A DSP-based power integrated circuit controller/driver board for stepper motors

Abstract

This article proposes the use of a DSP56001 digital signal processor in a multi-axis controller for stepper motors. Traditionally, these controllers have been based on microprocessors or special purpose integrated circuits. The proposed technique was implemented using the DSP56001 board from Motorola, and 32 stepper motors of various types. There are three innovative aspects of this work. First, the proposed controller was implemented using a single-chip digital signal processor (DSP). Second, the number of power driver integrated circuits was drastically reduced. This improvement reduced the cost and power consumption of the controller, and also improved its reliability. Finally, this concept can be expanded to simultaneously and independently control hundreds of motion devices such as stepper motors, D.C. motors, relays and solenoids.