Power Brick Controller User Manual
Special Functions & Troubleshooting
175
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS & TROUBLESHOOTING
Step and Direction, PFM Output
The Power Brick Controller has the capability of generating step and
direction output signals – a.k.a. PFM (Pulse Frequency Modulation) – for
general purpose usage or control of external devices such as stepper
amplifiers. The maximum pulse frequency and minimum pulse width are
typically provided by the third party device manufacturer.
The step and direction outputs are RS422 compatible, +5 VDC level, and
could be connected in either differential or single-ended configuration.
These PFM signals are generated out of the X1 – X8 encoder connectors,
not to confuse them with the motor output connectors AMP1 – AMP8.
Pins #5, 6, 13, and 14 of the encoder feedback connectors (X1 – X8) share three different functions: only
one of these functions (per channel) can be used – configured in software – at one time:
Pulse and direction PFM output signals.
TUVW hall flag inputs.
Serial Encoder input.
Note
Each channel is independent of the other channels and can have its
own use for these pins.
Most common usage of the PFM output signals:
Manual modulation (from HMI or PLC, e.g. Laser modulation).
Controlling an external stepper amplifier/motor.
Common Channel Settings for PFM Output. Example: Channel 1
DIGITAL GND
E
xt
ern
a
l S
tep
p
er
A
m
p
lif
ier
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
PowerBrick[0].Chan[0].PackOutData = 0
// Unpack Output Data
PowerBrick[0].Chan[0].OutputMode = PowerBrick[0].Chan[0].OutputMode | $8
// Force D PFM
PowerBrick[0].Chan[0].PfmFormat = 0
// =0 PFM, =1 Quadrature
PowerBrick[0].Chan[0].PfmDirPol = 0
// Non-Inverted
PowerBrick[0].Chan[0].OutFlagD = 1
// =0 for halls, =1 for PFM
