A demonstration platform supports three-phase motor operation at up to 60 V and 20 A, with Hall-sensor feedback and 20 kHz pulse-width modulation for basic BLDC control.
Renesas has developed a demonstration board for evaluating three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motor-drive applications. The board combines a three-phase metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) driver with a microprocessor-based controller and Hall-effect shaft-position sensors. It supports a motor bridge voltage of up to 60 V and a maximum summed bridge current of 20 A with sufficient airflow.
The board uses Hall-effect sensors to determine the rotor position and control the switching sequence of its three half-bridge outputs. The specified operating voltage range is 15 V to 60 V DC, while the Hall-sensor bias voltage is 5 V. Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is used for motor control at a switching frequency of 20 kHz. This configuration allows the board to demonstrate the operation of a three-phase BLDC motor drive with relatively simple control circuitry.
The demonstration board supports basic motor-control functions, including start, stop, reverse rotation and braking. It also implements open-loop speed control. These functions allow engineers to evaluate the motor-driver implementation without requiring a complex closed-loop control system. The board is intended as a general-purpose platform rather than being optimised for a particular motor or application.
Advanced functions such as torque control, speed regulation and regenerative braking are not implemented on the board. Renesas notes that these control methods require closer integration with the characteristics and dynamics of the motor load. The design can therefore serve as a starting point for engineers developing BLDC motor-drive systems for applications such as e-bikes, battery-powered tools, electric power steering and wheelchairs. It is also listed for appliances, e-mobility and vehicle-control systems.
Renesas provides a user manual and supporting technical information for evaluating the demonstration board and its three-phase motor-drive implementation. The board is currently listed as an active product and can be ordered for development and evaluation. The design provides a platform for engineers to assess three-phase MOSFET driving and BLDC motor-control operation before developing application-specific motor-drive hardware.
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