Microcontrollers include 10-bit ADC and 5 timers.
Press Release Summary:
Series ST7MC consists of 8-bit microcontrollers for control of 3-phase induction and permanent magnet brushless motors. Devices feature MTC on-chip motor control peripheral consisting of 3-phase PWM multiplexed on 6 high-sink outputs, with Back EMF zero-crossing detector, and co-processor unit. Input pins can be configured for Hall, tachometer, or encoder sensing. Filters and settings allow control of any star or delta wound motor from 12-240 V.
Original Press Release:
STMicroelectronics Extends ST7 Microcontroller Family With New Dedicated Three-Phase Motor Control ICs
New ST7MC microcontrollers, based on industry-standard 8-bit core, include flexible BLDC motor control peripheral; plus Flash memory, 10-bit ADC, five timers, power supply management
Nuremberg, February 17, 2004 - At Embedded World 2004, STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) today announced an extension to its ST7 family of 8-bit microcontrollers with the launch of the ST7MC 8-bit microcontroller family, specifically intended for the control of three-phase induction and permanent magnet brushless motors (including compressors).
This new family is the result of close cooperation between ST and its key appliance, automotive and industrial customers. ST's integrated 8-bit approach offers many advantages over more costly and more difficult to implement DSP-based control solutions.
The ST7MC devices feature ST's on-chip motor control peripheral, the MTC, which consists mainly of a three-phase Pulse Width Modulator multiplexed on six high-sink outputs, with a highly flexible Back EMF (BEMF) zero-crossing detector and co-processor unit for the sensorless control of permanent magnet Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors. ST's patented 'three resistors' sensorless control method - in conjunction with on-chip comparators, op-amp - provides the lowest possible system cost and the highest system integration for BLDC motor control.
The MTC's input pins can also be configured for Hall, tachometer or encoder sensing. In addition, comprehensive filters and settings allow the control of any star or delta wound motor, from 12V to 240V, in various control topologies (six-step/Sine wave, Current/Voltage, PAM/PWM).
In a typical brushless motor design based on the ST7MC, some 70% of the CPU's resources remain free for the rest of the application as a result of the MTC peripheral handling the detailed motor control functions. The device can therefore handle both motion and upper layer functions, opening up new capabilities compared to classical three-phase brushless solutions. Furthermore its versatility makes it the ideal platform for designers working with multiple motor control topologies.
"ST has integrated a high level of system know-how in this breakthrough solution that offers DSP performance at an 8-bit microcontroller price," said Y.U. Lee, General Manager of STMicroelectronics' Microcontroller Division.
Air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, automotive fans and pumps, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) fans and actuators, office automation, electric vehicles and low-end to medium industrial drives are the major targets for this new microcontroller family. With increasing pressure to minimize power consumption, the ST7MC will allow improvements in the energy efficiency of pumps, fans and compressors in these and other industrial, appliance and automotive applications. Four different power-saving modes minimize consumption in the device itself.
Samples of the ST7MC family are available now in all packages and in several flash memory sizes. The ST7MC Starter Kit - a full featured evaluation and development tool which provides both a demonstration of ST7MC capability and a short-cut development platform for target applications will be available in March 2004.
The datasheet can be found at the following URL: http://st.com/stonline/books/pdf/docs/9721.pdf
Samples are available now. Resale prices for the parts are as follows:
ST7FMC1K2T6 $2.87 in quantities of 10ku
ST7FMC2S5T6 $3.11 in quantities of 10ku
ST7FMC2R7T6 $3.88 in quantities of 10ku
ST7FMC2M9T6 $4.35 in quantities of 10ku
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2003, the Company's net revenues were $7.24 billion and net earnings were $253 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
Technical appendix
Already popular in industrial applications, three-phase BLDC and induction motors are increasingly used in the appliance and automotive markets. They offer numerous benefits for the consumer, including significantly higher efficiency, lower acoustic noise and improved reliability, compared to brush or single phase motors. The cost of the electronic controller - the so-called 'inverter' - has decreased steadily in recent years due to design integration and process optimization, and the introduction of the ST7MC family is another distinct step in the direction of cost reduction, higher integration and performance; available in small footprint packages it will allow motor manufacturers to fit the complete inverter PCB within the motor casing.
Based on an industry standard 8-bit core, the ST7MC family is available in dual voltage Flash memory and ROM versions, from 8-Kbyte to 60-Kbyte, and in various packages from the 32-pin TQFP32 (7 x 7mm) to the 80-pin TQFP80 (14 x 14mm). As well as the motor control peripheral, the devices feature a 10-bit ADC, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Local Interconnect Network Serial Communications Interface (LINSCI) to make the family suitable for automotive applications, five sophisticated timers (8 and 16-bit) for control and protection, and up to 60 I/O lines.
Particular attention has been paid to reliability and safety features. At system level the ST7MC includes an embedded secure Reset circuit with Low Voltage Detector, and multiple clock sources with Clock Security System (CSS), all under System Integrity management. Within the MTC itself a set of programmable filters and windowing mechanisms guarantee reliable operation under high ambient noise conditions, and in the event of sudden torque variations. A hardware asynchronous "emergency stop" provides efficient protection for power stages.
