Robotic applications with GaN World's smallest galvanically isolated modulators for motor control

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Texas Instruments EMEA Sales GmbH

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Texas Instruments expands its portfolio of isolated A/D converters with a range of galvanically isolated modulators, claimed to be the industry's first products of their kind. The analog ICs measure currents and voltages with a resolution of 12 to 14 bits ENOB, enabling robots to perform detailed and complex tasks.

According to its own statements, Texas Instruments has launched the industry's first galvanically isolated modulators for more precise motor control of robots. The Delta-Sigma current transducers AMC0106M05 and AMC0106M25 as well as the isolated voltage transducer AMC0136 enable more precise current and voltage measurement. The effective resolution is 12 to 14 bits (ENOB), compared to 8 to 11 bits offered by current analog solutions. The higher measurement accuracy allows for the detection of lower current and voltage levels, which is important for delicate robot functions and movements.

The isolated modulators improve noise immunity and offset drift at the system level with a common-mode transient immunity (CMTI) of 150 V/ns. A digital interface ensures that the switching of pulse width modulation does not affect measurement accuracy. This allows robot developers to use switching speeds of 50 V/ns or more for highly efficient gallium nitride motors. The high CMTI also prevents data corruption and performance losses by minimizing the noise from the power ground, which disrupts the microcontroller during switching.

The modulators come in a VSON package (Very thin Small-Outline) with 8 pins and dimensions of 0.14 inches x 0.11 inches. This represents a size reduction of the sensor solution by more than 50 percent compared to other modulators. The smaller form factor also allows for smaller PCBs and correspondingly reduced robot dimensions.

The modulators offered in leadless packages also enable finely tuned motor control with a smooth torque curve, while reducing the space and cost of low-voltage robot designs (<60 V).

What is new about it?

Developers today face the challenge of designing smarter robots for performing more detailed tasks. The galvanically isolated modulators give robot developers the ability to ensure precise motor control and necessary system protection in smaller, more sophisticated circuits.

The high accuracy allows robots to perform complex tasks, such as threading a needle or handling small screws and nuts. Thanks to their small dimensions of 0.14 inches x 0.11 inches, the modulators require 50 percent less PCB space than competing solutions with reinforced insulation. This gives developers more space to incorporate additional features that ensure precise control and reliable operation in compact robot applications.

"These modulators enable developers to improve the accuracy and productivity of robotic applications in new use cases and smaller formats, from the factory floor to the operating room," explains Karthik Vasanth, Vice President and General Manager of Data Converters and Clocks at TI.

"For example, while humanoid robots in the past were only able to perform simple tasks, they are now capable of taking on more demanding and precise work thanks to our new functionally isolated modulators," he further explains.

As an aid for developers, evaluation modules for all three modulators, as well as reference designs and simulation models, are available. The input voltage ranges are ±50 mV (AMC0106M05), ±250 mV (AMC0106M25), and ±1V (AMC0136).(kr)

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