The IOPT-Flow Modeling Framework Applied to Power Electronics Controllers

The input-output place-transition (IOPT)-flow modeling framework was created to support the design of mixed embedded system controllers containing both reactive and data-driven parts, combining Petri net and dataflow elements. The reactive parts, whose evolution depends on external events, are modeled using Petri nets. Data manipulation operations that process input signals and events are expressed using dataflows. The framework is composed by a Web-based tool-chain including a graphical editor, a simulator, and automatic code generation tools to produce C and VHDL controller implementations. To demonstrate the language and the related tools, an example of a closed-loop brushless dc servo motor controller is presented. A prototype using the automatic generated VHDL code was implemented on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) board.