Motors are widely used in industry and households, and along with this, a diverse range of control solutions are emerging in the market. Recently, amidst a preference for solutions that simplify the implementation of complex designs, a motor control reference design has been released that emphasizes fine-tuning of settings for optimal performance and easy connection with host systems.

STMicroelectronics (hereinafter ST) announced on the 21st that it has released two reference designs that simplify the implementation of compressor motor drives for entire industrial and consumer electronics using the STSPIN32 motor control SiP (System-in-Package).

Each reference design integrates a motor controller, a three-phase inverter supplying power to the motor, an offline converter, and auxiliary circuitry. Production-ready PCB designs and motor control firmware are also provided.

The STEVAL-CTM011V1 is designed for general industrial compressors up to 250W, and the CTM012V1 design complies with eco-friendly design regulations applicable to home appliances. The plug-and-play reference design easily connects to a host system to drive the motor and allows for fine-tuning of settings for optimal performance. ST emphasized that both reference designs showed an average efficiency of over 96.5%.

ST’s STSPIN32F0601Q motor control SiP, the core device of each reference design, provides 600V three-phase gate drivers for STM32F031 Arm® Cortex®-M0 microcontrollers and inverters, allowing users to adjust motor control according to the requirements of the end application. It also stated that it provides firmware, including sensorless Field-Oriented Control (FOC). ST explained that the STSPIN32F0601Q motor control SiP is a device based on a small, thermally efficient Quad Flat No-Lead (QFN) package that meets the high creepage requirements necessary for safety and reliability.

The offline AC/DC converter is the VIPER122 analog converter, which integrates control logic and an 800V avalanche-rugged power section. Frequency jittering prevents interference with other equipment and helps comply with energy saving regulations by supporting low power consumption and burst mode operation under light loads.

The inverter stage of the 250W STEVAL-CTM011V1 reference design, supporting industrial and general-purpose applications, consists of six robust STGD5H60DF IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors). These IGBTs are designed to maximize efficiency at high switching frequencies, enabling the use of smaller capacitance and magnetic components. Additionally, low package thermal resistance enhances reliability, and tight parameter distribution supports safe parallel connections in high-power applications.

The STEVAL-CTM012V1 reference design for home appliances contains six STPOWR STD8N60DM2 600V N-channel MDmesh™ DM2 power MOSFETs. These MOSFETs are highly suitable for high-efficiency converters, such as Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) phase-shift converters, and feature high-speed and low-loss switching performance as well as low on-state loss.

In addition, the production-ready circuit board design prevents complex layout and signal routing issues, significantly reducing development time. With its compact 11.2 cm x 7.5 cm size, this board can meet industrial and consumer electronics form factors.