Freescale Semiconductor has introduced two highly integrated valve controller system-on-chips (SoCs) with high-precision current measurement, SPI connectivity and sophisticated functional safety management features for hydraulic and pneumatic systems control. Freescale’s new SB0410/SB0800 SoCs are single-chip analogue controllers engineered to manage up to eight valves simultaneously, regulating current and running the motor. The devices are suitable for loads with high inrush current and allow driving to high frequency (up to 5kHz).
When connected to a network, the integrated SoCs help drive a secure Internet of Tomorrow by enabling predictive maintenance and diagnostics designed specifically for harsh environments. This allows operators in industrial, medical and agricultural applications to know when maintenance is needed and where. The diagnostic capability also allows the controllers to detect bad connections, high temperatures or other safety concerns, and then shut down automatically. The devices incorporate both motor pump and valve control functionalities. This level of integration not only makes the SoCs significantly smaller than competitive solutions based on discrete products, but also helps to simplify design and reduce costs.
These features are all programmed through a simple serial peripheral interface (SPI) that enables users to perform control and diagnostic functions directly on the chip. The devices include self-recovery features that are benefits of the embedded supervision that allows extensive safety monitoring.