The USB Energy Supply (PD) normal continues to evolve. The newest USB PD 3.2 specification now helps sourcing and sinking as much as 240 W (48 V, 5 A). This text will focus on the primary tendencies in USB PD and discover why implementing USB-C in 2024 is not thought-about an innovation, however a very good strategy to staying aggressive with new designs. Lastly, the article will present an outline of a supply and sink answer that helps 240 W utilizing Infineon’s primary- and secondary-side controllers, EZ-PD™ PMG1 excessive voltage microcontrollers with built-in USB-C PD and Infineon’s CoolGaN™ energy transistors.
USB is at the moment a well-recognised set of requirements in shopper and automotive functions and is quickly increasing into the commercial and e-mobility sectors. Beginning with the primary official USB 1.0 revision in 1996, which supported as much as 1.5 Mbps information switch and as much as 2.5 W of energy, it has advanced to assist an unimaginable 80 Gbps and 240 W via a single USB-C cable. However, about half of all of Arrow’s sales space guests at a latest present, had been stunned to study that USB requirements already assist 240 W.
USB Kind-C connector
Let’s dive deeper into the main points of the USB Kind-C normal connector. The large benefit of this connector is that the interface is plug-agnostic on account of its symmetrical design – it features no matter which manner it’s linked. This connector helps energy supply as much as 240 W and accommodates protocols like HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, and others via its Alternate Mode, referred to as Alt Mode. These options collectively have had important affect on the business.
Trying on the connector pins, proven in Determine 1, the CC1 and CC2 pins – referred to as cable configuration pins – are used to regulate the orientation and decide their roles: Downstream Dealing with Port (DFP) for the supply energy function, Upstream Dealing with Port (UFP) for the sink function, and Twin-Position Port (DRP) for each supply and sink roles. One other operate of the CC pins is to facilitate information switch when negotiating Energy Supply contracts between the supply and sink.
4 differential pairs labelled RX/TX for USB 5 Gbps or increased speeds, had been used beginning with USB 3.1. These strains function in full duplex mode, whereas the 2 pairs of legacy pins, D+/D-, situated within the centre, function in half duplex mode. Pins labelled as SBU, or SideBand Use, are utilised for Alt Modes, akin to enabling video output for DisplayPort or Thunderbolt. The VBUS pins are used to ship energy as much as 240 W. All 4 exterior floor (GND) pins are supposed for grounding. Correct grounding is important for USB-C at excessive information charges and in circumstances of high-power supply over the connector.
USB Energy Supply specification
Taking a deep dive into the USB Energy Supply normal, as talked about earlier, the preliminary variations of the USB normal allowed the utmost energy of two.5 W (5 V@500mA) over VBUS. With USB 3.0, this elevated barely to 4.5 W (5 V@900mA), nevertheless it was nonetheless not ample for a lot of functions.
With the introduction of USB Kind-C and Energy Supply in 2014, the USB energy capabilities had been considerably elevated. By default, with the technique of the USB Kind-C, the utmost energy accessible elevated to fifteen W (5V@3A). With the total implementation of the USB PD, it turned attainable to ship as much as 100 W (20V@5A) from a single USB supply.
Ranging from the USB Energy Supply 3.1, the specification permits for as much as 240 W (48V@5A). All voltage ranges increased than 20 V are actually categorised as Prolonged Energy Vary (EPR). The specification additionally consists of assist for an Adjustable Voltage Provide (AVS) mode, which permits the voltage to be adjusted in steps of 100 mV for voltages above 15 V.
Market tendencies evolution
USB is an virtually 30-year-old normal, however essentially the most important enhancements in pace and energy capabilities had been noticed only recently. Over the past eight years, USB-C has been adopted by mainstream system producers, akin to laptop computer and smartphone makers.
Now, most laptops function not less than one USB-C port. Moreover, many different cell units have switched to USB-C, alongside a noticeable improve in USB-C energy adapters available on the market. Concurrently, automotive producers have added extra USB-C ports of their automobiles to supply enhanced charging choices for drivers and passengers. Following this pattern, the adoption of USB-C within the embedded and industrial sectors is anticipated to extend considerably within the subsequent few years.
The imaginative and prescient for 2025 and past is that many digital units, at the moment powered at as much as 240 W, will undertake USB-C as a typical port for information communications and charging.
Among the many key components additional driving USB adoption are the race in battery applied sciences, the shift to industrial functions, and the rising worldwide acceptance of USB. Native rules may even have a big influence: USB Kind-C and USB PD will change into obligatory throughout all European Union nations for a lot of functions by the tip of 2024. Comparable discussions are at the moment underway within the USA and different nations.
Following these tendencies these days isn’t nearly staying on the slicing fringe of expertise — it has change into an necessary aggressive function that secures a place out there. However what are the primary benefits of the expertise driving such speedy adoption of the usual in recent times?
Key expertise drivers
Mixed information and energy functionality: some of the necessary drivers of USB-C’s quick development is its skill to transmit high-speed information, video, and energy via a single, slim connector. This function permits the design of smaller and thinner units.
Unification and reuse benefit: Conventional energy adapters include mounted voltage and present ranges and sometimes function distinctive barrel connectors, which implies they’ll solely be used with their supposed system. Such adapters are sometimes not suitable with different units.
In distinction, USB-C energy adapters are universally suitable, providing a USB Kind-C connector that works throughout many units. Furthermore, with the 240 W USB PD adapter, it’s attainable to barter voltages and currents as much as 240 W (48 V @5 A). This allows charging any USB system as much as 240 W, together with 5 V or 15 V units, 45 W telephones, and 160 W laptops. Even your future units, e.g. energy device, e-Bike or shopper 3D printer might be doubtlessly charged utilizing the identical adapter. A single USB energy adapter can be utilized to cost many units, thereby saving prices for customers.
Saving R&D and manufacturing prices: custom-made energy provides, whether or not built-in or utilizing a custom-made connector, typically require further investments in design, manufacturing, and testing, particularly when manufacturing portions aren’t very excessive.
Adoption of USB-C energy adapter as a substitute of a customized energy provide together with applicable Infineon USB-C PD controller to sink energy will assist to lower the fee per watt ratio. It will naturally occur as a result of enormous competitors amongst chargers’ producers on the mass market.
Bettering time-to-market: along with the upper prices for the exterior or embedded charger design, custom-made options typically require far more time for R&D and additional checks. Whereas the easy sink USB implementation together with the licensed USB charger permits quicker time to market in most of utility circumstances.
Lowering dependence from OEMs: one other scenario arises when the facility provide or built-in AC/DC energy module comes from an OEM producer. On this case, the way forward for the challenge could extremely rely on the third- get together’s manufacturing plans. As soon as the USB sink operate is carried out, all licensed USB adapters with related energy capabilities from the buyer market might be used, thus decreasing dependence on a single OEM provider.
E-waste discount: at first look, it will not be evident, however the unification of chargers has a big influence on environmental safety. Whereas every particular person charger is small, the environmental penalties are substantial when contemplating the hundreds of thousands of chargers discarded every year.
Bettering model notion: the truth that the design firm retains up with tendencies all the time provides further enchantment to your potential prospects. Think about how you’d really feel if your organization purchased fashionable and costly measurement gear that got here with a CD for putting in drivers and the software program instruments.
USB Kind-C connector: moreover all of the USB driving components and benefits talked about beforehand, an important function itself was the introduction of the 24-pin USB Kind-C connector in 2014 (see Determine 1).
240 W USB PD sink reference design
Following the newest tendencies within the business, Arrow and Infineon launched the brand new 240 W PD 3.1 sink reference design utilizing Infineon’s EZ-PD™ PMG1-S3 excessive voltage microcontroller supposed to assist excessive energy USB functions. The brand new reference design helps as much as 48V@5. A Energy Supply Object (PDO) sink mode, which is the very best degree achievable with the newest USB PD requirements.
The reference design additional extends the prevailing energy sink capabilities of Infineon’s EZ-PD™ PMG1 household of high-voltage microcontrollers from 140 W to 240 W, which is necessary for a lot of power-demanding and fast-charging functions.
This 240 W sink reference design board REF_ARIF240WS3, proven in Determine 4, enhances the not too long ago launched Infineon’s USB PD 3.1 supply analysis board REF_XDPS2222_240W1. This mixture permits engineers to be among the many first available on the market with an entire 240 W USB PD 3.1 source-sink answer.
Infineon’s 240 W USB PD supply reference design
The complementary design for 240 W energy supply, Infineon’s REF_XDPS2222_240W1 primarily based on CoolGaN™ expertise, is a excessive effectivity form-factor USB PD 3.1 reference design, with 25 W/in³ energy density, utilizing the XDP™ digital energy XDPS2222 PFC + hybrid flyback (HFB) combo IC (Determine 5).
The interior handshaking between the PFC and HFB controller and the adaptive bus voltage setting make the XDP™ XDPS2222 controller excellent for functions with extensive AC enter and really extensive output voltage vary, akin to USB PD prolonged energy vary (EPR) adapters and battery chargers. The primary options, embody HFB ZVS high- and low-side operation, quick response HFB peak present management, harmonised PFC and HFB operations, pulse skipping at mild hundreds, automated PFC allow/disable management, and self-adjusting PFC bus voltage degree.
These reference designs are supposed to assist a broad vary of functions, like mild electrical automobiles (e-bikes, e-scooters and different private e-mobility units), drones, cell robots, 3D printers, skilled AV gear, energy instruments, medical gear, residence home equipment, residence leisure units, and extra.
However typically, any utility requiring 0 to 240 W may gain advantage from adopting USB-C for energy, and the excellent options of USB PD supplied by these superior designs.
Supporting companies
Each reference designs can be found on request. Along with technical assist, Arrow gives a variety of technical assist companies, together with schematic customisation and PCB modifications, serving to to maximise the potential of consumers’ designs and scale back time-to-market. Scan the beneath QR Code, for extra data.