Adding support for advanced modulation schemes and unconditional startup under any load condition, along with significant improvements to the host user interface and debugging tools.
Cristian Ionescu-Catrina, product marketing manager at Power Integrations, states: “MotorXpert simplifies the design of sensorless single-phase and three-phase motor drives. In this version 3.0, we’ve added a two-phase modulation scheme, which is ideal for applications operating in high-temperature environments, such as hot water circulation pumps. The new modulation reduces inverter switching losses by 33%. Version 3.0 also features a fivefold improvement to our waveform visualization tool and an enhanced zoom function, providing developers with significantly more information for motor tuning and debugging.”
MotorXpert 3.0 consists of three main sections:
1. Sophisticated mathematical algorithms residing in the local MCU or DSP construct precise feedback signals from the BridgeSwitch IC and provide real-time control of switching patterns.
2. A host-side application interprets the inverter's actions and displays critical data in an actionable format for engineering analysis.
3. The user-friendly control interface allows development engineers to experiment and quickly converge toward a final product.
The MotorXpert package is MCU-independent and includes a comprehensive portability guide to simplify implementation with a wide range of MCUs. It is implemented in common C according to MISRA standards.
The MotorXpert v3.0 host-side application includes a graphical user interface with Power Integrations' digital oscilloscope visualization tool, simplifying parameter design and configuration, operation, and debugging. Parameter tooltips and a tuning wizard enhance the development process, and the intuitive parameter list makes motor tuning easier. The new version also features V/F and I/F control, enabling motor starting under any load condition. A selectable two-phase modulation scheme allows developers to compensate for inverter temperature versus torque ripple, which is beneficial in applications such as hot water circulation pumps by reducing heat dissipation requirements and enclosure costs. Development time is significantly reduced thanks to the included single-phase and three-phase code libraries with sensorless support, reference designs, and other tools such as a power supply design and analysis tool.
The CI BridgeSwitch is a halfbridge motor controller of low-RDSON FREDFET switches, controllers, and drivers in a thermally efficient package. Sensorless feedback, fault reporting, and automatic and load protection are also available for applications from 30 W to 1 HP (750 W).
Applications include indoor and outdoor air conditioning fans, refrigerator compressors, fluid pumps, washing machine and dryer drums, extractor hoods, industrial fans, and heat pumps.
Availability and Resources:
MotorXpert v3.0 is available at no cost with an end-user license agreement. The software package includes a quick start guide, a software manual, an MCU portability guide, single-phase and three-phase software libraries, and a video tutorial. For more information, contact a Power Integrations sales representative or one of the company's authorized distributors worldwide (Digi Key, Newark, Mouser, and RS Components).
