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Do you have a question on Embedded electronics and controls? Ask our Expert, Paul Clarke

pjclarke

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Paul Clarke

Paul has 20+ years of working as a digital electronics engineer and has strong software skills in assembly and C for embedded systems. Currently developing embedded electronics for thermal management control solutions for the air movement industry (HVAC & RAC).




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  • Paul, I already a H-bridge temperature controller that I want to replace with a MCU.

    It's been awhile since I used the latest microcontrollers (MCUs) available on the open market.
    These usually have their own developmental boards with an IDE software, etc.
    I used Zilog's Z8 microcontroller back in the 90's.
    I realize that the majority of EEs prefer these 3 candidates:
    1) Atmel AVR
    2) Microchip PIC
    3) TI MSP430 (low-powered)

    It's been awhile since I used the latest microcontrollers (MCUs) available on the open market.

    These usually have their own developmental boards with an IDE software, etc.

    I used Zilog's Z8 microcontroller back in the 90's.

     

    I realize that the majority of EEs prefer these 3 candidates:

    1) Atmel AVR

    2) Microchip PIC

    3) TI MSP430 (low-powered)

    My app is to provide 2 pairs of PWM signals (non-inverting and inverting), with adjustable duty cycles, to drive a H-bridge controller configuration.
    I need to replace a motor controller IC along with various components and provide logic to drive an LED display (RPM, etc).
    I already have an analog version of what I need replaced. Just need someone to show me the correct MCU to use for this app I have. I'm also need low power since this requires battery power.
    I'm a RF engineer but need someone that has experience with using MCUs.
    Arduino, or Parallex development boards?
    Maybe a custom made ASIC (via an Altera FPGA) might be the best route?
    Best Regards,
    Frank

  • in reply to spec2012

    Hi,

     

    You may also be intrested in my review of the Microchip Motor Starter Kit and a tech artical I have done on switching FETs in these types of circuits. Personally I would use a PIC, but maybe not the PIC30's or dsPIC's as may be over kill. Look at the PIC24 which also has a dsPIC option or even the smaller PIC18's which I'm certain will have PWM and dead time control on them. Links below:

     

    http://www.designspark.com/content/microchip-motor-control-starter-kit-review-dm330015

     

    http://www.eeweb.com/blog/paul_clarke/switching-fets-and-dead-time

     

    Good luck

  • in reply to pjclarke

    Hello Frank,

     

    Unless there is a very good reason to restrict your choice to Microchip parts you should also look at the motor control offering from TI and ST - both of whom offer a wide range of processors and motor control development kits and applications data.

    An ST solution would most likely be ARM Cortex based whereas TI's motor control stuff could be MSP430, ARM or C2000 DSP based.

    Very low operating power is not usually important in motor controllers (because the motor uses so much power compared with the micro !).

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    I'm using this in a temp control app (not motor control) and running off

    battery power.

    MSP430 from TI looks good...so does the PIC16F1823-I/PPIC16F1823-I/P from Microchip.

    But the PIC16F1823-I/PPIC16F1823-I/P has a full H-bridge output...MSP430 has PWM but not 4

    lines.

    I can still prog the MSP430 to do what I want, but its cumbersome.

    Frank

  • in reply to pjclarke

    Paul, I was steering towards Microchip's PIC16F1823-I/PPIC16F1823-I/P.

    It was a full H-bridge...but I'm actually going to use this in a

    temperature control app.

    Hence, switching between polarities (such as motor control) at a fast rate,

    is not going to happen. But I will switch polarities for temperature

    control...just 2 minutes apart

    (real big deadtime). I was going to program the delay via firmware.

     

    The only other option was using TI's MSP430 as I only needed a serial

    2-wire digital

    display...but coding the PWM outputs as a full bridge is cumbersome in the

    code.

     

    Frank

Reply
  • in reply to pjclarke

    Paul, I was steering towards Microchip's PIC16F1823-I/PPIC16F1823-I/P.

    It was a full H-bridge...but I'm actually going to use this in a

    temperature control app.

    Hence, switching between polarities (such as motor control) at a fast rate,

    is not going to happen. But I will switch polarities for temperature

    control...just 2 minutes apart

    (real big deadtime). I was going to program the delay via firmware.

     

    The only other option was using TI's MSP430 as I only needed a serial

    2-wire digital

    display...but coding the PWM outputs as a full bridge is cumbersome in the

    code.

     

    Frank

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