A Re-Programmable Motion Control Chip

Aeroflex Gaisler (Sweden) and CSEM (Switzerland) are developing the digital part and the software of a Motion Control Chip (MCC) in an activity that is being lead by ÅAC Microtec (Sweden) under a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA).The Motion Control Chip (MCC) is a freestanding component that can control up to three brushed motors or one brushless motor in torque, position or velocity mode. The MCC is based on ÅAC's proprietary packaging technology that offers high-resolution thin- film metallization on various substrates for advanced 3D-stackaging. The packaging technology allows advanced 3D-multi-chip-modules (3D-MCM) that can incorporate various kinds of naked die.With the digital core of the MCC being implemented in a re-programmable Flash PROM based FPGA opens up possibilities for adaptation and modification of its functionality. The same applies to the software design, the operating system and application are both stored in a re-programmable non-volatile Flash PROM memory and can be uploaded throughout the development and in-orbit operation. Thus the complete operation of the MCC can be modified up to the actual launch. To achieve this, several obstacles related to Flash PROM technology needed be resolved.