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DC Motor Controller supports software-based control loops.

June 22, 2011 - Powered by external 9-28 Vdc power supply, PhidgetMotorControl 1065 lets user control direction, velocity, and acceleration of one DC motor. Unit provides continuous motor current of 5 A, update rate of 42 updates/sec, and response time of 30 msec. Motor PWM frequency varies with motor speed. Operating from 0-70°C, controller includes over-current, over-voltage, and over-temperature protection to ensure board and motor are not damaged.
Original Press release

Phidgets, Inc.
2715 A 16A Street NW
Calgary, AB, T2M3R7
Canada


New DC Motor Controller Has Built Sensing to Support Software-Based Control Loops


Also provides over-current, over-voltage and over-temperature protection

CALGARY, Alberta, - Phidgets Inc. released today the 1065 - PhidgetMotorControl 1-Motor that lets you control the direction, velocity and acceleration of one DC Motor. The motor is powered by an external power supply (9 to 28VDC).

"Brushed DC Motors are very simple to understand, but very difficult to control precisely. By applying a voltage, or pulsing a voltage rapidly, at the terminals of the motor, current flows through the motor, and it will begin rotating. Depending on the direction of the current, the motor will rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The 1065 changes the effective voltage by changing the percentage of time the full supply voltage is applied to the motor. By switching the voltage very quickly (a technique called PWM), the controller is made smaller, more efficient, and cheaper. " says Chester Fitchett, CEO of Phidgets.

"The 1065 also provides over-current, over-voltage, and over-temperature protection to insure that the board and motor is not damaged. " added Bernard Rousseau, Director of Marketing.

Product Specifications

Motor Controller

Output Controller Update Rate

42 Updates per second

Response Time

30 milliseconds

Velocity Resolution

±8-bit (~0.39%)

Velocity Range

±100%

Acceleration Resolution

8-bit (~0.39%)

Acceleration Range

24.52 - 6250 %/s2

Acceleration Time Range (-100% to +100% velocity)

32 - 8160 milliseconds

Braking Resolution

8-bit (~0.39%)

Braking Range

0 - 100%

Motor PWM Frequency

Varies with motor speed

Analog Input

Impedance

900K ohms

5V Reference Error

Max 0.5%

Update Rate

125 samples/second

Digital Inputs

Pull-Up Resistance

15K ohms

Low Voltage (True)

0.8V Max

High Voltage (False)

2.1V Min

Maximum Voltage

±15V

Update Rate

~125 samples/second

Recommended Wire Size

16 - 26 AWG

Wire Stripping

5-6mm strip

Encoder

Maximum Count Rate

500,000 Counts per second

Internal Output Pull-Up Resistance

2.4k Ohms

Software Update Rate (typical)

8 milliseconds

USB Update Rate

125 samples/second

Time Resolution

1/3 ms

Board

Minimum Power Supply Voltage

9 VDC

Maximum Power Supply Voltage

28 VDC

Continuous Motor Current

5 A

Motor Overcurrent Trigger

8 A

Power Supply Overvoltage Trigger

40 V

USB-Power Current Specification

100 mA max

Device Quiescent Current Consumption

20 mA

Operating Temperature

0 - 70°C

Software Environment

"Unlike a lot of our competitor's products that require their users to write some firmware code in order to use their sensor, we are completely "Plug and Play" says Bernard Rousseau, Director of Marketing. "With Phidgets, you plug it in and start using it and when it comes to programming, the user, not us, decides which operating system and which computer language he wants to use", added Rousseau.

Users can program Phidgets using a simple yet powerful and well documented Application Programming Interfade (API) that is supported under Windows (2000, XP, Vista), Windows CE, Mac OS X, and Linux. Users can write programs in Visual Basic, VB.NET, C#, C/C++, Flash/Flex, Java, Labview, Matlab, ActionScript 3.0, and Cocoa.

Phidgets also provides programming examples for all its products to help programmers write their own programs. The API Libraries as well as the examples and the documentation are available at no charge on Phidgets.com.

Pricing and Availability

The 1065 PhidgetMotorControl 1-Motor is available now. The suggested resale price is $77.65 Canadian.

About Phidgets

Phidgets, Inc. is a technology leader in the design and manufacture of low-cost control and sensing modules connected to personal computers through the USB port. Phidgets products are ideally suited for fast prototyping. The privately held company is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Sales Inquiries: sales@phidgets.com
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