5 Architectural Highlights of 32-bit MCUs for Motor Control Applications
The SAM E70 Family of Devices
CPU
- 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M7 Core – 300 MHz (2.14 DMIPS/MHz)
- DSP instruction support (2x DSP performance of Arm Cortex-M4)
- Double-precision Floating Point Unit (FPU) – IEEE® 754 Compliant
- Tightly Coupled Memory (TCM) – High-speed, Low latency, and deterministic access for time-critical code and data
Analog Features
- Two dedicated 12-bit ADC modules with dual Sample and Hold (S&H) (i.e., capable of simultaneous sampling of four channels)
- One on-chip Analog Comparator
- Two on-chip DAC modules
PWM
- Up to eight PWM channels capable of generating complimentary PWM with dead-time in edge-aligned mode or center-aligned mode
- Two 2-bit gray up/down channels for stepper motor control
- Independent output override for each channel, useful for Trapezoidal control
- Two independent programmable events lines capable of generating precise and synchronized ADC triggers without any software intervention
- Asynchronous Fault inputs allow fast response PWM shutdown under Fault condition without any software intervention
- Spread Spectrum Counter – reduces acoustic noise/electromagnetic interference of a PWM-driven motor
Position Sensing
On-chip Quadrature Decoder (QDEC) – input lines filtering, decoding, timer/counters to read rotor position and speed
The PIC32MK Family of Devices
CPU
- 32-bit MIPS32® microAptiv™ MCU core, 120 MHz (198 DMIPS)
- DSP-enhanced core
- Double-precision Floating Point Unit (FPU), IEEE 754 Compliant
Analog Features
- Up to six dedicated 12-bit ADC channels and one shared 12-bit ADC channel
- Up to four on-chip op amp modules
- Up to five on-chip Analog Comparator modules
- Up to three on-chip DAC modules
PWM
- Up to 12 PWM pairs capable of generating complimentary PWM with dead-time in edge-aligned mode and symmetric/asymmetric center-aligned mode
- PWM channels capable of generating precise and synchronized ADC triggers without any software intervention
- Asynchronous Fault inputs allows fast response PWM shutdown under fault condition without any software intervention
Position Sensing
On-chip QEI interfaces with incremental encoders to obtain rotor mechanical position