7.1. Glossary

ADC

analog-to-digital converter

BLDC

brushless DC motor — generally used in six-step control. Also known as PMSM

FOC

field-oriented control — a type of control scheme for permanent-magnet synchronous motors or induction motors, where the stator field is controlled relative to the rotor field. It generally results in smoother torque, slightly higher efficiency, and higher torque-speed curve, compared to six-step control, but requires a measurement or estimate of rotor position, and is more computationally intensive.

HAL

Hardware Abstraction Layer

ISR

interrupt service routine

MCAF

Motor Control Application Framework

PIM

Plug-In Module — a small circuit board containing a processor and several passive components (such as bypass capacitors), meant to plug in to one of Microchip’s development boards.

PLL

phase-locked loop — see AN1292 for the Microchip Application Note covering the PLL-style sensorless estimator.

PMSM

permanent-magnet synchronous motor — generally used with FOC. Also known as BLDC.

PWM

pulse-width modulation

SMO

sliding-mode observer — see AN1078 for the Microchip Application Note covering the SMO-style sensorless estimator.