Buck converter IC has intelligent, adaptive power sharing

Believed to be the first buck converter IC available which features intelligent, adaptive power sharing, the SZPL3002A reduces component count and simplifies power sharing in multi-port fast chargers, said Silanna Semiconductor.The buck converter IC has a built-in USB PD / FC port controller which will “significantly reduce the number of components needed to implement 65W fast charger and adapter applications with up to four ports” according to the company.
The company’s AnyPort architecture integrates a synchronous buck converter and advanced port controller into a single QFN package which measures 5.0 x 5.0mm.
The IC is based on the company’s wide voltage, high frequency PoL (point of load) DC/DC converter technology, which operates with efficiencies in excess of 98 per cent. The integrated port controller supports USB PD V3.0 Type C interfaces and QC2.0 / 3.0 / 4.0 / 5.0 support for Type A/C connections. Power sharing and port power re-balancing across two, three or four ports ensures that port power adapts to the needs of a particular device, irrespective of when connections are made, explained Silanna.
There are five, selectable pre-loaded power contract configurations so OEMs can use a single device across multiple product designs. Power re-balancing allocates under-used power on previously connected ports, while protective power throttling automatically reduces current when temperature thresholds are reached.
Hubie Noto, Silanna Semiconductor’s director of product marketing commented: “Traditional charger PD ports offer a selection of fixed contracts to a device based on available power. These are programmed into the port controller and are based on various voltage and current levels a device might use when connecting. Each port has different power contracts for different power. The SZPL3002A offers one fully programmable contract set plus four pre-programmed sets that are chosen with an external resistor value.”
“This . . . is the world’s first [power IC] to feature intelligent power sharing using a fully integrated USB-PD controller, MCU and VCONN cable communications protocol within this . . . DC/DC buck converter,” said Mark Drucker, CEO of Silanna Semiconductor.
Silanna’s DC/DC portfolio comprises high voltage, high efficiency, wide input integrated buck converters that offer selectable switching frequencies and   features to optimise performance in USB port power supply applications. Low operating power dissipation enables low no-load power while a momentary internal feedback path allows for clean and well-controlled start-up operation until external USB-PD controllers can bias themselves and take over control of the output voltage.

SZPL3002A devices are being sampled to key accounts and will be fully released in the second half of 2022.
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