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15 Qorvo 2021 Consumer demands for more power, reliability, functionality, and performance shape the rapid evolution of electronic devices—from lawnmowers, refrigerators, vacuums, automobiles, and more. Manufacturers are eager to deliver on all fronts. Motor control plays a chief role in making these promises, and understanding the fundamentals is the first step to getting there. The Different Motor Types Today, several motor control topologies—brushed, brushless DC (BLDC), stepper, and induction—are available. The two most closely related brushless motor types are BLDC and permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). Brushless motors have become very popular for many of today's applications because they eliminate the need for motor brushes. These BLDC topologies use commutation logic to move the rotor, making them more efficient and reliable. Let's examine in detail. You've Got the Power: 6 Essentials for Brushless DC Motor Control Figure 1: BLDC and PMSM motors generally use sinewave commutation (Source: Qorvo). Understanding BLDC and PMSM Type Motors BLDC and PMSM motors work on the principle of a synchronous motor. The rotor continues to pursue the stator at every commutation, so the motor continuously moves. However, these two DC-type motors have a different geometry of their stator winding, allowing them to produce different back-electromotive force (BEMF) responses. The BLDC BEFM is trapezoidal. The PMSM motor has a sinusoidal BEMF, so the coil windings are wound in a sinusoidal fashion. To maximize performance, these motors generally use sinewave commutation. BLDC and PMSM motors (Figure 1) generate BEMF by their windings when operated. In any motor, because of motion, the EMF produced is known as back-EMF (BEMF) because the EMF induced in the motor opposes the EMF of the generator.