Nexperia’s transformer drivers improve efficiency and performance

These AEC-Q100 qualified drivers are designed for creating compact, low-noise, and low-EMI isolated power supplies, ideal for a variety of automotive applications such as traction inverters, motor control systems, DC-DC converters, battery management systems, and on-board chargers in electric vehicles (EVs). Additionally, they are suitable for use in industrial sectors like telecommunications, medical devices, instrumentation, industrial automation, solar inverters, energy meters, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

The NXF650x(A/B)-Q100 series drives low-profile, centre-tapped transformers from a 2.25V to 5.5V power supply with a high output current of up to 1.2A at 5V and an efficiency of up to 90%. Designed to support small form factor designs, the drivers feature an internal oscillator – operating at 440kHz for the NXF6501 and NXF6505B models, and 160kHz for the NXF6505A – as well as a gate drive circuit that produces complementary signals to control internal ground-referenced n-channel power switches. For enhanced precision, the NXF6505A and NXF6505B models also allow the use of an external clock signal, enabling precise control of switching harmonics and synchronization across multiple devices.

To minimise electromagnetic interference (EMI) and deliver ultra-low noise, the NXF650x(A/B)-Q100 series incorporates slew rate control and spread-spectrum clocking (SSC). This is crucial for applications where noise reduction and EMI compliance are essential.

Safety and protection are key features of this new series. The drivers are equipped with comprehensive protection mechanisms, including over-current protection (1.7A) with hiccup mode, under-voltage lockout, thermal shutdown, and break-before-make circuitry. These features ensure safe operation, even under challenging conditions. Additionally, the soft-start function (approximately 5ms) prevents high inrush currents during power-up, especially when large load capacitors are involved. The fail-safe input feature further enhances reliability by preventing back-powering of the local power supply, eliminating the need for power sequence management.

The NXF650x(A/B)-Q100 series is available in compact industry-standard packages, such as the 5-pin SOT8098 (TSOT5) and 6-pin SOT8061 (TSOT6), making them easy to integrate into designs. They are capable of operating safely within a wide ambient temperature range, from -55 to 125°C, making them suitable for a broad array of environments.