SLVAFO8 April   2024 DRV8214 , DRV8234

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Introduction: Need for Sensorless Designs
  5. 2Ripple Counting − Concept
    1. 2.1 Ripple Counting Algorithm Details
  6. 3Case Study: Robotic Wheel Drive
    1. 3.1 Robotic Wheel Motor Operating Conditions
    2. 3.2 Tuning Parameters for Ripple Counting
      1. 3.2.1 Resistance Parameters
      2. 3.2.2 KMC and KMC_SCALE
        1. 3.2.2.1 Tuning KMC_SCALE
        2. 3.2.2.2 Tuning KMC
    3. 3.3 Robotic Wheel Motor with Ripple Counting
      1. 3.3.1 Inrush and Steady State Performance
        1. 3.3.1.1 Motor Speed Calculation
      2. 3.3.2 Soft Start
      3. 3.3.3 Loaded Conditions
  7. 4Challenges and Workarounds
    1. 4.1 Low Average Currents
    2. 4.2 Motor Inertia During Stop
    3. 4.3 Inrush
    4. 4.4 High Load Conditions
  8. 5Summary
  9. 6References

Inrush and Steady State Performance

In brushed DC motors, there is a large inrush current during start-up due to the absence of any back emf. Figure 3-2 shows the performance of ripple counting algorithm during inrush using the tuned parameters mentioned in Table 3-5. To improve accuracy, the T_MECH_FLT register was set to 000b, displayed in Figure 3-3. Please refer to Section 4.3 for the description of the T_MECH_FLT register. Section 4.3 explains more workarounds for transient conditions, including inrush. Operating conditions are unchanged from the tuning process. PWM is at 100% duty cycle. For examples on how to workaround low average currents due to PWM at low duty cycles, please refer to Section 4.1.

GUID-20240405-SS0I-1QVM-TG1F-6RTMNQQVD2ZD-low.svgFigure 3-2 Inrush Current at 11V, 100% Duty Cycle
GUID-20240405-SS0I-3ZFB-JXHX-CGKRNN29W8WH-low.svgFigure 3-3 Improved Performance using T_MECH_FLT

Using Equation 5, accuracy calculations for Figure 3-2 and Figure 3-3 are described in Table 3-6. In the figures, counting is stopped when the motor completes 7 full revolutions since the motor current reaches steady state value.

Table 3-6 Accuracy During Inrush
Parameter Untuned Tuned
Encoder Counts 28 28
RC_OUT Counts 38 40
Accuracy 90.5% 95.2%

Figure 3-4 shows the performance of the ripple counting algorithm during steady state. Clearly, all ripples are tracked accurately through the RC_OUT pin. Table 3-7 compares ripple counting accuracy against an encoder.

GUID-20240405-SS0I-6ZRF-JKGP-XXD3JLNSMLBJ-low.svg Figure 3-4 Performance During Steady State
Table 3-7 Accuracy During Steady State
Parameter Steady State
Encoder Counts 40
RC_OUT Counts 60
Accuracy 100%