TI introduces next-generation digital power controller for isolated power supplies

Digital control capabilities allow designers to do more with their power systems, including re-usability of hardware designs across multiple platforms and the versatility to fine-tune performance and control parameters for each application, allowing faster time to market. To enable this, the UCD3138 combines a powerful 32-bit microprocessor, high-speed precision data converters, multiple programmable hardware control loops and various communication engines in a small 6-mm x 6-mm package.

Key features and benefits of the UCD3138:
• Boosts peak and light load efficiency: The device features several control functions to increase efficiency, including sync-FET soft on-off control, dynamic phase shedding, dynamic frequency adjustment and dynamic mode switching
• Supports all isolated power supply topologies: The controller supports single-phase, two-phase interleaved, or bridgeless power factor correction, hard-switching full-bridge, phase-shifted full-bridge, resonant LLC and other topologies.
• Integrates all essential protection features: The device implements peak current mode control, cycle-by-cycle peak current limiting, high-speed input voltage feed-forward, over-voltage, over-current and over-temperature protection.

Easy-to-use GUI and development tools
Designers will have easy access to several digital power development tools including full-voltage and feature-rich evaluation modules, development kits, reference designs, application firmware source code, programmer’s manuals and the Code Composer Studio™ software development environment. TI’s Fusion Digital Power Designer graphical user interface (GUI) software tool provides flexible configuration of key power parameters, as well as telemetry, logging, and communication functions. A broad range of hardware design tools, such as control card and open-loop evaluation modules, are available to select customers. In addition TI offers easy-to-use development kits and reference designs, including:

• Development kits:
o UCD3138PFCEVM-026: Universal input, 400-Vout AC/DC PFC development kit, configurable into single- or two-phase interleaved and bridgeless topologies
o UCD3138PSFBEVM-027: 400-Vin/12-Vout DC/DC phase-shifted full bridge
o UCD3138LLCEVM-028: 400-Vin/12-Vout DC/DC half-bridge resonant LLC
o UCD3138HSFBEVM-029: 48-Vin/12-Vout DC/DC hard-switching full-bridge
• Reference designs:
o Universal input, 12-Vout 600-W AC/DC reference design (PFC plus LLC, and PFC plus phase-shifted full-bridge)
o 48-Vin/12-Vout 1/8 brick DC/DC reference design (hard-switching full bridge)

Broad digital power portfolio
TI provides a complete range of analog and digital power management and MCU-optimized solutions to meet any digital power design requirement. TI’s digital power controllers include the UCD3K family for isolated power supplies and UCD9K family for non-isolated point-of-load designs. TI’s analog protection and system management controllers, such as the LM5064 and LM5066, as well as the TPS40400 and TPS40422 analog PWM controllers, integrate a PMBus™ digital communication interface, offering configurability, telemetry and monitoring capabilities. Finally, TI’s fully programmable TMS320F28x MCUs support a multitude of power and energy-related applications, offering versatility and performance.

Availability and pricing
The UCD3138 is sampling now with volume production expected in the second quarter. It comes in a thermally enhanced 40-pin, 6-mm x 6-mm QFN package and supports a temperature range of -40C to 125C. Suggested resale pricing is $2.70 in 1,000-unit quantities. A 64-pin, 9-mm x 9-mm QFN version of the UCD3138 is priced at $4.10 in 1,000-unit quantities.