Motor control in MCU corrects errors in real time

Article By : Graham Prophet

Renesas' technology uses MCU with two CPUs in a lockstep dual-core configuration that regularly monitors the internal operation of the IMTS circuit.

« Previously: Motor control circuitry targets automotive MCUs
 

Motor control requires a succession of static processing involving field-oriented-control operations, in which the motor current value and angle value are acquired during each control period managed by the MCU's internal timer circuit and control values are determined for the next control period; and PWM output generated based on the control values. When multiple types of motor control are operating at the same time, the resulting processing load can consume up to the equivalent of up to approximately 90% of the capacity of the CPU in a Renesas 40nm automotive MCU operating at 320MHz.

Renesas' Intelligent Motor Timer System (IMTS) is a dedicated circuit block for these field-oriented-control operations. It is also configured in a tight linkage with a dedicated motor control timer circuit, resulting in a system in which the succession of processing performed during each control period managed by the timer circuit, from obtaining the current value and angle value to PWM signal output, all takes place autonomously, independent of the CPU. This means that the entire CPU load previously required for the above processing is eliminated.

Processing performance made possible by the new technology is sufficient to meet the demands of inverter control with high-speed switching (for example: switching frequency of 100kHz, control period of 10µsec) utilising power devices fabricated from new materials such as silicon carbide (SiC).

The newly developed technology uses an MCU with two CPUs in a lockstep dual-core configuration that regularly monitors the internal operation of the IMTS circuit. This approach keeps the cost down while also achieving high-speed control and functional safety. Assuring functional safety places a load on the CPU, but in practical use cases this is estimated to amount to only 2.4% of the CPU's total processing capacity.

High-precision MCU operation with highly accurate operation processing requires highly accurate sensor signal values. The IMTS has a configuration that makes it possible to correct errors in real time using software developed by the user. It performs this processing autonomously, so correction processing imposes no load on the CPU.

Renesas is now testing a prototype 40nm MCU with on-chip flash memory that incorporates the new technologies. It uses an actual motor drive system to confirm operation in an actual system. Renesas aims to contribute to the realisation of more energy efficient ECU systems for EVs, HEVs and PHEVs through the use of this dedicated motor control circuit technology.

Renesas presented a paper on the new technology at International Solid-State Circuits Conference 2017 (ISSCC 2017), held in San Francisco, California.

 
« Previously: Motor control circuitry targets automotive MCUs

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