Glossary

A

ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) : A circuit or device that converts a continuous analog signal (e.g., voltage from a sensor) into a discrete digital value that can be processed by a microcontroller or digital system.

ASI (Accelerated Systems Inc.) : The company name. ASI, an initialism, prounced as letters A, S, I.

B

BACDoor® : ASI's proprietary software suite used for configuring, tuning, and diagnosing ASI motor controllers.

BMS (Battery Management System) : An electronic system that monitors and manages a rechargeable battery pack to ensure its safety, performance, and longevity.

Bus Voltage : The main DC voltage level in the power system of the controller, typically supplied by the battery.

C

CAN (Controller Area Network) : A robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other's applications without a host computer.

CANopen : A higher-layer communication protocol based on CAN, often used in automation and motion control applications.

Commutation : The process of switching current in motor phases to generate continuous torque.

Current : The flow of electrical charge, typically measured in Amperes (A).

D

DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) : A circuit or device that converts a digital value into a continuous analog signal.

d-q axis (Direct-Quadrature Axis) : The rotating reference frame used in Field Oriented Control (FOC) to simplify the control of AC motors.

E

EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) : Disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction.

Encoder : An electromechanical device that converts motion (e.g., rotation of a motor shaft) into electrical signals, used for position and speed feedback.

ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) : The sudden flow of electricity between two electrically charged objects caused by contact, an electrical short, or dielectric breakdown.

F

Field Oriented Control (FOC) : A motor control technique that independently controls the torque-producing and flux-producing components of stator current in AC motors.

Field Weakening : A motor control technique used to achieve speeds above the motor's rated speed by reducing the magnetic field.

Firmware : Permanent software programmed into a read-only memory or flash memory of a hardware device, providing low-level control for the device's specific hardware.

H

Hall Sensor : A transducer that varies its output voltage in response to a magnetic field, often used for determining rotor position in brushless motors.

I

Inductance : The property of an electrical conductor by which a change in current through it induces an electromotive force (voltage) in both the conductor itself (self-inductance) and in any nearby conductors (mutual inductance).

M

Modbus : A serial communication protocol widely used for transmitting information over serial lines between electronic devices.

Motor Controller : An electronic device that governs the performance of an electric motor, managing aspects like speed, torque, direction, and power.

Motor Current : The overall electrical current drawn by the motor from the controller, typically measured in Amperes (A). It is a key parameter in motor control and performance.

N

Node ID : A unique identifier assigned to a device on a communication network, such as CANopen.

P

Parameter Dictionary : A collection of all configurable parameters within a device, often used in the context of software tools like BACDoor®.

PDO (Process Data Object) : In CANopen, a type of message used for real-time data transfer with minimal overhead.

Phase Current : The electrical current flowing through one of the phases (windings) of an electric motor.

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) : Equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) : A modulation technique used to control the power delivered to electrical devices, typically motors, by varying the duty cycle of a pulsed signal.

R

Regenerative Braking : An energy recovery mechanism that slows down a vehicle or motor by converting its kinetic energy or potential energy into electrical energy, which is then returned to the battery or power source.

Resolver : An electromechanical device similar to an encoder, used for determining rotor position, often favored in harsh environments.

RMS (Root Mean Square) : A statistical measure of the magnitude of a varying quantity, often used to specify AC voltage or current values.

RS485 : A standard defining the electrical characteristics of drivers and receivers for use in serial communications systems. It is often used for robust data transmission over long distances and in noisy environments.

S

SDO (Service Data Object) : In CANopen, a type of message used for accessing and configuring entries in a device's object dictionary (parameters).

Sensorless Control : A motor control technique that estimates rotor position without using physical position sensors like encoders or Hall sensors.

SOC (State of Charge) : The level of charge of a battery relative to its capacity, typically expressed as a percentage.

Speed Control : A mode of motor operation where the controller attempts to maintain a target speed.

T

Torque Control : A mode of motor operation where the controller attempts to maintain a target torque output.

TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) : A class of digital circuits built from bipolar junction transistors (BJT) and resistors. It often refers to logic level signaling used in digital electronics, typically operating at 5 Volts.

U

UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter) : A hardware communication protocol that translates data between parallel and serial forms. It is commonly used for serial communication between a computer or microcontroller and peripheral devices.

V

Voltage : The electric potential difference between two points, typically measured in Volts (V).

W

Walk Mode : A feature, often in e-bikes, that provides low-speed motor assistance to make it easier to walk alongside the bike.