Primary DC/DC converters are optimised for ADAS
There are 12 automotive primary DC/DC converters in the BD9P series from Rohm Semiconductor. The devices are optimised for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) sensors, cameras and radar systems, as well as car infotainment and instrument clusters.
Designers using conventional power supply ICs can find it difficult to achieve both fast load responses to ensure stable operation and high efficiency in power conversion, says Rohm. This balance is needed to save energy in the vehicle’s system.
The BD9P DC/DC converters are offered in 3.3V, 5.0V or variable output voltages to support a wide range of circuits. They use Nano Pulse Control technology which enables high speed operation at 2.2MHz that will not interfere with the AM radio band (1.84MHz max) while achieving high step-down ratio, continues the company..
The BD9P series ensures stable operation during battery input voltage fluctuation, reducing output overshoot to less than 1/10th that of conventional products. This eliminates the need for additional output capacitors typically required to reduce overshoot voltages. Adopting a new control method makes it possible to achieve both, high efficiency and fast load response to achieve 92 per cent power conversion efficiency at heavy loads (at 1A output current), and 85 per cent efficiency at light loads (1mA). These characteristics produce a level of efficiency across the entire load which reduces power consumption, and reduces CO2 emissions to lower the parasitic discharge of the battery.
Target applications are ADAS engine control units (ECUs), sensors, cameras, and radar systems, car infotainment, instrument clusters, body control modules (BCMs) and any automotive applications requiring high efficiency, superior reliability and smaller form factors, advises Rohm.
When combined with secondary DC/DC converters cascaded to the subsequent stage, users can configure faster, more efficient automotive power supply circuits, claims Rohm.
Reference designs are also available. The company offers reference boards, tools, and its free web simulation tool – Rohm Solution Simulator. These allow designers to perform simulations close to actual conditions.
The DC/DC converters are in mass production now.
