News and New Products

Flash, 8-bit processor targets motor control

By Robert Cravotta -- EDN, 10/25/2005

Zilog’s Z8 Encore! MC family of 20-MHz, 8-bit flash microcontrollers target sensorless BLDC (brushless-dc) and ac-induction motor-control applications. The eight-channel, 10-bit ADC samples in 2.5 μsec and can couple a time-stamp feature with the three-phase, six-channel, 12-bit PWM-output module to enable accurate speed control. Another key feature is direct routing of the current-sensing module to the PWM module to enable fast shutdown of the system during an overcurrent fault. The first three devices in this series, the Z8FMC04100, Z8FMC08100, and Z8FMC16100, each offer 512 bytes of RAM with 4 to 16 kbytes of on-chip flash memory.

The 5×5-mm, 32-pin QFN package integrates an operational amplifier; an analog comparator; and a 2%-accurate, 5.53-MHz internal oscillator in packages that support standard 0 to 70°C and extended –40 to +105°C temperature ranges. These devices are available now as standard-temperature devices for $2.26 to $2.50 (5000). Zilog offers internal factory programming for these devices. Third-party programming support includes BP Microsystems (www.bpmicro.com), Hi-Lo Systems (www.hilosystems.com.tw), and Data I/O (www.dataio.com). Zilog’s motor-control-specific development-tool suite retails for $199.95, and it includes a BLDC motor, an application board, ZDS II with full ANSI C compiler, motor-control software code, and an optoisolated USB smart cable for debugging and programming. A $1999 in-circuit-emulator kit includes package adapters and event-trace functions.

Zilog, www.zilog.com.