MCK240 tools speed DMC development

Based on TI's TMS320C24x family of digital signal processors (DSPs), Portescap, Inc., and Technosoft have developed an evaluation kit for digital motor control (DMC) applications.

The MCK240 kit includes TI's 'F240 development board, a small brushless motor equipped with a high-resolution position encoder and graphical motion-control software tools.

The board includes the 'F240 chip, along with 32k RAM, an integrated three-phase PWM inverter with built-in current measurements and a direct incremental encoder interface. A universal interface for connection to various external power amplifiers, such as IGBT inverter bridges, is also available for controlling larger motors.

The board can be connected to a PC via an RS-232 interface, allowing software downloading and debugging. The extended software provides ready-to-run examples for basic motion-control programs.

TI's 'C24x DSP controller features a 20-MIPS 'C2xx 16-bit, fixed-point core with a unique motor-control event manager with options that allow the device to perform advanced control tasks, including command generation, digital position, velocity and current loops, digital commutation and additional system modeling, diagnostics and communication.

Control applications using DSP-based DMC systems are increasing each year for several reasons. One is because of concern about energy conservation worldwide, especially in Europe. Governments are increasing regulations on energy conservation and noise levels for household appliances and factory automation.

Another factor is the motor industry's trend toward using brushless motors in a variety of industrial products.

The evaluation kit (EDSKIT-MCK240) is available from TI distributors for U.S. $995. For more information, call Portescap at 516-234-3900 in the U.S., or +41 032 925 6111 in Europe, or see www.portescap.com.