pitch• Stack heights: 20mm, 25mm and 30mm • 250V AC-DC voltage rating• Operating temperature: -55°C to 105°C

Modular empty housing offers flexibility andmanufacturing efficiency

WAGO has developed a modularempty housing suitable for use onDIN 35 rails. The 2857 seriesprovides designers withthe flexibility to makeexactly the electricalconnections they require.Individual connectionoptions can be configuredon three levels over widthsof 12.5mm and 22.5mm.

The 2857 empty housing issupplied as a pre-installed unitready to be mounted on a PCB andsoldered. The housing is ready for useafter attaching its side with a snap-lockfixture.

WAGO spring-pressure connectiontechnology is used for terminating theconductors. At each connection level, apluggable picoMAX® female connector, a fixed

picoMAX female connector or a vacant spacewithout any connection technology may beused. This means that the female connectorscan be coded and easily wired when pluggedor unplugged. The integrated push-buttons

and test ports make handling easy andintuitive.

Solid and fine-strandedconductors featuring ferrules

with cross sections up to2.5mm2 (14 AWG) can

be plugged-in directly.Since all housing widthshave the same profile, a

group of componentscan easily be connected toa common power supply.This, in turn, saves thetime and effort involved inwiring each separate

component, makingconnections fast and easy.

A wide variety of marking options isavailable for the modular empty housing.Female connectors marked at the factorymake allocation of the individual connectors toa specific level easy.

Custom marking can be implemented with theWAGO WMB Multi-marking system, WMBInline, the marking strip on the housing andthe WAGO Micro-WSB Quick-marking systemon the housing cover and ejector.

The transparent housing cover can besealed in place to protect the unit.

The FX30B connector range benefits from aspecial innovative contact structure whichallows movement in the x, y directions of up to



CUI INC

D E S I G N N O T E

The advantages of capacitive over optical encodersfor angle measurement in industrial applications

Temperature variations also impair the performance of an optical encoder.Both the LEDs and the optical disks used in optical encoders aresusceptible to thermal stress, and their performance is compromised inextreme temperatures. The AMT’s ASIC technology is less sensitive toheat and cold, offering reliable operation over a wider temperature range.

The AMT encoder’s construction is also far less susceptible to vibrationthan the fragile glass disk of an optical encoder. Figure 2 shows anoptical glass disc and an AMT rotor.

Low power consumption In many product categories, the need to reduce power consumption is ahigh priority for the design engineer. Here, the capacitive sensing methodoffers a great advantage over the optical encoder. A typical opticalencoder draws between 20mA and 50mA. The AMT from CUI, bycontrast, draws just 6-10mA, making it ideally suited to mobile andbattery-powered applications.

Easy installationCompared to an optical modular encoder, the AMT is quicker and easier toinstall, saving the OEM precious installation time and the fall-out expensethat typically occurs through misalignment of the modular optical disk.

Certain AMT models, including absolute and commutation models,incorporate a ‘One Touch Zero’ feature, allowing the user to flash the zeroposition to the encoder in seconds. On the other hand, installing acommutation optical encoder onto a Brushless DC (BLDC) motor can bean iterative and time-consuming process. The optical disk must beprecisely rotated to align with the correct motor windings. Once aligned,the assembly must then be checked via back EMF to ensure mountingaccuracy. This process can take more than 15 minutes per motor.

The AMT encoder reduces this time-consuming process to a fewseconds. The AMT devices are also available to fit various shaft diameters,enabling OEMs to use a single SKU across multiple end-products.

More robust, highly accurateEncoders are typically used in difficult environments subject to temperatureswings, vibration and contaminants. These are real threats to incumbentencoder technologies. The AMT series from CUI, however, operatesreliably and accurately in challenging applications in which precise motionfeedback is required. This, paired with the flexibility and programmabilityof the AMT encoder, makes it a valuable solution in a range of industrial,robotics, automation and renewable-energy applications.

Fig. 1: Unlike an optical encoder that relies on line-of-sight optics (top), the AMT encoder uses anelectromagnetic field to transmit signals (bottom), eliminating vulnerability to contaminants such asdust, dirt and oil

CUI Inc., has recently introduced a family of modular encodersfor measuring angular displacement which uses a proprietarymethod of measuring rotational movement. In the CUItechnology, which is based on a concept used for many yearsin digital calipers, an ASIC detects changes in the frequency ofa signal modulated by capacitive reactance, as shown belowin Figure 1.

This capacitive technology, on which CUI’s new AMT series modularencoder is based, offers many advantages over the optical encodingmethod commonly used today for rotary position sensing in industrialapplications. This Design Note explains why.

Easier Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) system modifications An important part of the process of developing a motion-control design issystem optimisation and loop-time modification. Designers aresometimes required to modify a system’s response to eliminate irregularor undesired behaviour. Making the correct modification, however, can bedifficult. One of two changes must be made:• either the system PID times need to be adjusted with a timely code

review and modification • or the line count (resolution) must be adjusted

With the AMT encoder, this modification process is much simpler, andcan be implemented dynamically. The PID control engineer simply adjuststhe line counts of the encoder, evaluating the overall response time untilthe desired result is obtained. The AMT series of capacitive encodersoffers up to 20 programmable resolution choices from 48 Points PerRevolution (PPR) to 4,096 PPR.

Using an optical encoder, this process would require several differentversions to be purchased, increasing cost and lengthening the design cycle.

Immunity to contaminantsAn optical encoder’s performance is affected by dust, dirt and othercontaminants accumulating on the optical disk. This causes repeatabilityproblems, because the contamination blocks the passage of light fromthe LED through the disk to the optical sensor. Once an optical disk iscontaminated, the encoder must be replaced.

The capacitance changes in the electrical field sensed by the AMT’sASIC, however, are completely unaffected by contaminants. As a result,the AMT encoder is a much more rugged product than an opticalencoder, and offers much more reliable performance.

Fig. 2: Comparison of optical glass disk and AMT rotor

D E S I G N N O T E

Fig. 3: HyperLight Load control enables the MIC28304 to maintain high efficiency when supplying a lowoutput current


MICREL

DC-DC power modules are used in a wide range of industrialapplications to provide the supply voltages required by low-voltage, active or mixed-signal devices such as MCUs,ADCs, sensors and switches. By using power modules,industrial equipment designers can distribute power where itis needed, at the point of load, instead of using a centralisedpower scheme, which requires long traces and is susceptibleto EMI.

How a micro power module enablesimproved point-of-load designs

The MIC28304 also offers better EMI performance than discrete solutionsbecause of the close proximity of the components inside its packagecompared to discrete components, as shown in Figure 2. What is more,a design using the MIC28304 is more robust than a discrete solutionsince the module’s components are encapsulated inside its package andthus protected from vibrations and humidity.

The MIC28304 is offered in HyperLight Load® control and Hyper SpeedControl™ options to address applications with various load power andsequencing conditions. HyperLight Load control maintains high efficiencyin light-load conditions, and is normally used in systems that require theuse of stand-by modes, as shown in Figure 3.

For applications in which the load varies, Hyper Speed Control offersfast responses to output-load transients.

Part Number Switching Frequency Features Temperature Range

MIC28304-1YMP 200kHz - 600kHz HyperLight Load 40°C to 125°C

MIC28304-2YMP 200kHz - 600kHz Hyper Speed Control 40°C to 125°C

MIC28304 evaluation boardsFour boards demonstrate the performance of theMIC28304 across an input voltage range of 7V to 70V.The converter’s switching frequency is adjustable in arange between 200kHz and 600kHz.

Boards are available in a 5V and 12V version for boththe HyperLight Load MIC28304-1yMP and the HyperSpeed Control MIC28304-2yMP.

Orderable Part Numbers: MIC28304-1 5V EVMIC28304-2 5V EVMIC28304-1 12V EVMIC28304-2 12V EV

FREEBOARDS



Micrel’s MIC28304 micro power module is ideal for such applications. Itprovides a turnkey DC-DC conversion circuit in a 64-pin, 12mm x 12mmQFN package which enables designers to put the desired supply railwhere they need it and to protect devices from high-voltage transients, asshown in Figure 1. The MIC28304, an integrated synchronous buck-conversion solution, supports inputs of up to 70V and up to 3A, whilehandling a large difference between the input and output voltage values.This makes it ideal for noise-sensitive applications that are subject tovoltage transients as high as 70V.

In typical applications, the MIC28304 is followed by a load switch topower 3.3V or 5V circuitry, and a multi-buck conversion stage to powermicrocontrollers, thus providing for correct power sequencing.

By using the MIC28304 module, designers avoid the need to evaluate,design, test and procure multiple discrete components for a buck-conversion circuit. The micro power module is easy to integrate into aboard design and may be placed near active components, thus helpingreduce the number of long supply traces on the board.

Fig. 1: The 76V absolute-maximum rating of the MIC28304 eliminates the need for a voltage suppressoron the input-supply side

Fig. 2: The low power of the radiated emissions from the MIC28304 helps product designers to achieve compliance with EMI standards

60V MOSFETs with low on-resistance make motor designsmore efficient

International Rectifier has announcedthe expansion of its StrongIRFET™

power MOSFET portfolio with a newrange of 60V devices suitable forindustrial applications including powertools, inverters for light electric vehicles,DC motor drives, Li-ion battery packprotection and secondary-sidesynchronous rectification.

Through-hole 60V StrongIRFET MOSFETs

INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIERThe new 60V MOSFETs feature ultra-low on-resistance, producing improved performancein low-frequency applications. The MOSFETsalso offer a very high current capability, softbody diode, and a 3V typical threshold voltagefor improved noise immunity.

Each device in the family is 100%avalanche-tested at the highest avalanche-current levels to ensure they offer robustperformance even in the most demandingconditions found in industrial applications. Thedevices are available in through-hole andsurface-mount D2PAK packages.

APPLICATIONS• Brushed motor drives • Brushless DC motor drives • Synchronous rectifier designs • Resonant-mode power supplies • ORing and redundant power switches • DC-DC and AC-DC converters • Inverters

FEATURES (IRFP7530)• 341W maximum power dissipation at

25°C case temperature• 51ns typical reverse-recovery time• 0.44°C/W maximum thermal resistance

junction-to-case



A P P L I C A T I O N S P O T L I G H T


Motion ControlAs in every other aspect of electronics design,in the field of motor control, engineering teamsare under pressure to get new products tomarket quicker. Yet they often have fewerdesign resources at their disposal. This Application Spotlight shows the new

ways in which component manufacturers arehelping designers to handle this pressure. Oneis by integrating an increasing range of motor-control functions into their devices. Severalmanufacturers, such as STMicroelectronics,featured on page 14, are extending theirranges of Intelligent Power Modules (IPMs)dedicated to motor-driving applications.Similarly, ON Semiconductor’s STK5 IPMs, onpage 20, provide all the power-stage functionsrequired by a motor, eliminating the need for the designer tointegrate multiple discrete devices in a system design and savingvaluable circuit-board space.

NXP Semiconductors offers another way toaccelerate the design process, as shownon page 15, with its LPC1500 family ofmotor-control microcontrollers. NXPprovides a library of efficient motor-controlfirmware free with these ARM® Cortex®-M3MCUs, which also feature hardwareperipherals specifically intended for motorcontrol, such as a quadrature encoderinterface and up to 28 PWM channels. Engineers looking to make a head start

on their next motor design should alsoapply online at my-boardclub.com for theXMOS motor-control development kitfeatured on page 21. The kit includes amotor and various IP modules which

implement position-, speed- and torque-control loops, and offers acomprehensive blueprint for designs using XMOS’ configurablemulti-core MCUs.

NXP’s LPC1500: page 15Rohm’s RGTxxx series: page 17PARTNERWORKING

Part Number BreakdownVoltage

Continuous DrainCurrent at 25°C

Maximum On-resistance at 10V (mΩ)

Gate-charge at 10V (nC) Package

IRFB7530

60V

195A

2.0 274TO-220

IRFP7530 TO-247IRFB7534 2.4 186 TO-220IRFB7537

3.3 142TO-220

IRFP7537 TO-247IRFB7540 110A 5.1 88

TO-220IRFB7545 85A 5.9 75IRFB7546 58A 7.3 58

Part Number BreakdownVoltage

Continuous DrainCurrent at 25°C

Maximum On-resistance at 10V (mΩ)

Gate-charge at 10V (nC) Package

IRFS7530-7P

60V

240A1.4 236

D2PAK-7IRFS7534-7P 1.9 200IRFS7530

195A2.0 274

D2PAKIRFS7534 2.4 180IRFS7537 3.3 142IRFS7540 110A 5.1 88

Surface-mount D2PAK 60V StrongIRFET MOSFETs

M O T I O N C O N T R O L


Power modules provide integrated invertersolution for motor drives

STMicroelectronics has introducedSLLIMM™, a family of Intelligent PowerModules (IPMs) which helps designersof motor drives to achieve higherefficiency and a smaller footprint.

SLLIMM modules: space-saving inverter solution

STMICROELECTRONICS

The SLLIMM (Small Low-Loss IntelligentMoulded Module) family combines ICs in oneof two types of dual-in-line package to providethe three main inverter functions required inmotor drives:

Power stage• six IGBTs which can withstand short circuits• six freewheeling diodesDriver network

• three high-voltage gate drivers• discrete gate resistors• three bootstrap diodesProtection and optional features

• op amps for current sensing• comparators for protection against over-

current and short-circuit faults• dead time, interlocking function and under-

voltage lock-out

APPLICATIONS• Home appliances• Air-conditioning compressor drives• Sewing machines• Pumps• Power tools

FEATURES• 600V maximum breakdown voltage• NTC sensor for temperature control• Smart shut-down function



Reversible DC motor drivereases space constraints

The driver’s high-performance H-bridgeoutput stage can supply a continuouscurrent of up to 700mA (1.2A peak). Ithelps designers to meet stringent noiseconstraints, generating low audibleswitching noise and low EMI.

The ZXBM5210’s wide supply-voltage range of 3-18V enables thedevice to support a variety of single-phase 5V, 9V, 12V and 15V DC motors.

DIODES INCORPORATED

APPLICATIONS• Home appliances • Handheld power tools • Valve open and close mechanisms• Remote-control motorised toys

FEATURES• 6kV ESD tolerance (Human Body Model)• Operating temperature range:

-40°C to 105°C• 32µA current in Stand-by mode



Motor drive applicationsThe purpose of the STEVAL-IHM036V1 demonstrationboard is to present a universal, fully-tested designconsisting of a three-phase inverter bridge based on the600V, 3A STGIPN3H60 SLLIMM module, together withthe STM32F100C6T6B microcontroller.

The demonstrated system achieves fast and accurateconditioning of the current feedback, making it capable ofmeeting the typical requirements for field-oriented control.Orderable Part Number: STEVAL-IHM036V1

FREEBOARDS


The modules are available in an SDIP packageoffering extremely low thermal resistance, highquality and cost effectiveness. They are alsoproduced in the fully moulded 3.5cm²SLLIMM-nano package (NDIP) which is idealfor small, built-in motor applications using upto 100W and operating in free air.

Compared to inverters realised with discretecomponents, a SLLIMM module results in asimpler circuit design, reduced componentcount and weight, and higher reliability. Intypical designs, a single SLLIMM replacesmore than 30 discrete devices.

In addition, the optimised ICs in the controland power stages and the fine-tuned boardlayout provide better efficiency, reduced EMIand noise, better fault protection and lowerpropagation-delay time.

Diodes Incorporated has introduced ahighly integrated IC for driving single-coil reversible DC fans and motors.Ideal for medium-voltage, low-powermotor-driving applications, theZXBM5210’s combination ofcontrol logic, full-bridge driverand protection features helpsreduce component count andboard footprint.

To help protect the IC and the motor coil theZXBM5210 includes under-voltage, over-voltage, over-current and over-temperatureprotection features. Once the safe operatingrange has been exceeded the device shutsdown the output drive to help prevent stress tothe IC or the coil.

The ZXBM5210 is available in a choice ofSO-8 and thermally-enhanced SO-8 exposed-pad packages.

ZXBM5210: supports DC motors with power supplies up to 15V

The ZXBM5210 has four modes of operation:Forward, Reverse, Brake and Stand-by,selected via the device’s FWD and REV pins.Motor speed is regulated by modifying the dutycycle through PWM signals applied to the twoinputs. Alternatively, speed can be controlledby adjusting the DC input voltage to the VREF pin. The PWM oscillator is integrated in thedevice and no external timing capacitor isrequired.



Control of multiple motors made simpleby new ARM Cortex-M3 MCUs

H-bridge motor-driver module toleratesharsh automotive conditions

The VNH5050A from STMicroelectronicsis a full-bridge 30A motor-driver moduleintended for automotive applications.

NXP SEMICONDUCTORS

STMICROELECTRONICS

The device incorporates a dual monolithichigh-side driver and two low-side switches. All switches use the provenVIPower® M0 technology fromSTMicroelectronics, whichmakes it possible to efficientlyintegrate a power MOSFET andintelligent signal and protectioncircuitry on the same die.

The three dies are assembledin a PowerSSO-36 TP packageon electrically isolated leadframes. This package, whichcan tolerate harsh automotiveenvironments, has exposed diepads to accelerate the passageof heat from the device to theambient air. In addition, theVNH5050A’s symmetricalmechanical design facilitatesboard assembly.

Control of a motor’s operation is made easy bythe VNH5050A. Input signals can directlyinterface to a microcontroller to select themotor’s direction and the brake condition. TheDIAGA/ENA or DIAGB/ENB pins, whenconnected to an external pull-up resistor, mayenable one leg of the module’s H-bridge.

A built-in PWM controller operating at up to20kHz controls the speed of the motor in allconditions.

APPLICATIONS• Windscreen washer pumps• Seat position adjusters

FEATURES• 3V CMOS-compatible inputs• 41V maximum supply voltage• Under-voltage and over-voltage shut-down• Over-voltage clamp• Thermal shut-down• Cross-conduction protection• 3µA typical stand-by current



APPLICATIONS• Motor drives• Digital power supplies• Solar inverters• Home appliances• Building and factory automation

FEATURES• ADCs perform conversions in 500ns• PWM modules offer average resolution

of <1ns• 68ns comparator propagation delay• CAN module• GUI-based calibration/tuning tools



Automotive motor driver applicationsThe STEVAL-VNH5050A evaluation board consists of anSTM8 universal motherboard which provides the logicsection for monitoring and driving a VNH5050A driverassembled on a daughterboard. The board is suppliedwith user-friendly software which enables the user to setthe VNH5050A’s parameters and to display real-timediagnostic information about the device. Orderable Part Number: STEVAL-VNH5050A

FREEBOARDS


IR’s StrongIRFET family: page 13Rohm’s RGTxxx series: page 17PARTNERWORKING


Motor-control and digital-power applicationsThe LPC1549 LPCXpresso™ includes a standard 10-pinJTAG/SWD connector plus analogue/digital expansionheaders, making it a highly extensible platform. Headersconforming to the LPCXpresso™, Arduino UNO and PMODstandards enable the use of existing peripheral boards. Orderable Part Number: OM13056UL

FREEBOARDS

The new microcontrollers incorporateall the features required for accuratesensored and sensorless motorcontrol, enabling thesimultaneous control of twomotors in highly flexibleconfigurations. Supportedby efficient motor-controlfirmware, easy-to-use GUI-based tuning tools anddevelopment kits, the LPC1500microcontrollers simplify development andsupport designers with limited motor-controlexperience.

The LPC1500 MCUs are optimised for usewith a wide range of brushless DC motors,permanent-magnet synchronous motors andAC induction motors, which are commonlyfound in consumer and industrial products.

NXP Semiconductors has released anew series of microcontrollers, theLPC1500, which is optimised for fast,easy and precise motor control.

They are also ideally suited for industrialapplications requiring precise data samplingand real-time control, such as digital powerand instrumentation.

Based on the ARM® Cortex®-M3 processor,the LPC1500 MCUs feature two 12-bit, 12-channel ADCs operating at 2Msamples/s,and an on-chip quadrature encoder interface.Four on-chip comparators enable fast over-current and over-voltage monitoring and

protection. Four flexible SCTimer/PWMtimers provide up to 28 PWM

channels in a tightly coupledanalogue and timing sub-system which places a minimal

load on the CPU.The LPC1500 series of

microcontrollers are fullysupported by the LPC software

ecosystem and an extensivecollection of tools, drivers and

middleware. Developers can choosefrom the free NXP LPCXpresso™ developmentplatform, incorporating a full featured C/C++tool chain and IDE, or use popular tools fromthird-party suppliers such as Keil and IAR.

VNH5050A: built-in PWM controller regulates motor speed



Half-bridge drivers provide advanced protection features

ON Semiconductor has introduced afamily of half-bridge drivers offeringprotection features suited toautomotive and industrial motion-control applications.

16-bit full-duplex SPI communication providesfor device configuration, driver controls andreading of diagnostic data. NCV77xx devicesmay also be daisy-chained.

NCV77xx half-bridge drivers: protection features for reliable automotive systems

ON SEMICONDUCTOR

The NCV7718 and NCV7728 provide six half-bridges, the NCV7719 provides eight half-bridges, and the NCV7720 provides ten half-

bridges. All four devices share the sameSSOP-24 package and are pin-compatible.

Protection features include independentover-current, over-temperature, and under-loadshut-down capability, and a global under- orover-voltage lock-out.

The devices will also detect and report over-current status, global power-supply failure,under-load status, output status, and over-temperature status and advance warning.

All the NCV77xx drivers may be operated inforward, reverse, brake and high-impedancestates.

APPLICATIONS• Automotive• Industrial• HVAC systems

FEATURES• 0.55A peak output current• 1Ω typical on-resistance• 2µA typical total current in Sleep mode• Integrated high- and low-side

freewheeling protection• Suitable for 5V and 3.3V systems



Modular capacitive encoder combines accuracy withrugged performance

CUI Inc has announced a series ofmodular encoders for measuring angulardisplacement which combines industry-leading accuracy and ruggedness.

The AMT11 incremental encoder family istargeted at industrial applications. These aresubject to vibration and contaminants, such asdust, dirt and oil, which commonly stopoptical encoders from working effectively.

In the AMT11, positional information isderived from a patented CUI technology,a capacitive code-generation systemcoupled with a proprietary ASIC. Unlikeoptical encoders, this non-contacting,electrical field-based method of sensingis immune to vibration andcontamination. The AMT11 offersexceptional accuracy of ±5 arcmin.Typical accuracy is also rated at ±0.2°.

The encoder implements an on-boarddiagnostic system for use in the field orduring development, accessible via aserial interface or CUI’s AMT Viewpoint™

graphical user interface. Furthermore, themodular locking hub simplifies the assemblyprocess, reducing the time-consuming tasks ofmounting and alignment to just a few seconds.

Designers using the AMT11 can select from20 programmable resolution values rangingfrom 48 Points-Per-Revolution (PPR) to 4,096PPR, adjustable at the factory or via AMTViewpoint™.

The device measures 28.58mm x 37.25mmx 10.34mm. It draws just 10mA at 5V DC,making it suitable for mobile and battery-powered equipment. It operates from a power

CUI INC

CUI: innovative capacitive modulation scheme

supply of 4.5V to 5.5V DC, with options for TTLvoltage or line-driver outputs.

Additional options include radial or axialconnector orientations, nine mating sleevesranging in diameter from 2mm to 8mm, andbase plates with multiple pre-drilled mounting-hole patterns to mate with a wide range ofmotors.

Read the Design Note on page 11 for moreinformation about CUI’s modular encoders.

APPLICATIONS• Factory automation• Robotics • Renewable energy-generation equipment

FEATURES• Patented capacitive ASIC technology• Differential line-driver versions• Digitally set zero position• Seven mounting-hole options• Operating temperature range:

-40°C to 105°C





Low on-resistance the outstanding feature of new100V N-channel MOSFET

STMicroelectronics’ STL110N10F7 is a100V N-channel power MOSFET whichuses the 7th generation of ST’sSTripFET™ DeepGATE™ technology, andwhich incorporates a new gate structure.

The benefit of this advancedprocess technology is that theSTL110N10F7 offers extremelylow on-resistance. This enablesdesigners to achieve highefficiency in the high-powerswitching operations performedin various types of electric motorssuch as brushless DC motors,permanent magnet synchronousmotors and AC induction motors.

The maximum on-resistance ofthe STL110N10F7 is rated at6mΩ at a gate-source voltage of

10V and a drain current of 10A. Total gatecharge is a typical 72nC.

The device is able to meet designers’ preciserequirements for PWM control of current flowsthrough a motor’s windings, offering a turn-ondelay time of just 25ns and a turn-off delaytime of 52ns. Reverse recovery time is 77ns,and the reverse-recovery charge at a source-drain current of 21A is rated at 150nC.

ROHM Semiconductor’s RGT andRGTH series of 650V Field Stop TrenchIGBTs are intended for use in high-powerconverter and inverter power circuits,which are found in motor-drive systems.

STMICROELECTRONICS

ROHM SEMICONDUCTOR

When used in inverters, the RGT series IGBTsoffer a combination of low switching lossesand low switching noise. In the RGT16NS65D,total gate charge is just 21nC at 300V. All RGTseries devices also feature a fast recoverydiode. The typical diode reverse-recovery timeof the RGT16NS65D is 42ns.

STL110N10F7: supports precise PWM control

The STL110N10F7 is housed in a thermally-efficient 5mm x 6mm PowerFLAT™ package. Ithandles a continuous drain current of 107A ata case temperature of 25°C.

APPLICATIONS (RGT series)• General inverters• Uninterruptible power supplies• Solar power conditioners

APPLICATIONS (RGTH series)• Power factor correction circuits• Solar power conditioners• Industrial equipment



APPLICATIONS• High-power switching in motor drivers

FEATURES• 100% avalanche tested• Operating junction temperature range:

-55°C to 175°C• 1.1°C/W thermal resistance junction-to-

case



IR’s StrongIRFET family: page 13NXP’s LPC1500: page 15PARTNERWORKING

Part Number Maximum Collector-emitter Voltage (V)

Maximum Current (A)at 100°C (Tj)

Typical SaturationVoltage (V)

Built-in Fast-Recovery Diode Package

RGT8BM65D

650

4

1.65 yes

T0-252RGT8NS65D 4

LPDSRGT16NS65D 8RGT30NS65D 15RGT40NS65D 20RGT40TS65D 20

T0-247N

RGT50TS65D 25RGT60TS65D 30RGT80TS65D 40RGT00TS65D 50RGTH40TS65 20

1.6

NoRGTH40TS65D 20 yesRGTH50TS65 25 NoRGTH50TS65D 25 yesRGTH60TS65 30 NoRGTH60TS65D 30 yesRGTH80TS65 40 NoRGTH80TS65D 40 yesRGTH00TS65 50 NoRGTH00TS65D 50 yes

The RGT series is also rated for a short-circuitwithstand time of 5µs.

In converter applications, the RGTH IGBTsare notable for their low saturation voltage andhigh-speed switching. In the RGTH80TS65IGBT, the collector-emitter saturation voltage israted at a typical 2.1V at the maximum 175°Cjunction temperature. At the same temperature,typical turn-on delay time is 34ns and rise timeis 50ns, at 400V, 40A load. Turn-off time isspecified at 135ns and fall time at 59ns.

Field Stop Trench IGBTs feature low power losses and noise



Eval boards demonstrate micro-stepperdriver modules with built-in digital control

STMicroelectronics provides ready-made demonstrations of a fullyintegrated micro-stepping motor driverwith its EVAL6470H-DISC andEVAL6472H-DISC demonstration boards.

STMICROELECTRONICS Via the embedded GUI, designers can easilyconfigure all application parameters. The tooloffers a wide operating-voltage range from 8Vto 45V, and a current capability up to 3Arms. It is equipped with LED indicators for Ready,Busy and Error states.

The EVAL6470H-DISC and EVAL6472H-DISC boards demonstrate the L6470 andL6472, which are integrated modules suitablefor driving two-phase bipolar stepper motorswith microstepping. Their digital-control corecan generate user-defined motion profiles foracceleration, deceleration, speed or targetposition, easily programmed via a dedicatedregister set.

All application commands and data registers,including those used to set analogue values,are sent through a standard 5Mbits/s SPI. Arich selection of protection features make thedevices suitable for the most demandingmotor-control applications.

STMicroelectronics also offers a number ofother integrated modules for driving andmicro-stepping motors. The L6474 easySPINmodule is a simplified micro-stepping driverwith adaptive decay, a method for achieving1/16 micro-stepping that offers betterperformance than conventionalimplementations.

APPLICATIONS• Micro-stepping motor drivers

FEATURES: (EVAL6470/2H-DISC):• Voltage- and current-mode control• Adjustable supply-voltage compensation



MOSFET gate driver’s low quiescentcurrent helps to extend battery run-time

INTERSIL

The HIP2104 contains a 12V linear regulatorand a 3.3V linear regulator with separateEnable pins. The 12V regulator provides internalbias for the device and the 3.3V regulatorprovides bias for an external MCU, or otherlow-voltage ICs, thus eliminating the need fordiscrete LDOs or DC-DC converters.

The HIP2103 is available in an 8-pin, 3mm x3mm TDFN package. The HIP2104 is availablein a 12-pin 4mm x 4mm DFN package.

APPLICATIONS• Half-bridge, full-bridge and BLDC motor

drives• Uninterruptible power supplies• Inverters• Class-D amplifiers

FEATURES• 60V maximum bootstrap supply voltage• 5µA quiescent current in Sleep mode• 3.3V or 5V CMOS-compatible inputs with

hysteresis• Integrated bootstrap FET: replaces a

traditional bootstrap diode



Micro-stepping motor driver applicationsOrderable Part Number: EVAL6472H

FREEBOARDS


ST micro-stepping motor driver: integrated digital control

Ideal starter kits for both beginners andexperienced users, the free-standing boardsare equipped with an embedded MCU andcan be used with a supplied software interfaceor with custom firmware.

These driver ICs, whichhave a maximum 60Vbootstrap supply voltage,are particularly well suitedto motor-drive applications inbattery-powered host devices. Featuring a verylow bias current in Sleep mode these driver ICsdrain almost no power from the battery whenthe device is not in use, thus eliminating theneed for an external switch to disconnect thedriver from the battery.

Two inputs, HI and LI, are provided toindependently control the high-side driver (HO)and the low-side driver (LO). Furthermore, thetwo inputs can be configured to enable/disablethe device, thus lowering the number ofconnections to an MCU and reducing costs.

A fail-safe mechanism is included to improvesystem reliability and to minimise the possibilityof catastrophic bridge failures due to controllermalfunction. Internal logic prevents bothoutputs from turning on simultaneously when

HI and LI are both high simultaneously.Dead-time is still required on the rising

edge of the HI (or LI) input when the LI(or HI) input goes Low. An MCU or

DSP may be used to implementdead-time control.

Since the HIP2103 and HIP2104feature integrated pull-down

resistors on all inputs, designs usingthem can keep the requirement for

external components to a minimum. An activelow-resistance pull-down on the LO outputensures that the low-side bridge FET remainsoff during Sleep mode or when the voltage isbelow the under-voltage lockout threshold. TheHigh-side pin has a high 10V transient rating,which means that the devices can tolerateimperfect PCB layouts.

For motors operating up to 85V, the L6480/82are fully integrated micro-stepping motorcontrollers with a motion engine and SPI. ThepowerSTEP01 is a system-in-packagecontaining eight 16mΩ MOSFETs and offeringmicro-stepper control at 1/128 resolution.

The HIP2103 and HIP2104 from Intersilare half-bridge driver ICs designed forapplications in which the load is a DCmotor such as a three-phase BrushlessDC (BLDC) motor. They are ideal for usein products such as battery-operatedpower tools, radio-controlled modelaircraft and cars, electric bikes and battery-power home-automation equipment.



New optocoupler for high-voltage motors features14.2mm creepage and clearance

Avago Technologies has introduced theACNT-H790, an optocoupler ideal for usein high-voltage motors.

The device operates as a high-linearity isolationamplifier in current- and voltage-sensing functional blocks,making it suitable for renewable-energy inverters as well as motordrives. It offers the industry’shighest insulation voltage in adevice with a compact SSO-8footprint: 2,262V peak workinginsulation voltage according toIEC/EN/DIN EN 60747-5-5.

In a typical motor-driveimplementation, the ACNT-H790can be used to sense a voltagedrop across a sense resistor. Adifferential output voltage that isproportional to the currentacross the resistor is created onthe other side of the opticalisolation barrier.

The ACNT-H790 has ±3% gain tolerance andoffers wide 14.2mm creepage and clearance witha common-mode transient immunity of 15kV/µs.This provides the precision and stability neededto accurately monitor motor current in the noisymotor-control environment. Accurate currentmonitoring enables smoother motor controland results in less torque ripple whenimplemented in many motor-control schemes.

The T2550 is a 1,200V, 25A Snubberless™

triac ideal for use in heavy-duty three-phase industrial motors.

AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES

STMICROELECTRONICS

Offering high noise immunity and support fordynamic commutation, it is suitable for controlof inductive, capacitive and resistive loads.

The T2550 can withstand non-repetitive surgecurrents peaking at 240A for 20ms. Maximumdynamic resistance is rated at 20mΩ, and themaximum threshold voltage is 0.85V, bothvalues characterised at the device’s highestallowed junction temperature of 125°C.

The T2550-12G is provided in a D2PAKpackage. The T2550-12T has the samespecifications, but is housed in a TO-220ABpackage.

ACNT-H790: high transient immunity and linearity

The ACNT-H790 operates on a single 5Vsupply and, with a signal-to-noise ratio of60dB, provides excellent linearity. Its 200kHzbandwidth and fast response time of 1.6µsenable it to capture transients in short-circuitand overload conditions.

APPLICATIONS• Industrial motor-control circuits• Industrial heating-control circuits

FEATURES• 25A maximum on-state current• High static and dynamic commutation• 50mA maximum gate current• 0.8°C/W thermal resistance

junction-to-case



APPLICATIONS• AC and servo motor drives• Mid-voltage drives• Inverters• Industrial process control• Analogue signal isolation• Hall-effect current transducer replacement

FEATURES• 0.6mV input offset voltage• 0.05% linearity• 0.5mm distance through insulation



1,200V blocking voltage makes triacsuitable for industrial motors

T2550 1,200V triac: for inductive, capacitive and resistive loads



IPMs for motor control integrate pre-driver, output stage andmultiple protection functions

ON Semiconductor has introducedseven highly integrated three-phaseIntelligent Power Modules (IPMs) formotor-control applications. Thesehighly integrated hybrid devicescontain all of the power-stagefunctions required by a motor,including pre-driver and output-stage power devices with bootstrapdiodes as well as under-voltage andover-current protection.

Supported by relatively small externalcomponents, the STK5xx family enablesdesigners to realise power-system control boardswhich are smaller, using fewer components,containing fewer high-voltage traces, andentailing less complicated assembly processes.

The IPMs are backed by ON Semiconductor’sGreenPoint® online analysis tool, which providesan interactive environment for analysing IPMperformance. Users can select the device theywish to analyse, set operating conditions, viewperformance simulations, and download theresults.

ON SEMICONDUCTOR

The IPMs are composed of power devicesand gate drivers with a 600V maximumrating; the maximum operating voltage forthe inverter units is 450V.

The STK544UC62K-E, STK551U362A-E,STK554U362A-E, and STK554U362C-Eprovide a maximum output current of 10A.The STK551U392A-E and STK554U392A-Ehave a 15A peak output and theSTK551U3A2A-E produces a maximumoutput of 20A.

These IPMs can operate at a switchingfrequency up to 20kHz. Thermally-efficientInsulated Metal Substrate Technology® (IMST)from ON Semiconductor enables the IPMs todeliver high power efficiency combined withlow noise.

An advantage of using these new IPMs isthe high level of integration that they offer.

APPLICATIONS• White goods • Industrial equipment

FEATURES• 40A peak output current• 39W maximum power dissipation per

channel• 150°C maximum junction temperature



Logic-level 30V MOSFET produces <1µA leakage current

The PSMN3R0-30YLD from NXPSemiconductors is a logic-level 30VMOSFET which draws on advancedsemiconductor technology to reducepower losses.

A member of NXP’s NextPowerS3 portfolio ofMOSFETs, the PSMN3R0-30yLD uses NXP’sunique ‘SchottkyPlus’ technology. Thisprovides for high efficiency andlow spiking, in the same way ascompeting MOSFETs whichincorporate an integratedSchottky or Schottky-like diode.

But unlike MOSFETs that usea Schottky diode, thePSMN3R0-30yLD produces farless leakage current, andtherefore offers far more efficientoperation. Leakage current isspecified at <1µA at 25°C.

The benefits of theSchottkyPlus technology areparticularly useful in applicationswhich switch at high frequenciesand which require highefficiency. Efficiency is enhanced

NXP SEMICONDUCTORS

PSMN3R0-30yLD: Scottky-like performance without the leakage current

APPLICATIONS• DC-DC converters in servers and

telecoms equipment• Secondary-side synchronous rectification

in telecoms applications• Voltage regulator modules • Point-of-load modules• Brushed and brushless motor-control

systems

FEATURES• Superfast switching with soft-recovery• Low spiking and ringing for low EMI

designs• Optimised for driving a gate at 4.5V • Low parasitic inductance and resistance



by the switching characteristics of thePSMN3R0-30yLD. Total gate charge is rated ata maximum 21.9nC, at 25A drain current, 4.5Vgate voltage. In the same conditions, on-resistance is a maximum 4mΩ.

The PSMN3R0-30yLD is available in a clip-bonded and solder die-attach Power SO8package. This package style contains no glueand no wire bonds, and is qualified to 175°C.

The NextPowerS3 portfolio contains a widerange of other MOSFETs with similar low-leakage characteristics, and providing fordifferent voltage and current requirements.

ON Semiconductor IPMs: provide all power-stage functions for motors

To apply for these free boards go to: www.my-boardclub.com/ftmTerms and conditions apply. Visit www.my-boardclub.com/about_us for details


21

Dev kit offers comprehensive hardware and softwareplatform for motor-control designXMOS’ new motor- and motion-control development kit provides everythingrequired for embedded designers to get started with automation projects using thexCORE range of configurable multi-core microcontrollers.

Based on SOMANETtechnology fromSynapticon GmbH,the kit includes anxCORE control sub-system, an EtherCATcommunicationsmodule, a 120Wmotor driver and a

brushless DC motor.The xCORE MCU sub-system is equipped withup to 32 processing cores, providing up to2,000MIPS of raw performance.

Measuring just 40mm x 50mm x 15mmwhen assembled, the board is an ideal base forsystems which add intelligence to individualnodes in automation equipment.

The motor- and motion-control developmentkit may be configured and programmed in ahigh-level C-based environment via the XMOS

Orderable Part Number: XK-SN-1BH12-E

FREEBOARDS


Future Electronics’ Board Club: supporting innovative electronics designEurope’s electronics industry thrives on the application of innovation and creativity, and an essential innovator’stool in design projects is the development board. The Board Club website is a Future Electronics resource forusers of development boards. Here, and only here, Board Club members can gain access to exclusive freedevelopment boards and development board offers. If you would like to register for membership, please visit: www.my-boardclub.com/register.php

xTIMEcomposer integrated development suite.The hardware platform is backed by robust,proven motor-control IP modules fromSynapticon which implement position-, speed-and torque-/current-control loops.

Synapticon’s SOMANET hardware andsoftware modules enable the construction of arange of cyber-physical systems, from simplemotor controllers to complex distributedmotion-control solutions. In particular,designers may use them to create customdistributed real-time computing and controlsystems in which code can be run locallyalongside sensors and actuators. The newdevelopment kit allows users to take the firststeps on the road to creating such intelligentembedded systems, supporting the fast andeasy design of basic single-axis controlsystems.

High-side current-sense amplifierwithstands high voltages

The TSC103 from STMicroelectronics isa high-voltage, high-side current-senseamplifier which may be used to measurethe current flowing through the stators ina DC motor, and for numerous othercurrent-sensing applications.

The device measures a smalldifferential voltage on a high-sideshunt resistor and translates it intoa ground-referenced outputvoltage. The gain is adjustable tofour different values from 20V/V upto 100V/V via two selection pins.

Benefitting from a wide inputcommon-mode voltage range, theTSC103 may be used in a widevariety of applications. Its tinyTSSOP8 packaging makes itparticularly suitable for space-constrained designs.

In addition, the power consumption of theTSC103 is extremely low. In normal operation,it draws less than 360µA. In Stand-by mode,input leakage current is a maximum 1µA.

The TSC103 amplifier may be used in eithersingle- or dual-supply mode. In the single-supply configuration, the device handles awide 2.9-70V input common-mode voltagerange which is completely independent of thesupply voltage.

STMICROELECTRONICS

TSC103: may be used in either single- or dual-supply mode

APPLICATIONS• DC motor control• Current monitoring • Photo-voltaic systems• Battery chargers• Precision current sources• Uninterruptible power supplies• High-end power supplies

FEATURES• Withstands reversed battery and load

dump voltages of -16V to 75V • Supply voltage range: 2.7V to 5.5V in

single-supply configuration• Pin selectable gain:

20V/V, 25V/V, 50V/V or 100V/V• Buffered output



APPLICATIONS• Motor drives• Motion-control systems

FEATURES• Supports Hall- and quadrature-encoder

position sensing• Supports CiA® 402 CANopen device

profile



In the dual-supply mode, the common-moderange is shifted by the value of the negativevoltage applied on the VCC- pin. For instance,when VCC+ is 5V and VCC- is -5V, the inputcommon-mode range is -2.1V to 65V.

T E C H N I C A L V I E W

Accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometersimplemented as Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)have transformed the operation and the user interface ofsmartphones and tablets. Because of these nano-scaledevices, our everyday interactions with high-performanceconsumer electronics products feel more natural, convenientand productive.

In fact, MEMS production is now big business: STMicroelectronics, forinstance, announced in January 2013 that it had shipped its 3 billionthMEMS device. Paradoxically, however, MEMS technology is found todayin a remarkably small number of end-products.

yet it could be used much more widely. And wider adoption does notneed to wait for MEMS technology to become more advanced, or fornew MEMS device types to be invented by chip manufacturers, althoughboth will happen in time. In the near future, at least, much of the chipindustry’s development effort will be devoted to meeting therequirements of existing users: smartphone and tablet manufacturers.

In fact, however, today’s MEMS technology is already potentially usefulto manufacturers of other types of end-products: it simply needs theimagination and creativity of OEM design engineers to uncover itspotential for use in devices other than mobile phones and tablets.

To help this effort, this article provides an explanation of thecapabilities of the latest MEMS devices. Equipped with an understandingof the functions that MEMS can support, design engineers can then settheir imaginations free.

Where MEMS technology wins outThe attraction of MEMS technology is a combination of attributes: thedevices are small, robust, and can be manufactured cheaply in highvolume for the same reasons that silicon ICs can be manufactured at lowcost. Figure 1 shows the internal structure of a MEMS accelerometer ata high magnification. The method of fabricating MEMS sensors alsoallows for the integration of silicon signal-conditioning and signal-processing circuitry in the same device.

The most obvious use for a MEMS sensor is as a replacement for aconventional electro-mechanical sensor. A good example of this is themicrophone. Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is a crucial parameter of amicrophone. A conventional Electret Condenser Microphone (ECM) canmatch the SNR of a MEMS microphone, but only in a package some 30or more times bigger in volume. Less robust, the ECM is also unable totolerate the reflow soldering process for board assembly, whereas aMEMS microphone can, thus dramatically reducing production cost.Finally, the fabrication process for making MEMS microphones producesdevices with far less variation in frequency response from unit to unitthan is found in ECMs.

For any designer using an ECM today, there are obvious reasons toconsider replacing it with a MEMS microphone. In fact, the excellentSNR characteristics of MEMS microphones allow them to be used notonly in consumer but also industrial applications, where noisesuppression is often required and the source of the sound might besome distance from the microphone. Here, digital circuitry providingacoustic-enhancement functions could be integrated into a MEMSdevice. Examples of applications suitable for such a device include voiceand video conferencing equipment and alarm systems.

The other main types of MEMS sensors available today areaccelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers or digital compasses.MEMS accelerometers are now replacing conventional sensors in theanti-tamper and anti-vandalism protection functions of utility metersand security panels. Mechanical switches are bulky, and inappropriatefor today’s miniaturised designs. In addition, when dormant for a longtime, mechanical switches are prone to oxidization and corrosion,rendering them inoperable. A MEMS accelerometer is immune to suchdamage. An accelerometer can measure a sample of each of the threeaxes and then compare it to internal threshold values. When thethreshold is passed, an interrupt can be sent to the host MCU, raising a

tamper alert.In fact, any conventional

sensor using piezoelectric,potentiometric, Linear VariableDifferential Transformer (LVDT)or variable-reluctancemeasurement technologycould be a candidate forreplacement by a smaller,more robust MEMSequivalent.

But the most powerfulapplications of MEMStechnology draw on the moreintegrated devices recentlyintroduced by leadingmanufacturers such asSTMicroelectronics.

Fig. 1: Highly magnified views of a MEMS accelerometer, showing its internal structure

How a new generation of highly integrated for the application of motion sensing and

EMAIL [email protected] FOR SAMPLES AND DATASHEETS22

By Alex Borochin, FAE, Future Electronics

READ THIS ARTICLE TO FIND OUT ABOUT

• The advantages of MEMS sensor technology over conventionalelectrical or electro-mechanical device types

• The ways in which MEMS device manufacturers are integratingmultiple functions in a single package

• New applications for MEMS technology, such as indoor navigation

T E C H N I C A L V I E W

The iNEMO-M1 module from STMicroelectronics provides a further levelof integration, as shown in Figure 2. This combines an L3GD20 three-axis digital gyroscope, an LSM303DLHC six-axis geomagnetic module (amagnetometer combined with a three-axis accelerometer) and anSTM32F103REy ARM® Cortex®-M3 microcontroller providing a digitaloutput via I2C. The result is a 9 DoF inertial system in a 13mm x 13mmmodule.

Fig. 2: Functional block diagram of iNEMO-M1 module from STMicroelectronics


MEMS sensors opens up new possibilities location tracking

STMicroelectronics is combining different kinds of sensors, such asaccelerometers with gyroscopes, together with digital processingcircuitry, to provide smart devices which can easily be interfaced to amicrocontroller or applications processor. This is accomplished eitherthrough integrating functions in a single package, or by combiningmultiple packages in a module.

Of course, the separate outputs of a discrete accelerometer andgyroscope may be combined by the system developer. This isaccomplished far more easily, however, if the two devices are integrated.This is the purpose of the LSM330 from STMicroelectronics, a sixDegrees-of-Freedom (DoF) motion-sensor system-in-package. Itcombines a three-axis accelerometer and a 3D (yaw, pitch and roll)gyroscope.

The device features state machines developed by STMicroelectronicswhich implement many of the signal-processing functions that an OEMmight need. These include:

• Free fall• 4D/6D orientation• Pulse counter and step recognition• Click/double-click• Shake/double-shake• Face up/face down • Turn/double-turn

The sensor, in a 3mm x 5.5mm package, provides these measurementoutputs via an I2C/SPI port. Here, integration of multiple MEMS sensorswith CMOS circuitry and digital IP provides for the quick and easyimplementation of advanced motion-sensing functions in a system design.


Hardware

MCU

• Accelerometer• Gyroscope• Magnetometer• Pressure Sensor• Proximity• Ambient Light Sensors

X86/ARM®

Windows® 8 Application Processor

Windows® 8

MCUHID over I2C/USBwith sensor fusion

S2 S1 ...

Driver Stack andFirmware

Sensor API

Sensor API –– HID< >

SBI/I2C or USB

I2C or USB

Sensor controllerand fusion

Alte

rnat

ive

I2C/SPI

HID USB or I2Cprotocol/transport

Complex end products using these integrated devices will be running anoperating system. STMicroelectronics provides native support forWindows 8 through sensor device drivers, a sensor API and HumanInterface Device (HID) sensor-class drivers, as well as a Windows 8-basedplatform. The software supplied by STMicroelectronics supports the HIDprotocol over I2C or USB.

One of the additional advantages of the integration of MEMS sensors,and other sensors, is reduced power consumption. This is because aninternal ADC, serial bus and other resources can be shared, rather thanproviding them separately for each sensor functional block.

Using the capabilities of integrated MEMS sensorsThe development of MEMS sensing devices is very largely a response todemand from smartphone and tablet manufacturers. But examples ofnew uses of motion sensing and dead-reckoning are starting to emerge,and they show how the designer’s creativity can be unleashed by thesenew devices.

Indoor navigation is one big opportunity. The Museum of ContemporaryArt in Taipei, Taiwan has developed an indoor navigation system to runon mobile devices, for guiding visitors around the building. Dead-reckoning provides accurate co-ordinates of the user’s location, withoutany requirement for satellite (GPS) location data. The system displays tothe visitor relevant information in real time about the artwork in front ofthem.

In-building pedestrian navigation may be enhanced with the additionof a MEMS pressure sensor, to supplement dead-reckoning. An exampleof a potential use of this technology is for patient or equipment locationin hospitals. An atmospheric pressure sensor can accurately measurealtitude, using the calculation:

Where:P = the air pressure in mbarsP0 = the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level (1013.25 mbar)Altitude = the height above sea level in meters

But every OEM will have its own ideas about how precise location- andaltitude-tracking can be used in its own end-products. The remarkablefact about MEMS technology is that integration of sensing elements withdigital processing circuitry has enabled a huge extension in functionalcapabilities combined with easy integration with a host MCU. Designteams can therefore add value and functionality to end-products in new,innovative ways with relatively little additional design effort or time, byusing one of this new generation of highly integrated systems-in-packageor modules from MEMS device manufacturers.

application spotlight on motion control · 2014-07-01 · application spotlight on motion control...

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