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8bit MCU optimised for industrial and automotive motor control

Freescale Semiconductor is expanding its embedded motor control portfolio with the introduction of the S08MP16 MCU. This entry-level 8bit MCU (microcontroller) family provides a safe, accurate and cost-optimised solution for BLDC (brushless DC) motor control applications ranging from industrial drives to automotive fuel pumps. BLDC motors offer efficiency and reliability advantages over traditional brushed DC and induction motors. The S08MP16 MCU has been optimised to address the fast-developing motor segment but also can support other motor types, including AC induction. Multiple, high-speed analogue comparators and an eight-channel FlexTimer PWM (pulse width modulation) module provide protection against over-current conditions by enabling fast and accurate motor shutdown. For household appliances that need to comply with IEC60730 safety standards, an independently clocked watchdog/COP and CRC (cyclic redundancy check) engine deliver clock failure protection and memory content validation. Designers using the new MCU benefit from a wide range of on-chip analogue peripherals, minimising the need for external components and helping reduce overall system cost.

Peripherals include a PGA (programmable gain amplifier), multiple analogue comparators and a 13-channel, 12bit ADC (analogue-to-digital converter) with PWM hardware triggering. The PGA enables precise motor control, with high-resolution ADC readings over a wide range of motor loads and speeds. The hardware dead-time insertion capability of the FlexTimer further improves system accuracy and reduces central processing unit loading when compared with software implementations. the company provides dedicated application support, including hardware reference designs, application notes and software algorithms and libraries covering all motor control topologies. To help reduce time-to-market, a low-cost demonstration board (DEMO9S08MP16) is available for immediate device evaluation. The board comes with a complimentary version of the CodeWarrior IDE up to 32kbyte, with the Processor Expert rapid application tool. The company also offers complementary analogue devices for motor control system solutions, including the MC33937 three-phase FET pre-driver and MC33880/87 and MC33926/32 H-bridges.