SwitcherGear Hardware Interface Modules
SwitcherGear Interface Modules
Hardware interface modules perform the electrical conversion of signals between the external power system and the microcontroller (MCU).
Select from a wide variety of modules for interfacing to gate-drivers, voltage & current sensors, shaft encoders and more.
Signals in the power system are wired to the System Connector. Modules include filtering and protection to shield the MCU from these electrically "dirty" signals.
The MCU interacts with the module using the low-voltage digital and analogue signals of the MCU Interface.
Comprehensive Features
SwitcherGear modules include all required interface circuitry to connect to real-world power converter components:
- line drivers
- signal conditioning
- power supplies
- isolation
- protection
In contrast, other controllers provide only generic I/O functionality and require the user to design and build their own interface circuitry.
Converter Interface Modules
The fastest way to build a power converter system is to use off-the-shelf components, including:
- gate drivers that mount directly to standard devices
- integrated power modules (IPM) that include DC link and heatsink
- power stacks that include current, voltage & temperature sensors
The SwitcherGear ecosystem includes modules that can connect directly to many of these power stage components.
| CON001 | CON002 | CON003 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | 3-phase half-bridge interface | 3-phase half-bridge interface | 3-phase IGBT stack interface |
| Typical Usage | Connect to generic interface to gate-drivers. | Connect to half-bridge gate-drivers from Power Integrations (external link) and SEMIKRON® SEMITEACH® IGBT stack (external link) using ribbon cable. | Connect to SEMIKRON® SEMIKUBE® (external link) IGBT stack using a single ribbon cable. |
| System Connector | 12-way pluggable screw terminal | Three 10x2 pin headers | Single 17x2 pin header |
| Module Isolation | No, use isolated gate-driver | No, use isolated gate-driver | No, SEMIKUBE® includes isolated gate-drivers and sensors |
| MCU Peripherals & Signals | PWM, TripZone | PWM, TripZone | PWM, TripZone, ADC, SPI/MCBSP |
| SwitcherWare Library Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Output | 6x gate PWM | 6x gate PWM | 6x gate PWM |
| Digital Input | 3x trip | 3x trip | 1x trip |
| Analogue Output | - | - | - |
| Analogue Input | - | - |
3x phase current 1x DC link voltage 1x heatsink temperature |
| Supply Output | +15 VDC | +15 VDC | +24 VDC |
Analogue Interface Modules
Module AIN004 connects to standard industrial sensors for real-time measurement of AC/DC currents and voltages. Current sensors are available in the range 10 to 500 A, and beyond. Voltage sensors are available up to 1200 V, and beyond.
Modules AIN003 and AOV001 enable SwitcherGear to interact with standard industrial components and process control systems (PLC).
| AIN004 | AIN003 | AOV001 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | 4-channel analogue input for sensors with current output | 4-channel analogue input, industrial signalling | 4-channel analogue output, industrial signalling |
| Typical Usage |
Current sensors, up to 1000 A. Voltage sensors, up to 1000 V. |
Input from sensors, system controllers. User input from potentiometer. |
Output to actuators, system controllers. Real-time signal visualisation to oscilloscope. |
| System Connector | 12-way pluggable screw terminal | 12-way pluggable screw terminal | 12-way pluggable screw terminal |
| Module Isolation | No, use isolated/protected sensors | Yes | Yes |
| MCU Peripherals & Signals | ADC, TripZone/GPIO | SPI/MCBSP | SPI/MCBSP |
| SwitcherWare Library Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Analogue Output | - | - | 0 to 5 V, 0 to 10 V, ±5 V, ±10 V |
| Analogue Input | ±20 to ±200 mA in 12 ranges |
0 to 10 V, ±2.5 V, ±5 V, ±10 V ±25 mA |
- |
| Supply Output | ±12 VDC | +10 VDC | - |
Digital Interface Modules
Module DIO005 is a general purpose interface for reading digital levels and driving loads.
| DIN001 | DIO005 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Digital input for incremental encoder | 8-channel digital input/output | |
| Typical Usage | Connect to quadrature/ incremental shaft encoder. |
Digital input from sensors, switches. Digital output to relays, actuators, indicators. |
|
| System Connector | 12-way pluggable screw terminal | 12-way pluggable screw terminal | |
| Module Isolation | Yes | Yes | |
| MCU Peripherals & Signals | EQEP, TripZone/GPIO | SPI | |
| SwitcherWare Library Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Digital Output | - | 8x current source, 0.5 A | |
| Digital Input |
A/A, B/B, Z/Z Fault/Fault |
8x current sink (IEC 61131-2) | |
| Supply Output | +5 VDC | - | |
| Supply Input | - | +11 to +34 VDC |
Fieldbus Interface Modules
Physical layer interfaces for common fieldbus protocols.
| NETCAN | NET485 | NET232 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Single-node daisy-chain fieldbus interface | Single-node daisy-chain fieldbus interface | Single-node fieldbus interface |
| Typical Usage | Physical layer interface for fieldbus based on CAN, e.g. CANopen, DeviceNet, etc. | Physical layer interface for fieldbus based on multi-drop RS-485, e.g. PROFIBUS, etc. | Physical layer interface for communications based on RS-232. |
| System Connector | 12-way pluggable screw terminal | 12-way pluggable screw terminal | 12-way pluggable screw terminal |
| Module Isolation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MCU Peripherals & Signals | ECAN | SCI, GPIO | SCI |
| Physical Layer | CAN (ISO 11898-2) | RS-485 | RS-232 |
| Bit Rate | Up to 1 Mbps | ≥10 Mbps | ≥115 kBaud |