IR's IRMCK171 Control IC Receives IMQ Certification to Further Accelerate Design Time for Variable Speed Motor Applications

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — International Rectifier, IR® (NYSE: IRF), a world leader in power management technology, today announced that its IRMCK171 one-time programmable ROM-based monolithic mixed-signal IC for sensorless sinusoidal motor control of appliances meets the standards of IMQ (Italy) Annex R of IEC 60335-1 Edition 4.2 - Class B software requirements.

The new certification allows even further simplification and acceleration of the design process for home appliances using the IRMCK171 by reducing elements of the software testing process. The IMQ certification also enables customers to more easily obtain the safety standard of their appliance products which is a mandatory requirement for today's home appliance goods.

The IRMCK171, part of the iMOTION™ integrated design platform for variable speed motor control, incorporates IR's patented Motion Control Engine (MCETM), an algorithm editor that eliminates coding. A co-integrated 60MIPS, 8-bit, 8051 microcontroller enables application layer software development, operating almost independently of the MCE and does not compete for system resources such as interrupts or internal registers. The embedded Analog Signal Engine (ASE) integrates all the signal conditioning and conversion circuits required for single current shunt, sensorless control of a PM motor.

"Variable speed motor control in home appliances holds the key to significant energy savings. However, the design of the electronic control unit is complex. At the same time, designers must achieve high performance at relatively low cost for the high-volume market, desiring components with small form factors and a high level of integration to simplify manufacturing," said Alberto Guerra, Vice President, Strategic Market Development, IR's Energy Saving Products Business Unit.

He added: "IR's iMOTION platform consists of a development system, mixed-signal analog chipsets and power stages, that when co-designed together, simplify motor control designs and bring energy-efficient, cost-effective solutions to market faster. This platform provides a compelling argument for manufacturers to adopt permanent magnet variable-speed motor drives in home appliances, and with the IRMCK171, the design cycle and safety certification process can now be accelerated even further."

Learn more about the IRMCK171