Automation and robotics are highly dependent on motors and their associated control and driver IC. These complex semiconductors have exceeded basic motion control, run advanced algorithms, and closely adjust system operation based on motor, load, and overall performance priorities.
However, it is challenging to set these complex ICs and evaluate potential system performance by specification or simulation alone. This process can be lengthy and expensive, and can create uncertainty when deployed. The best way to do this is to use an evaluation board that allows the system design, layout, and software development to be developed in parallel.
This paper focuses on some of the challenges that designers face when using motion control IC and the role of evaluation boards in addressing these challenges. Subsequently, a typical IC and associated evaluation boards from Analog Devices are presented, which shortens the time to market by enabling early, realistic evaluations while reducing hardware and software uncertainties.
Overview of motion control IC requirements
The motion control IC provides the intelligence needed to control the motor and its internal power devices, such as the MOSFETs that drive the motor windings. Both motors and MOSFETs require careful management in order to achieve optimum performance, trajectory, motion curves and efficiency under static and dynamic operating modes and load conditions and to handle disturbances, transients and faults.
To help address these challenges, the driver IC supplier provides an evaluation board. These evaluation boards simplify the setup, optimization, and performance evaluation of hardware and software by performing hardware in the loop (HITL) testing under actual motor and real load conditions. They also ensure that the physical layout of the IC and its surrounding circuits is properly established in terms of power distribution, parasitic effects, I/O connections and formats, physical connectors, etc. Designers can use these evaluation boards (as medium size boards, basic distribution boards (BOBs), or modular solutions) to evaluate different settings, configurations, and options to determine the most appropriate solution for the application.
Motor control IC and associated evaluation boards
A good example of a motor control IC is the TMC5130A-TA-T from the Analog Devices TMC5130 series. It is a high performance stepper motor controller and driver with serial communication interface and includes a flexible ramp generator for automatic target location.
The drive uses an advanced StealtChopping algorithm to ensure virtually noiseless operation, maximum efficiency and optimal motor torque. The TMC5130 provides a number of unique enhancements through driver and controller on-chip system (SoC) integration. For example, the SixPoint ramp generator in TMC5130 uses the DcStep, CoolStep, and StallGuard2 functions to automatically optimize each motor motion.
To help designers start using TMC5130, TMC5130-EVAL (Figure 1) evaluation board system provides a convenient hardware platform and user-friendly evaluation software tools. The evaluation board system consists of three parts: the base board connection bridge (left) connecting the computer, the connector board (middle) including multiple test points and the TMC5130-EVAL board (right).
Image of Analog Devices TMC5130-EVAL Evaluation Board (right) and Motor Load (rightmost) (click to enlarge)
Figure 1: The TMC5130-EVAL evaluation board (right side) and the motor load (rightmost side) are configured via a base board USB bridge (left side) connected to the PC and a connector board with test points (middle). Picture Source: Analog Devices)
For designers wishing to develop more of their own circuits around a TMC5130-based kernel, Analog Devices offers TMC5130A-BOB patch panels (Figure 2, top). This board provides the basic interconnections required for operation and is controlled via SPI interface. The schematic diagram (Fig. 2, below) shows the simplest circuit provided by TMC5130 IC function.
Picture and schematic diagram of Analog Devices TMC5130A-BOB (click to enlarge)
Figure 2: TMC5130A-BOB (upper) provides a basic evaluation method with connection points along their edges rather than discrete connectors; The schematic diagram (below) shows the simplest circuit required for the TMC5130 IC to work. Picture Source: Analog Devices)
The TMC5240-EVAL evaluation kit is built on a proven TMC5130-EVAL platform to simplify the evaluation of next-generation stepper motors. It integrates 36 V H bridge, non-destructive current detection and advanced motion control functions, including Jerk-optimized ramp generator and ultra-quiet StealtChop2 ™ Operation, enabling faster start-up, easier commissioning and more efficient verification of smooth and accurate motor performance.