Brushless 33 Click

How does it work?

Brushless 33 Click is based on the MCF8316A, a sensorless Field Oriented Control (FOC) integrated FET brushless DC (BLDC) driver from Texas Instruments, designed for BLDC motor control applications. This three-phase motor driver incorporates a code-free sensorless FOC algorithm, making it an ideal solution for controlling speed-regulated 12V to 24V BLDC or Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM) with a peak current of up to 8A. The MCF8316A integrates three half-bridges with an exceptionally low RDS(ON) value of 95mΩ (combined high-side and low-side), ensuring minimal energy loss and maximum efficiency during operation. Furthermore, the device allows for standalone functionality by storing algorithm configurations in its non-volatile EEPROM, enabling consistent and reliable motor control without additional external coding or adjustments once configured. Based on its broad range of features, the Brushless 33 Click is well-suited for numerous applications, including residential and living fans, air purifiers, humidifier fans, automotive fans, blowers, and medical CPAP blowers.

The MCF8316A includes protection features to safeguard the device, motor, and overall system from potential faults. These integrated protections ensure robust performance and long-term reliability across diverse operating conditions. With its sensorless FOC algorithm, the MCF8316A offers smooth motor speed control, even in applications requiring quiet and efficient operation. The Brushless 33 Click operates from an external power supply connected to the VM terminal, with a recommended operating range of 4.5V to 35V. Its output terminals, A, B, and C, can deliver a peak drive current of up to 8A, ensuring operation for spinning a three-phase sensorless Brushless DC (BLDC) motor. The A2212/13T 1000KV BLDC motor is one of our recommendations for optimal performance. In addition to the motor connection terminals, the board includes three dedicated hooks that serve as test points for the three phases of the BLDC motor, allowing for convenient monitoring and diagnostics during operation.

This Click board™ is controlled by the host MCU using several pins and their corresponding logic states. The SPD pin allows for motor speed control through PWM by varying the duty cycle of the input signal, while speed can also be adjusted using frequency or an analog input on the SPD pin or configured via the I2C configuration register. The BRK pin brakes the motor when set to a HIGH logic state and enables normal operation when set to LOW. The DIR pin determines the direction of motor rotation, with a LOW state resulting in an A-C-B driving sequence and a HIGH state corresponding to an A-B-C sequence. Additionally, the FLT pin signals when a fault condition occurs in the MCF8316A. To provide visual feedback, several LED indicators reflect the state of key signals: a green LED for SPEED, a yellow LED for BRAKE, and a red LED for FAULT, ensuring quick and intuitive monitoring of the system’s operation.

The MCF8316A includes the mentioned I2C interface, which allows an external host MCU to configure its various settings and access fault diagnostic information. The board also features a DRVOFF switch that enables or disables the internal gate drivers; in position 0, the MCF8316A is disabled, while in position 1, it is enabled for operation. Additionally, the board includes unpopulated pins offering extended functionality.

The FG pin outputs pulses proportional to the motor’s speed, providing a convenient way to monitor rotational speed. The SOX pin outputs the signal from one of the current sense amplifiers, offering precise current measurement capabilities. The EWD and ECK pins are optional inputs for external oscillator and watchdog signals. The ECK pin can provide an external clock reference, while the EWD pin can accept an external watchdog signal, enhancing system reliability and enabling advanced timing control.

This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Also, this Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on Brushless 33 Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
Motor Brake Control	BRK	1	AN	PWM	16	SPD	Motor Speed Control
Motor Direction Control	DIR	2	RST	INT	15	FLT	Fault Interrupt
ID COMM	CS	3	CS	RX	14	NC
	NC	4	SCK	TX	13	NC
	NC	5	MISO	SCL	12	SCL	I2C Clock
	NC	6	MOSI	SDA	11	SDA	I2C Data
Power Supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	5V	Power Supply
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

Brushless 33 Click electrical specifications

Software Support

Brushless 33 Click demo application is developed using the NECTO Studio, ensuring compatibility with mikroSDK‘s open-source libraries and tools. Designed for plug-and-play implementation and testing, the demo is fully compatible with all development, starter, and mikromedia boards featuring a mikroBUS™ socket.

Example Description

This example demonstrates the control of an A2212/13T 1000KV motor using the Brushless 33 Click board. The example showcases basic motor operations, including speed adjustments, direction switching, and fault handling. The motor speed is controlled by varying the PWM duty cycle.

Key Functions

• brushless33_cfg_setup Config Object Initialization function.
• brushless33_init Initialization function.
• brushless33_default_cfg Click Default Configuration function.
• brushless33_set_duty_cycle This function sets the PWM duty cycle in percentages ( Range[ 0..1 ] ).
• brushless33_switch_direction This function switches the direction of motor rotation by toggling the DIR pin logic state.
• brushless33_get_fault_pin This function returns the fault indication pin logic state.

Application Init

Initializes the logger and configures the Click board.

Application Task

Adjusts the motor’s duty cycle to control its speed, alternating between increasing and decreasing duty values. Fault conditions are checked and resolved to maintain stable operation. Additional motor controls, such as switching direction and braking, are triggered based on the duty cycle limits. Each step will be logged on the USB UART where you can track the program flow.

Application Output

This Click board can be interfaced and monitored in two ways:

• Application Output – Use the “Application Output” window in Debug mode for real-time data monitoring. Set it up properly by following this tutorial.
• UART Terminal – Monitor data via the UART Terminal using a USB to UART converter. For detailed instructions, check out this tutorial.

Additional Notes and Information

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.