Industry’s First Functionally Isolated Modulators

The isolated modulators improve motor control in small robots, making them more accurate, reliable, and compact for use in automation, EVs, medical devices, and aerospace.

Texas Instruments (TI) has introduced the industry’s first functionally isolated modulators designed to improve motor control in compact robotics. The new AMC0106M05, AMC0136, and AMC0106M25 isolated modulators enhance precision and resolution, achieving 12 to 14 adequate numbers of bits (ENOB) for accurate phase current and DC voltage sensing. Housed in a small leadless package, these additions to TI’s isolated analog-to-digital converter (ADC) portfolio enable smooth torque operation and fine motor control while reducing size and cost in low-voltage (<60V) robotics.

This product is suitable for robotics engineers, industrial automation designers, and embedded system developers. It also benefits EV and battery management engineers for reliable measurements, medical device designers for fine control in robotic instruments, and aerospace and defence engineers requiring high-performance, space-efficient solutions.

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As robots take on increasingly detailed tasks, engineers need precise motor control in compact designs. TI’s galvanically isolated modulators help achieve this by improving accuracy and system protection in smaller robotics. Their compact size—just 3.5mm x 2.7mm—reduces board space by 50% compared to competing reinforced isolation solutions. This space-saving design allows for additional features that enhance precision and reliability in robotics, enabling tasks such as threading a needle or handling small components.

Some of the key features of the isolated modulators

• Linear input voltage range: ±50mV
• High CMTI: 150V/ns (min)
• Missing high-side supply detection
• Low EMI: Meets CISPR-11 and CISPR-25 standards
• Operating temperature range: –40°C to +125°C (fully specified for industrial applications)

“These modulators from TI enable designers to increase robotics accuracy and productivity in new use cases and smaller form factors, from the factory floor to the operating room,” said Karthik Vasanth, vice president and general manager of Data Converters and Clocks at TI. “For example, where humanoid robots could previously only complete simple tasks, our new functionally isolated modulators now allow them to carry out more dexterous and precise jobs.”