AUSTIN, Texas, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- Complete Kit Shows Unprecedented Integration of Brushless DC Motion 
Control and Industrial Networking

Luminary Micro (http://www.LuminaryMicro.com), creators of the
award-winning Stellaris(R) family of ARM Cortex(TM)-M3-based microcontrollers
(MCUs), today announced the immediate availability of a new Stellaris
Reference Design Kit, the Stellaris Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor Control
Reference Design Kit (RDK-BLDC) with Ethernet and CAN. Brushless DC motors
offer efficient operation, excellent torque characteristics, and durability,
and are particularly suited for use in factory automation, medical
instruments, robotics, electric vehicles and mobility devices, pumping and
ventilation systems, and small appliances. With built-in Controller Area
Network (CAN) and Ethernet interfaces, the RDK-BLDC represents an industry
benchmark in the integration of motion control with network-based
communication, command, and control.

The Brushless DC Motor Control Reference Design Kit (RDK-BLDC) is a
four-quadrant controller for three-phase brushless DC motors rated at up
to 36 V, 500 W, and 60,000 RPM. Key features of the RDK include complete CAN
and Ethernet network interfaces, a powerful 32-bit Stellaris microcontroller
with 256 Kbytes of single-cycle internal flash memory, and embedded software
to optimally control a wide range of motors in diverse applications.
Reference design kits (RDKs) from Luminary Micro accelerate product
development by pairing ready-to-run software and hardware with an included
motor, and providing comprehensive documentation with all software source
code and hardware design files. Designers without prior motor control
experience can successfully implement a sophisticated motor control system
using the BLDC RDK. Integrated CAN and Ethernet ports connect the RDK-BLDC to
an array of network options-from dedicated industrial networks to worldwide
control and monitoring over the Internet.

"Brushless DC motors are extremely popular because of their precision,
quiet operation, and energy efficiency -- and the Stellaris Brushless DC
Motor Control Reference Design Kit helps to streamline the complex
combination of power, control, and connectivity functions for the benefit of
anyone who utilizes the design," said Luminary Micro Chief Marketing Officer
Jean Anne Booth. "We make it easy to adopt the Stellaris BLDC control module
directly into end products for an extremely fast time-to-production
advantage."

Everything Designers Need to Move from Evaluation to Fully Integrated
Solution

The RDK-BLDC contains everything required to evaluate and develop
brushless DC motor control designs. The kit includes a brushless DC motor
control module featuring Luminary Micro's highly-integrated Stellaris
LM3S8971 microcontroller with on-chip Ethernet MAC+PHY and CAN, a three-phase
brushless DC motor, a graphical control program for Windows(TM), and
accompanying cables, source code, and documentation. The Stellaris LM3S8971
microcontroller handles all PWM synthesis, position, and analog sensing as
well as Ethernet and CAN networking. Only a few additional power ICs are
necessary to complete the design. The entire circuit is built on a simple
two-layer printed circuit board. The design includes an on-board braking
circuit, optional power-managed fan for forced-air cooling, analog and
digital control inputs, and screw terminals for all power and signal wiring.
Interrupt-driven embedded software provides four quadrant operation for
precise motor control using Hall effect, quadrature, or sensorless operation
modes. The graphical control program allows users to experiment with varying
drive parameters and observe the effect on motor performance.

Modular Design Also Available For Direct OEM Use

Luminary Micro also provides the Stellaris BLDC control module as a
stand-alone product (MDL-BLDC) available in cost-effective volume quantities, 
providing OEMs a production-ready solution to immediately integrate BLDC 
motor drive controls directly into their respective end products.

Stellaris: Advanced Mechatronics MCUs with Integrated Motion-Specific
Hardware

Over half of the 104 Stellaris microcontrollers available from Luminary
Micro feature integrated motion-specific capabilities typically found only on
costly specialty devices. In addition to a general purpose timer module that
can be configured to operate as up to 8 pulse width modulation (PWM) outputs,
these Stellaris family members integrate a special motion control module that
provides up to six additional channels of PWM with enhancements for real-time
motor control. The motion control module can generate simple PWM signals
(such as those required by a simple charge pump), paired PWM signals with
dead-band delays (such as those required by a half-H bridge driver), and a
full six channels of gate controls (such as those required by a 3-phase
inverter bridge). In addition, the motion module provides fault-condition
handling to quickly shut down a motor in a low-latency situation. The motion
module is complemented by up to two quadrature encoder inputs (QEI),
providing precise position sensing for closed-feedback motion control. For
detailed information on the features of each Stellaris family member, see the
product selector guide (http://www.LuminaryMicro.com/psg).

Pricing and Availability

Available now through Luminary Micro's global sales channel
(http://www.LuminaryMicro.com/sales) and online 
(http://www.LuminaryMicro.com/products/rdk_bldc.html):

-- USD 219 - Stellaris Reference Design Kit for Brushless DC Motors
       (RDK-BLDC)
    -- USD 99 - Stellaris Brushless DC Motor Control Module (MDL-BLDC)
       (1Ku quantity)

    Also available:
    -- USD 379 - Stellaris Reference Design Kit for AC Induction Motors
       (RDK-ACIM) -- buy online at
       http://www.LuminaryMicro.com/products/rdk_acim.html
    -- USD 199 -- Stellaris Reference Design Kit for Stepper Motors
       (RDK-Stepper) -- buy online at
       http://www.LuminaryMicro.com/products/rdk_stepper.html



About Luminary Micro and Stellaris

Luminary Micro, Inc. designs, markets and sells ARM Cortex-M3-based
microcontrollers (MCUs). Austin, Texas-based Luminary Micro is the lead
partner for the Cortex-M3 processor, delivering the world's first silicon
implementation of the Cortex-M3 processor. Developed for use in embedded and
industrial applications, Luminary Micro's introduction of the award-winning
Stellaris(R) family of products provides 32-bit performance for the same
price as current 8- and 16-bit microcontroller designs. With entry-level
pricing at US$1.00 for an ARM technology-based MCU, Luminary Micro's
Stellaris product line allows for standardization that eliminates future
architectural upgrades or software tools changes.

Stellaris and the Luminary Micro logo are registered trademarks of
Luminary Micro, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other
countries. All other brands or product names are the property of their
respective holders.

Luminary Micro Company Contact:
    Jean Anne Booth / CMO / +1-512-917-3088 mobile / +1-512-279-8801 office /
    JeanAnne.Booth@LuminaryMicro.com



Web site: http://www.luminarymicro.com