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Imperix Ltd
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Imperix - Model B-BOX RCP 3.0 - Rapid Control Prototyping System

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The ultimate DSP+FPGA rapid prototyping controller for power electronics; The B-Box is a rapid control prototyping (RCP) system for power electronic applications. Thanks to the high flexibility of its software and hardware, it facilitates the experimental validation of power converters control techniques. The system is fully programmable, including both its DSP and FPGA, so that even the most advanced control algorithms can be effectively tested in a laboratory environment. The RCP controller also supports real-time monitoring and debugging.
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System on chip: Xilinx Zynq XC7Z030-3FBG676E
Digital outputs: 16x Electrical (3.3V/5.0V)
DSP / Processing cores: 2x ARM Cortex A9 1GHz; 1GB DDR3
Digital inputs: 16x Electrical (3.3V/5.0V)
FPGAs: Xilinx Kintex 7 125K (user programmable); Xilinx Artix 7 35T (auxiliary)
Fault inputs: 16x Electrical (3.3V); 1x Electrical interlock; 1x Optical interlock
Analog inputs: 16x 16bits @ 500ksps; Simultaneous sampling; Programmable full-differential front-end
Incremental decoder inputs: 4x 3-pins (A,B,Z); (shared with GPI inputs)
PWM outputs: 16x Optical; 32x Electrical (3.3V)
Communication: 1x CAN;1x Ethernet 1 Gbps; 3x SFP+ 5Gbps (RealSync)
User High-speed I/Os: 36x Electrical (3.3V)

The RCP controller target supports the implementation and real-time tuning of the most advanced digital control techniques for power converters. This requires not only excellent performance but also a high level of flexibility and ease of use.

Integrated with Simulink and PLECS
Simulink

The B-Box RCP prototyping controller can be programmed using C/C++, or simulation software such as Simulink or PLECS. Thanks to our fully-automated code generation toolchain, just one single click is needed to fully program the device!

The blocksets also embed simulation models so that the system can be accurately simulated and tuned before code is generated.

Absolutely no expertise in FPGA-based development is needed to work with the B-Box RCP. It operates readily with a very flexible and entirely configurable FPGA firmware.

Nevertheless, for the advanced users who require rapid control prototyping to involve custom FPGA code, the RCP target allows doing so. Dedicated FPGA areas are provided, with straightforward integration with DSP software.

FPGA
User-programmable FPGA
Schematic view of the FPGA firmware inside the rapid prototyping controller.
High processing power
Simulink

The B-Box RCP uses a dual-core processor (Xilinx Zynq). One DSP core is dedicated to the real-time control tasks (bare metal, dedicated kernel), the other one to the system supervision and monitoring (Linux). Most low-level tasks are also shifted in FPGA.

This results in the full dedication of a fast floating-point processor (DSP) to power converter control purposes, with tremendous performance, ranging up to 400 kHz control frequencies in closed-loop operation.

When the number of I/Os provided by one RCP control target turns out to be insufficient, several units can be stacked together, up to a maximum of 64 units (1024 analog inputs and 2048 PWM outputs).

In stacked configurations, all units are naturally synchronized with an accuracy of ±2 ns (!) thanks to imperix’s RealSync technology. This allows using all I/Os as if they simply belonged to the same controller hardware!

FPGA
Stackable design
Hardware-level protection
Operation of the hardware protections on the rapid prototyping controller.
Simulink

In case of inappropriate operation, the controller instantly blocks its PWM signals, thanks to dedicated hardware protection circuits. This guarantees excellent protection, entirely independently from both the DSP cores and the FPGA.

The B-Box RCP prototyping controller is also self-protected against inappropriate conditions such as excessive computational burden or algorithmic errors.

Each rapid prototyping controller possesses 16 fully configurable analog input channels. This obviates the need to repeatedly develop signal conditioning interfaces for every project. Each input channel features:

  • 3k? differential voltage input or 100? single-ended current-type input.
  • Programmable safety thresholds.
  • Programmable gain amplifier and low-pass filter