Microchip announces the industry's first highly integrated radiation-hardened design motor control chip

     As the industry's first highly integrated radiation-hardened design (RHBD) motor control integrated circuit (IC), the LX7720 significantly reduces weight and board space compared to conventional discrete motor control circuits. By reducing the number of components on the system, developers can inspect and test fewer parts, while also reducing the physical points of potential failure due to a reduced number of connections and solder joints. Microchip's LX7720 device improves reliability while reducing weight and board area.

     The LX7720 controller provides a unique solution for satellite manufacturers sensitive to board area and weight reduction by integrating the basic functions of the motor control and position sensing circuits required for precise motion control of robotics, multi-axis pointing mechanisms and optical elements. Microchip's controllers combine four half-bridge N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) drivers, four floating differential current sensors, a pulse-modulated rotary transformer transformer driver, three differential rotary transformer inductive inputs, and six dual-level logic inputs through an external field-effect transistor (FET). Loop control electronics for voltage or current control, position read back (rotators, potentiometers, limit switches, etc.), fault detection, etc., can all be integrated into a single device.

     Bryan J. Liddiard, Vice President, said, "As reductions in satellite weight and board space continue to challenge the aerospace market, we are excited to strengthen our commitment to developing innovative solutions using this highly reliable and highly integrated radiation hardened motor controller." President, Mixed-Signal Linear Business Unit, Microchip. "The LX7720 enhances our growing portfolio of space products as we continue to expand our total system solutions for customers building these complex satellites."

     The LX7720 is used as a mixed signal companion IC for the selected digital ics in the application. Microchip's radiation-resistant (RT) PolarFire  and RTG4  field-programmable gate array (FPGA) products and the recently announced SAMRH71 radiation-hardened microcontroller (MCU) are ideal companion chips from a single vendor. The LX7720 is MIL-PRF-38535 Class V and Q certified and has been adopted by customers to enable a variety of motor control applications in space robotics and human space programs.

     It is an ideal solution for spacecraft applications involving motor drive servo control, linear actuator servo control and the drive of stepper motors, brushless direct current (BLDC) and permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) motors. LX7720 has a radiation tolerance of 100 krad total ionizing dose (TID), 50 krad to enhanced low dose rate sensitivity (ELDRS) exposure, and is single-event immune.