STMicroelectronics EVLDRIVE102H/EVLDRIVE102BH Evaluation Boards

The power stage of the EVLDRIVE102H uses a single-shunt topology; current sensing and overcurrent protection are implemented using one comparator and an operational amplifier embedded in the STDRIVE102H. The power stage of the STDRIVE102BH uses a three-shunt topology: current sensing and overcurrent protection are implemented using the three comparators and three operational amplifiers embedded in the STDRIVE102BH. The embedded protections of the STDRIVE102H or STDRIVE102BH, such as the UVLO on the driving voltage and the VDS monitoring for each power MOSFET, ensure a safe driving operation of the power stage.

Each evaluation board is thermally protected by exploiting both the hardware thermal shutdown protection embedded in each device and also an onboard NTC sensor placed close to the power stage. On the STDRIVE102H, the NTC is connected to the second comparator, providing a second level of hardware protection based on the power stage temperature. The nFAULT diagnostic pin of the STDRIVE102H is connected to the control board and an LED indicator that lights whenever a protection is triggered. The two diagnostic pins of the STDRIVE102BH, the nFAULT pin for the protection events, and the FLAG pin for the drivers’ supply warning, are all connected to the control board and are also visible through two different LED indicators.

Each evaluation board can support FOC and six-step motion control algorithms. If the motor is equipped with positioning sensors, these can be connected to the connector for Hall-effect sensors and the encoder to increase the precision of the control algorithms. Nevertheless, sensorless control algorithms can also be implemented: each output phase of the inverter has a readout network that allows sensing the phase voltage/BEMF of the motor. In addition, the bus-voltage sensing on the board ensures that the control algorithms are properly implemented.

STMicroelectronics EVLDRIVE102H/EVLDRIVE102BH Evaluation Boards are compatible with a wide range of Nucleo control boards, enabling evaluation of the STDRIVE102H or STDRIVE102BH with various STM32 microcontrollers.