Engineers can now design products with industry-leading performance at a lower cost with the new Texas Instruments’ (TI) most affordable C2000 real-time microcontrollers (MCU). In comparison to earlier C2000 MCUs for single motor and power factor correction systems, the F28E120SC and F28E120SB MCUs deliver 30% quicker computing power, which helps improve the operation of household appliances ranging from vacuum cleaners and power tools to washing machines and dishwashers.
With the use of sophisticated algorithms and TI’s proprietary InstaSPIN field-oriented control (FOC) software, these new MCUs allow for quieter, more economical, and smoother motor performance.
High-torque zero-speed startup, high-speed sensorless FOC, and sophisticated vibration correction are just a few of their unique features that provide incredibly accurate and quick motor control for daily applications.
No More Utilizing MCUs With Lower Processing Capability
Consumers of today expect power tools and appliances to run as smoothly, effectively, and silently as possible. However, in order to reach cost goals, system designers have historically had to make concessions by utilizing MCUs with lower processing capability and analog integration.
In devices like vacuum cleaners and air conditioners, TI’s low-cost C2000 MCUs allow for smoother operation, higher rpm, and higher startup torque.
By providing the performance required to provide superior motor-control functions at a cheaper cost than rival devices, the F28E12x line of MCUs helps address this issue.
By combining industry-leading analog peripherals, such as a programmable gain amplifier and a high-speed analog-to-digital converter, with TI’s C28x digital signal processor core, these MCUs eliminate extra parts, simplifying designs and reducing costs.
Additionally, the sensorless FOC algorithm may be executed quickly because to TI’s F28E12x series, which allows motor speeds exceeding 120,000 rpm, or 2kHz electrical frequency.
High-speed motor operating enhances reliability and lowers gear transition noise, allowing engineers to create products that operate smoothly and quietly.
To combat the acoustic noise and vibrations brought on by an unbalanced load in applications like washing machines, the MCUs may also execute a vibration adjustment algorithm, which can reduce speed ripple by up to 60%.
Leadership Comments
“Since their introduction in the 1990s, TI C2000 MCUs have allowed designers to control both simple and complex motors with low latency and high reliability,” said Vivek Singhal, vice president and general manager, Application-Specific Microcontrollers at TI. “Adding fully featured, ultra-low-cost MCUs to the C2000 portfolio enables new markets to access the industry-leading real-time performance that TI is known for. Using this technology, appliance and power-tool manufacturers can deliver seamless, quiet motor operation, previously considered a luxury, at an affordable price point.”
For more information, read the technical article, “Achieving smoother, quieter motor performance with highly integrated real-time control MCUs.”
Availability
Preproduction quantities of the F28E12x MCUs are available now on TI.com with package and memory variants starting at US$0.49 in 1,000-unit quantities. Additionally, engineers can easily and quickly design motor-control systems with resources in TI’s development ecosystem, which includes:
- An evaluation module available for US$19.00.
- Motor- and power-control reference designs.
- A full motor-control software development kit featuring code examples, application-specific algorithms and a graphical device configuration tool.
