PRESS RELEASES

Lincoln, MA -  Performance Motion Devices, Inc. (PMD), announces the world’s first programmable motion processor to directly support a CANBus interface. Designed for distributed control applications, these ultra-high performance motion ICs are available in 1, 2, 3 and 4-axis configurations. They control DC brush, brushless DC, microstepping and pulse & direction motors -  providing profile generation, servo loop closure, PLC-style signal manipulation and motor signal generation.

In addition to CANBus communications Magellan Motion Processors provide standard features such as programmable PID filter with velocity and acceleration feedforward, while adding advanced features like 32-bit position error, dual bi-quad filters, 50 µSec loop time, and multi-axis synchronization. Trace capabilities also provide designers with on-the-fly data storage for analyzing system performance, tuning servo filters, and performing maintenance and diagnostics. Four selectable profile modes are supported including S-curve, trapezoidal, velocity contouring and electronic gearing. Magellan Motion Processors accept input parameters such as position, velocity, and acceleration from the host and generate a corresponding trajectory. They accept feedback from an incremental encoder at up to 5 megacounts per second or from an absolute encoder or resolver at 160 megacounts per second. Communications to these devices occur via CANBus, 8 or 16-bit parallel, serial asynchronous point-to-point, or serial multi-drop.

Chuck Lewin, President and CEO of PMD comments, "For years distributed control has been the watchword of the motion industry. But few high-volume, low-cost, systems were available. With the advent of CANBus in dedicated motion ICs, networked motion just got a lot more accessible. You can now integrate your own motion module with off-the-shelf sensors, actuators and displays. That represents a huge savings in engineering time and cost."

Magellan Motion Processors are available now in a single-IC / single-axis version, or in a two-IC / multi-axis version. The IC’s are packaged in a 144-pin TQFP, and a 100-pin TQFP. These devices operate at 3.3 V.