Microchip’s LX7720
device increases reliability while reducing weight and board area
The
need to reduce size, weight and power (SWaP) on satellites and other space
systems continues to challenge the aerospace market. Combining more than 20
commonly used functions into a single chip, Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:
MCHP) today announced the LX7720 radiation-hardened mixed
signal motor controller, the latest addition to its Space System Manager
(SSM) product family.
As the industry’s first
highly integrated radiation-hardened by design (RHBD) motor control integrated
circuit (IC), the LX7720 significantly reduces weight and board space relative
to conventional discrete motor control circuits. By reducing the number of
components on a system, developers can inspect and test fewer parts, while also
minimizing the physical points of potential failure due to a smaller number of
connections and solder joints.
The
LX7720 controller offers a unique solution for satellite manufacturers
sensitive to board area and weight reduction by consolidating essential
functions for the motor control and position sensing circuitry required for
robotics, multi-axis pointing mechanisms and precise motion control of optical
elements.
Microchip’s controller
combines four half-bridge N-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect
Transistor (MOSFET) drivers, four floating differential current sensors, a
pulse modulated resolver transformer driver, three differential resolver sense
inputs, six bi-level logic inputs, power drivers via external Field Effect
Transistors (FETs), loop control electronics for voltage or current control,
position read-back (resolver, potentiometer, limit switches, etc.), fault
detection and more into a single device.
The
LX7720 serves as a mixed signal companion IC to the selected digital IC used in
the application. Microchip’s Radiation Tolerant (RT) PolarFire® and
RTG4™ Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) products and
recently announced SAMRH71 radiation hardened microcontroller (MCU) are ideal
companion chips, from a single supplier. The LX7720 is MIL-PRF-38535 Class V
and Class Q qualified and has already been adopted by customers to enable
various motor control applications in space robotics and human-rated space
programs. It is the ideal solution for spacecraft applications involving motor
driver servo control, linear actuator servo control and for driving stepper,
brushless direct current (BLDC) and permanent-magnet synchronous (PMSM) motors.
The LX7720 offers radiation tolerance to 100 krad Total Ionization Dose (TID),
50 krad to Enhanced-Low-Dose-Rate-
Development Tools
Microchip
offers both hardware and software support. Hardware includes the LX7720
Daughter Board (DB) that interfaces with Microchip’s SAMRH71F20-EK Evaluation
Kit. The DB can also connect to Microchip’s RTG4 FPGA Development Kit. These
development platforms offer motor control software to allow application
specific evaluation with the LX7720-DB.
Pricing and Availability
The
LX7720 is available in MIL-PRF-38535 Class Q and V flows packaged in a 132-pin
hermetic ceramic quad flatpack as well as a sub-QML screened option offered in
a 208-pin plastic package. Samples and the LX7720-DB development boards are
available. For additional information and to purchase these products, contact a
Microchip sales representative, authorized worldwide distributor, or visit
Microchip’s website.
October 27, 2020,