Actel announced the availability of SmartFusion intelligent mixed signal FPGA reference designs targeting motor control applications. The reference designs, implemented in a single SmartFusion device, illustrate Field Oriented Control (FOC) using various feedback methods for permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). SmartFusion devices, which integrate an FPGA, a hard ARM Cortex-M3microncontroller and programmable analog, are suited for motor control applications.
The reference designs showcase a single A2F500 device controlling up to four axes of PMSMs simultaneously using the complex FOC algorithm with sufficient FPGA resources and bandwidth remaining for additional custom logic. The package includes an example of FOC implementation using space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) on the SmartFusion device while using various feedback methods such as optical encoders and Hall effect sensors.
A sensorless reference design (using back-electromotive force (back-EMF)) is currently under development and will be made available to all customers who purchase the reference design kit when it is released, at no additional charge. All the designs have the option to communicate to the host via Ethernet, enabling remote monitoring and control, as well as easy migration to Ethernet-based industrial protocols.
Key Features
- Complete source code in C and Verilog
- Torque, speed and direction control
- Field oriented control for 3-phased PMSM
- Multi-axis control
- Hall effect, encoder and sensorless feedback
- Critical fault detection using hardware
- Communication via Ethernet
- Quadrature encoder inputs (QEI) in hardware
- Space vector PWM generation with dead band
- Hardware/software partitioned for optimum result
- Programmable FPGA for flexibility and upgrade
- Programmable ADC for flexible triggering
Pricing and Availability
The reference design package is orderable from Actel for the list price of $499. The designs are available for use or modification by customers to use in their own system without additional licensing or royalty fees.
