Diagnostic mechanisms

The ESCx driver is equipped with a sophisticated set of self-diagnostics mechanisms, designed to cover the most problems without the need of external diagnostic tools. These are progressively sequenced at right times in order to find problems before they expand into hazardous consequences. The result is always encoded into driver error word. The diagnostics checks are usually scheduled:

1. at initialization,
2. in run-time,
3. on request.

A brief functional summary and namespace is presented below.

info

Please contact siliXcon for more information about functionality and diagnostic coverage.

Pre-init

Scheduling	Conditions	Procedure	Output
At initialization.	None. Runs every time.	Set-up/checks controller power supplies / DC state.	Returns current controller powering supply (several variants).

Level A

Scheduling	Conditions	Procedure	Output
At initialization.	Pre-init was successful. Motor can be connected or disconnected, rotating or stationary.	Basic power-stage diagnostics.	Determines the state which the motor is in and the basic biases of measurement circuitry. Rough-but sufficient calibration data.

Stage 0

• Only measurements, no FET switching - passive. No coil is energized.
• Inferred whether motor is rotating, disconnected or steady.

Stage 1

• Makes both measurements and minimal FET switching - active. No coil is energized.
• It outputs calibration data.

Level B

Scheduling	Conditions	Procedure	Output
At initialization.	Level A was successful. Motor can be connected or disconnected, but if connected, must be stationary.	Detailed power-stage diagnostics.	Precise calibration data.

Stage 0

• Only measurements, no FET switching - passive. No coil is energized.
• There is no calibration output from this stage.

Stage 1

• Makes both measurements and FET switching. No coil is energized.
• There is no calibration output from this stage.

stage 2

• Makes both measurements and FET switching. No coil is energized.
• There is rigorous calibration output from this stage.

Level C

Scheduling	Conditions	Procedure	Output
On request	Motor must be connected and stationary.	Most detailed power stage testing.	Motor diagnostic with coil energizing. Motor parameters measurement.

This level has been superseded with motor identification routines - motor identification data (parameters).

Level R

Scheduling	Conditions	Procedure	Output
Run time.	Driver must be initialized.	Constant power stage monitor.	Short circuit protection, critical under/overvoltage protection and voltage sweep rate protection.