June 22, 2015, Seoul, Korea – Freescale Semiconductor (www.freescale.co.kr, CEO Yeonho Hwang) announced two highly integrated valve controller system-on-chips (SoCs) for hydraulic and pneumatic system control that include high-precision current measurement, SPI connectivity, and sophisticated functional safety management functions.

Freescale's new SB0410 and SB0800 System-on-Chip (SoC) are single-chip analog controllers designed to drive up to eight valves and motors. These devices are suitable for loads with high inrush current and can operate up to 5 kHz. Target applications include hydraulic and pneumatic systems, oxygen generators, medical equipment, 3D printers, beverage vending machines, farm and factory equipment, and irrigation water control.

When this integrated SoC is connected to a network, it enables the construction of a secure 'Internet of Tomorrow' through self-maintenance and diagnostic capabilities, even in complex environments. This allows managers in the industrial, medical, and agricultural sectors to know when and where maintenance is required. In addition, through the diagnostic function, the controller can detect other safety-related issues, such as interference or a rise in temperature, and then shut down on its own.

Patrick Morgan, General Manager of Safety Systems Business at Freescale Analog Business Unit

"Building on Freescale's analog tradition, the new highly integrated valve controller provides a single-chip solution for robust and reliable hydraulic system control in complex environments," said Patrick Morgan. "Through this valve controller SoC, industrial customers can reduce the time and labor required for precise current control while saving PCB space and costs. Furthermore, when connected to a network, this device provides a useful view of the status or conditions of industrial equipment, enhancing reliability and lowering the cost of ownership."

The devices (SB0410 and SB0800) feature both motor pump and valve control functions. This level of integration allows the SoC to be made much smaller compared to discrete-product-based competing solutions, simplifying the design and reducing costs. In the case of discrete solutions, time must be spent calibrating and iterating through various end products to accurately measure the current controlling the valve in the hydraulic network due to differences in resistance and capacitor values. Customers transitioning from discrete devices to Freescale integrated SoCs can reduce the time and labor invested in software, cut development time and costs, and shorten time-to-market.

All of these functions are programmed via a simple SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), which allows users to perform control and diagnostic functions directly on the chip. The device includes a self-recovery function, which is an advantage of the built-in supervision that supports extensive safety monitoring.

Additional features

- Current or PWM controlled valve driver

- Real-time current control (no additional components (shunt resistor, op amp) required)

- Valve condition diagnosis and protection

- Safety switch-off mode for safety and robustness

- Motor pump free driver

- SPI interface for all function commands

- Challenger and Windows Watchdog (including CRC)

- Fault management (under/overvoltage, overheating, open circuit, overcurrent)

Development support

The easy-to-use Freescale KITVALVECNTLEVM evaluation board, which provides a demo of the key features of the SB0410 and SB0800 SoCs via a simple USB connection, minimizes the software development cycle and is currently available for $265.00 (USD). The reference design, which integrates hardware and software support for the SB0410 and SB0800, offers “plug-and-play” capabilities and enables the efficient development of hydraulic and pneumatic applications. Freescale tower system boards for customer evaluation are scheduled to be supplied later this year with kit numbers TWR-SB0410-36EVB and TWR-SB0800-36EVB.

Supply situation and prices

The SB0410 and SB0800 are currently available from Freescale and official distributors worldwide, and the recommended resale price is $4.65 (USD) for the MC34SB0410 and $6.90 (USD) for the MC34SB0800 based on a quantity of 10,000 units.

Powerful and stable analog performance

Most Freescale analog products meet key industrial market requirements, including operation over a wide temperature range. These products are designed, manufactured, and verified through rigorous process control using industry-standard methodologies designed to yield failure rates that meet the most stringent requirements of the automotive market. The SB0410 and SB0800 SoCs are included in Freescale’s Product Longevity Program, which guarantees supply for a minimum of 10 or 15 years from the time of release. The terms and a list of eligible Freescale products can be found at www.freescale.com/productlongevity.