TI maximizes digital TV energy efficiency in time for 2009 rollover

Digital liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs require 35 percent more power to operate than older cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs. Combining the LCD TV’s higher power requirements with LCD TV market growth will multiply the demand for power. According to iSuppli the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of LCD TVs, the fastest growing segment of Digital TVs, is 71.3 percent from 2002-2011 with 22.1 percent of that number comprising the years 2007-2011.

“TI strives to help our customers reduce energy consumption,” said Ted Thomas, power supply manager for Texas Instruments. “TI is creating solutions that help our customers save power through the whole design, from plug to point-of-load.”

Based on its previously announced UCC28060 PFC controller, TI’s new UCC28061 controller helps facilitate the thinnest LCD TVs by incorporating smaller electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters, smaller or fewer output capacitors and smaller boost inductor volume to result in thinner power supply designs. The dual-phase transition-mode operation helps lower overall system costs, and is simpler to design than previously used continuous conduction mode controllers.

The device has phase management and burst mode features, which provide excellent efficiency at various power levels, including standby mode. This efficiency makes the UCC28061 suitable to meet ENERGY STAR and 80 Plus efficiency standards. In addition, the dual power stage architecture makes thermal management easier by spreading the heat through more components.

The TPS54331 SWIFT DC/DC converter reduces the power consumption of LCD TV point-of-load circuit board designs. The device’s light-load increases energy efficiency by more than 25 percent compared to conventional DC/DC converters due to a novel Eco-mode™ switching technique, 110-µA operating current and low 1-µA shutdown current. The TPS54331 has a wide input range of 3.5 V to 28 V, an output voltage adjustable down to 0.8 V, and supplies up to 3-A output current, which provides ample power for the digital and analog circuit blocks of an LCD TV.