Controllers Take On Complex Power Systems

Oct 1, 2006 12:00 PM
By David Morrison, Editor, Power Electronics Technology

Samples of the F28044 controller are available today, with volume production beginning in the first quarter of 2007. For more information, see www.ti.com/f28044.

To support the F28044 controller, TI is offering the TMS320F28044 eZdsp Starter Kit (TMDXEZS28044) development platform, which is available for $495 from TI's authorized distributors and at www.ti.com/f28044ezdsp. The eZdsp kit includes hardware tools and TI's comprehensive Code Composer Studio integrated development environment (IDE) to get designers programming the F28044 quickly and easily. Along with the F28044 eZdsp, TI also offers a dc-dc module from Tier Electronics. This hardware platform, available for $295 directly from Tier at www.tierelectronics.com, is targeted for dual phase-shifted full-bridge topologies and connects easily to the F28044 eZdsp development kit.

Reporting Dissipation More Accurately

Intersil recently introduced a family of core controllers to meet the power requirements of Intel's next-generation (Core Duo and Core 2 Duo) mobile platform. These devices — the ISL6260C, ISL6261A and ISL6262A — offer improved accuracy in power dissipation reporting and achieve fast transient response and high efficiency using the company's R³ (Robust Ripple Regulator) technology.

These core controllers report the CPU power consumption through a highly accurate continuous analog output signal. Compared with conventional controllers, Intersil's R³ controllers stabilize current flow and allow less time between wave peaks in a regulator circuit.

“The ability to report power dissipation to the CPU is an important step towards optimizing the operation of the CPU and enhancing overall efficiency and battery usage, as well as overall system thermal performance,” says Majid Kafi, director of Intersil's Notebook Power products group. “Intersil's new family of controllers also offers flexible solutions for customers who are transitioning from Intel Napa platforms to the Santa Rosa platform. They can use their similar layout and still have the improved performance that our new controllers offer.”

“Improved efficiency and faster transient response,” Kafi explains, “will result from being able to use higher tolerance inductors in dc resistance measurement settings and reduce the total cost.”

To boost battery life, the ISL6260C, ISL6261A and ISL6262A support DPRSLRVR (deeper sleep) functions and maximize efficiency by automatically changing operation modes. At heavy loads in the active mode, these controllers command the continuous-conduction mode operation. When the CPU enters a deeper sleep mode, the controllers enable diode emulation to maximize the efficiency at light loads.

The ISL6260C multiphase controller implements a 3-phase power solution, but requires an external gate driver such as the ISL6208. The ISL6262A has two integrated drivers and powers CPUs at up to 44 A. The ISL6260C and ISL6262A are also able to add and drop phases for improved efficiency and flexibility. The ISL6261A offers single-phase operation with an internal driver for low-voltage/ultralow-voltage applications up to 25 A of CPU current.

Other features include enhanced load line accuracy; 0.5% system accuracy over temperature; user-programmable switching frequency; and a 7-bit VID input. The controllers also support multiple current sensing techniques, perform remote voltage sensing differentially, and provide a CPU power monitor.

The ISL6260C is available now in a 40-lead, 6-mm × 6-mm QFN and is priced at $3.25 each. The ISL6261A is available now in a 40-lead, 6-mm × 6-mm QFN or 48-lead, 7-mm × 7-mm QFN and is priced at $3.50 each. The ISL6262A is available now in a 48-lead, 7-mm × 7-mm QFN and is priced at $3.75 each. All prices are in 1000-unit quantities. For more information, see www.intersil.com.

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