Whatever are the final application and the target specifications, we have the competencies for: selecting the right converter topology and semiconductor technology, defining the components specifications, choosing the most appropriate gate driver design, simulating the converter behaviour, including losses and failures, performing a proper PCB layout and routing for reduced EMIs and improved isolation
Month: November 2015
Self-Commissioning of non-linearities
When dealing with high performance controls, it is necessary to consider all the aspects which have been initially neglected and may have an impact on performances. For example, system non-linearities are often supposed negligible and, as a consequence, the power converter is considered as an ideal voltage generator and no difference is supposed to be between the […]
Prototyping
Prototyping is essential for transforming ideas and projects into real products not only when performing research and development activities but also at the preproduction stage, for checking the performances and validating the operation prior to product launch. We are experinced in the design, construction and testing of general purpose and specific purpose prototypes, suitable for […]
Energy Efficiency
Energy-efficient design and control of electrical drives are of paramount importance for reducing the environmental impact of human activities. The European Commission, in the SAVE project, has highlighted the possibility of reducing by 29% the amount of energy consumed by electrical drives by means of simple investments whose payback time is less than three years. […]
Microcontroller, DSP, FPGA, DSP/FPGA or SoC?
Nowadays several types of digital control solutions are available in the market: microcontrollers, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Systems On Chip (SoCs), hybrid DSP/FPGA solutions. The right choice depends on the target application and on the expected life or required scalability of the final product. We have the competence for selecting […]
Fault Detection and Identification
In fault tollerant drives, the response time of the fault detection and identification procedure is an important aspect for ensuring the required service continuity and is crucial in sensorless motor drives for avoiding a loss of control due to an erroneous position estimation. Faults affecting the power devices (IGBTs or MOSFETs) in a Voltage Source Inverter […]
Sensing
Requirements for positioning accuracy and speed ripple are quite high in modern servo drives. To overcome these challenges, the whole feedback path should be carefully designed and the right sensors selected. Position sensors should be able to provide, at the same time, accurate and frequent information updates. Traditional incremental encoders or resolvers are inadequate in […]
Predictive Current Control
In modern electrical drives, fully PI-based controls are used only in low and medium performance applications. Predictive current controls are nowadays considered the first necessary step for further improving the overall system response due to their ability to provide reduced overshoot and settling time even if implementation details and experience still make the difference. As […]
Self-Commissioning of drive parameters
The knowledge of system parameters is of great importance in modern predictive controls for providing accurate response and control stability. Usually system parameters are obtained at production stage from direct measurement or more often from simulation or analysis. Such approaches, however, make the use of third-party products in the same electrical drive impossible to the final […]
Sensorless Control
Most of high performance closed-loop controls require an additional sensor mechanically coupled to the rotor shaft for measuring the rotor position. Such a sensor reduces the reliability of the drive and increases its cost and complexity. We are able to control a drive in the full speed range, from standstill to rated speed and beyond […]