Setup: Infineon REF-18VDC-MTRC Motor Drive Evaluation Board User Guide

Content

Overview

The REF-18VDC-MTRC Motor Drive Evaluation Board is a compact three-phase motor drive reference board built for Hall sensor-based motor control. It is designed to help users spin a motor with a GUI-driven workflow for tuning, testing, and bringing up a battery-powered motor drive system.

This board combines power stage hardware, gate driving, current sensing, and control firmware support into one evaluation platform. It is aimed at power tool and similar high-current motor drive applications where fast setup, Hall learning, and over-current protection matter.

Specifications

Product name: REF-18VDC-MTRC Motor Drive Evaluation Board
Board type: Reference board for a 3-phase motor drive inverter
Input voltage: 18 V DC nominal
Peak output power: 820 W
Motor control method: Hall sensor-based trapezoidal control
Control and debug MCU: XMC1402
Gate driver: 6EDL7141 smart gate driver
Power transistor: OptiMOS 7 ISCH57N04NM7VSC
MCU resources: 32 KB flash, 16 KB RAM
Software support: ModusToolbox MotorSuite and ModusToolbox software
Motor connections: U, V, W three-phase output and Hall sensor connector J3
Debug connection: XMC Link isolated debug probe with ribbon cable and USB connection

Detailed Description

The REF-18VDC-MTRC Motor Drive Evaluation Board brings together an XMC1402 microcontroller, a 6EDL7141 smart gate driver, and OptiMOS 7 motor-drive-optimized MOSFETs to form a compact inverter platform. The control core handles PWM generation, protection handling, and motor control logic, while the power stage switches the three motor phases.

The board is intended for Hall sensor motor control and includes support for Hall learning, which helps identify the PWM pattern used by a specific motor. The system also supports speed control through a GUI, making it useful for tuning and early-stage motor characterization.

The control architecture uses PWM logic, protection notification, current sensing through an op-amp and shunt resistor, and Hall sensor feedback. The board layout separates the gate driver stage, power stage, and control stage, which helps with system bring-up and troubleshooting during evaluation.

Safety

Use the board only with the correct DC link voltage for your supply and motor setup. Before starting the motor, confirm that the Hall sensor wiring, motor phase wiring, and debug connections are made correctly.

Because the board is designed for high-power motor operation, always verify motor pole pairs, maximum speed limits, and parameter values before first run. The firmware includes over-current protection, but safe wiring and careful setup remain essential during testing.

Setup and Operation

Set up the REF-18VDC-MTRC Motor Drive Evaluation Board by connecting the three-phase motor to the U, V, and W terminals, attaching the Hall sensor cable to J3, and connecting the DC supply to the VBAT+ and PGND terminals. Then connect the XMC Link ribbon cable to pin 1 of the debug connector and plug the USB side into the PC.

Install and unzip both the ModusToolbox software package and the ModusToolbox MotorSuite package before importing the source project into the IDE. After importing, build the project to generate the .elf and .hex files used for flashing.

Firmware can be loaded in two ways: through MotorSuite or through J-Link debug. After flashing, LED1 should blink to confirm that the control loop is running. In MotorSuite, connect the USB debugger, select the device if needed, and flash the built firmware file into the target device.

Initial parameters can be handled in two different ways. If you want to configure values from the MotorSuite GUI, set PROGRAM_DEFAULT_PARAM to 0 in the Makefile, rebuild, and write the GUI parameters to flash. If you want firmware default parameters instead, set PROGRAM_DEFAULT_PARAM to 1, rebuild, and avoid writing GUI parameters back to flash.

For the first motor run, set the DC link voltage to match the power supply, then configure the motor maximum speed and pole pairs according to the motor being used. Hall learning should be run before starting the motor so the Hall sector map can be identified automatically. After that, the Test Bench tab can be used to run the motor, view live values, check fault indicators, and move the slider to command motion.

User configuration can be saved for future runs of the same motor by saving the project as an .imcsp file. When reopened later, the saved project can be selected from the MotorSuite open-project panel to avoid repeating setup work.

Configuration Notes

The user_input_config.h file allows motor-specific settings such as maximum speed, no-load speed, and pole pairs to be changed in firmware. It also contains the available control scheme choices, including voltage control and speed control, along with PWM modulation options such as high-side 120-degree, low-side 120-degree, and high-side 60-degree operation.

This makes the REF-18VDC-MTRC Motor Drive Evaluation Board flexible for different three-phase motor setups while keeping the firmware and GUI aligned for evaluation and tuning.

Troubleshooting

If the board does not appear to run correctly after flashing, check whether LED1 is blinking, since that is the indicator that the control loop is active. If the GUI does not connect automatically, plug in the USB debugger and select the device ID manually.

If motor startup behavior is incorrect, confirm the Hall learning step was completed and verify that the DC link voltage, pole pairs, and maximum speed values match the motor. A fault indicator in the Test Bench tab can help identify whether a software or hardware fault has occurred.

Pros & Cons

Pros: Compact three-phase motor drive platform, Hall sensor support, GUI-based tuning, Hall learning, over-current protection, and clear debug workflow.
Pros: Flexible setup with firmware defaults or GUI-written parameters, plus saved project support for repeat testing.
Cons: Setup requires correct wiring, parameter matching, and software installation before the board can be used effectively.
Cons: Best suited for users comfortable with embedded motor control tools and motor commissioning steps.

Summary

The REF-18VDC-MTRC Motor Drive Evaluation Board is a practical evaluation platform for Hall sensor-based three-phase motor control. With its XMC1402 controller, 6EDL7141 gate driver, OptiMOS 7 power stage, and ModusToolbox MotorSuite support, it gives engineers a focused way to test, tune, and validate compact motor drive designs.

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Faqs

How do I connect the REF_18VDC_MTRC board correctly for a first-time motor setup?

For a first setup, connect the three-phase motor wiring to the U, V, and W connector first. Then attach the Hall sensor cable to connector J3. Power should be connected with DC- to PGND and DC+ to VBAT+. If you want to debug or load firmware, connect the isolated debug probe ribbon cable to pin 1 of the debug connector and plug the USB side into the PC. Checking each connection before powering on helps avoid wiring mistakes.

What software do I need to run the REF_18VDC_MTRC Motor Drive Evaluation Board?

The board uses ModusToolbox software together with ModusToolbox MotorSuite for motor control, flashing, and tuning. Start by downloading and unzipping the installer packages, then import the source project into the IDE. After building the project, the firmware output appears as .elf and .hex files. MotorSuite is especially useful for parameter setup, Hall learning, and running the motor from the Test Bench tab through the GUI.

How do I flash firmware to the REF_18VDC_MTRC board using MotorSuite?

Open the MotorSuite project for REF_18VDC_MTRC, connect the USB debugger, and select the device ID if it does not connect automatically. Use the Flash Firmware option, then browse to the folder containing the built .elf and .hex files. If you are flashing from the same folder as before, the last selected path can be reused. After a successful flash, the GUI should show the connected target device name.

How can I confirm that the firmware loaded correctly on the REF_18VDC_MTRC?

A simple check is the onboard LED behavior. After the firmware is loaded and running, LED1 should blink, which indicates the control loop is active. If the LED does not blink, verify that the build completed properly, the correct device was selected, and the debug connection is stable. It is also worth checking that the .elf file being flashed matches the current project build.

What should I configure before running the motor for the first time?

Before first motor operation, set the DC link voltage to match your power supply, then configure the motor max speed and pole pairs according to the motor being used. The guide also recommends running Hall learning in the Test Bench tab before starting the motor. That step identifies the correct Hall sector map, which is then updated automatically for the selected motor and control setup.

What is Hall learning on the REF_18VDC_MTRC board and why is it important?

Hall learning is a setup step that helps the board identify the Hall sector map for a specific motor. On this evaluation board, it is used before normal run mode so the controller knows the correct Hall sensor pattern for trapezoidal control. In MotorSuite, open the Test Bench tab and select Hall learning. Once completed, the sector map is updated automatically, which helps the motor start and commutate correctly.

How do I change motor settings such as maximum speed or pole pairs?

You can change key motor parameters in the MotorSuite Configurator tab or directly in the user_input_config.h file. The board supports settings such as motor maximum speed, no-load speed, and pole pairs. If you use the GUI to set values and want them stored on the target, write the parameters to flash. If you prefer firmware default values, configure them in code and rebuild before flashing.

What should I check if the motor does not run or a fault appears?

If the motor does not start, first confirm that the power supply matches the DC link voltage setting and that the motor phases, Hall sensor, and debug cable are connected correctly. In MotorSuite, the Test Bench tab shows real-time values and includes a fault indicator for software or hardware issues. Also confirm that Hall learning was completed and that the motor pole pairs and speed settings match the connected motor.