> What's the difference between "standard PWM" and "motor control
PWM"?
> I mean, does the latter gives any important advantage for PWM
> applications in general (motor related or *not*)?

If you were to look at a single PWM pin on a scope, there would be little
difference. What makes this module more than a standard (PIC16 style)
PWM is the complementary outputs with deadband and that there are
multiple PWM's working from a common timer and as a unified system.

The complementary outputs allow you to drive a half bridge and the
deadband prevents current flowing through both power devices at the same
time. Since the deadband can be controlled by software, that saves using
external components to do the same thing.

Having multiple PWM's connected together allows you to generate 3 sine
waves (for example), all at the same frequency but at different phases. This
is exactly what is needed for certain types of motor control. They have also
catered for faults, again saving external hardware.

Steve.

==========================================
Steve Baldwin                          Electronic Product Design
TLA Microsystems Ltd             Microcontroller Specialists
PO Box 15-680, New Lynn                http://www.tla.co.nz
Auckland, New Zealand                     ph  +64 9 820-2221
email: steve@tla.co.nz                      fax +64 9 820-1929
=========================================

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