FPGA-Based MotionFire Motor-Control Platform for Motor Applications Launched to North American Customers
January 27, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
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A MotionFire motor-control development platform aimed at enabling engineers to design, prototype and test motor applications in industrial, automotive, medical, instrumentation and consumer electronics equipment is now available to North American customers.
Originally launched in Europe and jointly developed by Arrow Electronics Inc., Altera Corp. and National Semiconductor Corp., the platform is based on the Altera Cyclone III field-programmable gate array (FPGA).
MotionFire comprises the FireFighter FPGA-based communication baseboard and the FireDriver motor driver power modules. The platform supports motor-control algorithms and communications Internet protocol (IP), and can be used to control various motor types, including stepper, servo and alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) motors.
"Working in tandem with Altera and National, Arrow can now offer a new level of performance and efficiency in a comprehensive motion-control solution," said Robert Behn, vice president of supplier marketing at Arrow Electronics.
The MotionFire platform's FireFighter baseboard connects up to six FireDriver plug-in power modules or 12 motors, offering motor control, user input/output and real-time Ethernet network communications capabilities.
The Cyclone III FPGA featured in the FireFighter baseboard drives a variety of communication options such as Ethernet/Internet protocol (IP), Ethernet for control automation technology (EtherCAT), Profinet, serial real-time communication system (SERCOS) III, controller area network (CAN), universal serial bus (USB), RS485 and other current and next-generation protocols.
The MotionFire platform also includes an Altera Nios II embedded processor and motor control IP that supports digital encoder or hall sensor-based motor-control interfaces - very high speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL) source included - and advanced algorithms for current, speed and position.
"The MotionFire platform delivers a compelling environment for designers to quickly and cost-effectively develop motor-control solutions," said Michael Samuelian, director of Altera's industrial/broadbase business unit.
"With the FPGA-based MotionFire platform, designers can build in adaptability and an obsolescence-proof design path into their products," he said.
The FireFighter baseboard and FireDriver power modules accept a range of input power supplies, and National Semiconductor's PowerWise power management products provide the various voltage requirements of the digital circuitry.
The FireDriver power module performs the motor control, analog signal sensing and conditioning through the combination of the Altera MAX II complex programmable logic device (CPLD) and National Semiconductor's signal-path products including 12 bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and amplifiers.
Source: Arrow Electronics.