The LX7720, as the first radiation-resistant, highly integrated motor control circuit, significantly reduces weight and board footprint compared to conventional, discrete motor control circuits. By decreasing the number of components in a system, developers can inspect and test fewer devices, as well as minimize potential physical points of failure due to fewer connections and solder points.
The LX7720 controller offers a unique solution for manufacturers of surface-sensitive satellites, reducing weight by concentrating essential functions for motor position sensing and control circuitry required by robotics, multi-axis indicating mechanisms, and precise motion control of optical elements. This Microchip controller integrates four N-channel half-bridge MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) drivers, four floating differential current sensors, a pulse-modulated resolver transformer driver, three differential resolver sensing inputs, six two-level logic inputs, external FET (Field Effect Transistor) power drivers, loop control electronics for voltage and current control, position feedback (resolver, potentiometer, limit switches, etc.), and fault detection, among other features, into a single device.
“Reducing weight and board footprint in satellites remains a challenge for the aerospace market. In this context, we are pleased to reinforce our commitment to developing innovative solutions with this radiation-resistant, highly reliable, and highly integrated motor controller,” said Bryan J. Liddiard, vice president of Microchip’s Linear and Mixed-Signal Business Unit.
“The LX7720 enhances our growing portfolio of products for the space sector; we also continue to expand a total system solution for customers who build these sophisticated satellites.”.
The LX7720 serves as a mixed-signal auxiliary integrated circuit for the digital integrated circuit used in the application. The radiation-tolerant PolarFire® and RTG4™ FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and the radiation-resistant SAMRH71 microcontroller are the ideal auxiliary chips, all offered by a single supplier. The LX7720, which is MIL-PRF-38535 Class V and Class Q compliant, has already been adopted by customers to enable various motor control applications in space and human-assisted robotics programs. It is the ideal solution for space applications involving motor drive servo control, linear actuator servo control for stepper, brushless direct current (BLDC), and permanent-magnet synchronous (PMSM) motors. The LX7720 offers radiation tolerance up to 100 krad Total Ionization Dose (TID), 50 krad ELDRS (Enhanced-Low-Dose-Rate-Sensitivity) exposure and single-event immunity.
development tools
. The hardware includes the LX7720 daughterboard, which connects to Microchip's SAMRH71F20-EK evaluation kit. This board can also connect to Microchip's RTG4 FPGA development kit. These development platforms offer motor control software to enable the evaluation of specific applications with the LX7720-DB.
Pricing and Availability:
The LX7720 is supplied in a 132-pin MIL-PRF-38535 Class Q and V hermetically sealed ceramic square package
, as well as in a sub-QML shielded format in a 208-pin plastic package. Samples and LX7720-DB development boards are available now.
