ATLAS digital amplifier by Performance Motion Devices uses SPI to link to third-party controllers

August 3, 2018 – The ATLAS digital amplifier by Performance Motion Devices can now be used with third-party microprocessors or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) via serial peripheral interface (SPI) communications.

This significantly increases the range of applications and designs where ATLAS can be deployed. ATLAS digital amplifiers are suitable for robotics, medical devices, laboratory equipment, scientific instruments, fan and pump control, precision motion and industrial motor control.

The amplifiers—which were originally designed to be used in conjunction with the company’s Magellan motion control ICs—offer the highest power density in the industry. The compact single-axis modules provide high-performance torque control of DC brush, brushless DC and step motors. ATLAS is available in 75W, 250W, and 500W power configurations in two module sizes: 27 x 27 x 13mm and 39 x 39 x 15mm, and can be mounted to a printed circuit board in either vertical or horizontal configurations.

ATLAS amplifiers integrate a field-oriented control (FOC) digital current loop, which enables finely tuned motor current control and lower power consumption and noise. They can also record IoT information such as commanded current vs. actual current, temperature, bus voltage, etc. 

Performance Motion Devices is a provider of integrated circuits, boards and drive-based motion control solutions to OEMs.