Page 57 - EE Times Europe Magazine | March 2020

EE|Times EUROPE 57

POWER MANAGEMENT
Isolated Power Transfer in an SOIC Package

By Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio

n integrated transformer technology power that drives a load and the ability of the
from Texas Instruments enables a load to function properly. Without a proper
500-mW, high-efficiency isolated power supply that is capable of low EMI, a
ADC/DC power supply solution with device (load) may not function properly or
low electromagnetic interference (EMI). may be damaged.
Signal isolation in power applications To achieve EMI compliance, typically,
maintains integrity by preventing high-fre- engineers need to follow the correct design
quency noise propagation, thereby protecting guidelines for interference reduction, adding
sensitive circuits from high-voltage spikes. In external components such as filters or chokes
such applications, an isolated power supply is to suppress noise while continually conduct-
needed to provide power to different electrical ing the appropriate testing to optimize the
components. To ensure human safety, industry design from the development stage.
standards require reinforced isolation, which is This is a very iterative and arduous process. Figure 2: UCC12050DVE isolated DC/DC
twice the necessary level of isolation required TI’s new integrated transformer technology power supply evaluation module
for proper operation of the equipment. shields against noise emissions and delivers (Image: Texas Instruments)
In addition to proper isolation, the market a low-EMI isolated power supply, greatly
is moving toward distributed power. Instead simplifying engineers’ design tasks. The new transformer technology embedded inside the
of a central power supply that provides for the UCC12050 also lets designers reduce the package, we can also eliminate the need for
full system, there are smaller power supplies solution volume by 60% compared with power external ferrite beads or chokes to mitigate
and even micro power supplies to power the modules (Figure 1). EMI, which is typically done in systems
subsystems and their components, includ- The UCC12050‘s 5-kVrms reinforced insu- today with just a native transformer,” said
ing integrated circuits. Form factor, cost, lation and 1.2-kVrms working voltage protect Lambouses.
and thermal management are all key design against high-voltage spikes in systems such as Medical applications require EMI robust-
elements to consider when choosing solutions industrial transportation, network infra- ness and safety isolation, and efficiency is
that accommodate requirements for properly structure, and medical equipment. In these key in test and measurement applications.
safeguarded, distributed power. applications and others, the UCC12050 serves TI’s solution offers a technical combina-
as a compact isolated tion to meet the stringent demands of both
DC/DC power supply markets.
companion device “Ten years ago, power density was not a
that can be used to big concern,” said Lambouses. “We had big,
power other ICs such massive systems. We had a single power
as digital isolators, supply. Today, [power density] is one of the
isolated current or key concerns from customers. With test and
voltage sensors, measurement, medical, and factory automa-
and communication tion equipment [all becoming] smaller, and
devices such as iso- as power becomes more distributed, power
lated transceivers. density is key.
Figure 1: Typical application circuit for the UCC12050 The device, avail- “As well, EMI is becoming a significant con-
(Image: Texas Instruments) able in a 16-pin, cern for our customers. They cannot afford to
10.3 × 10.3 × add cost and extra components outside of the
“Our solutions need to have higher levels of 2.65-mm small-outline IC (SOIC) package, chip. Instead, they are demanding that EMI
power density and efficiency,” said Steve Lam- eliminates some of the external components, is mitigated or reduced inside the chip, and
bouses, vice president and general manager of such as low-dropout regulators and ferrite that’s something we focused heavily on with
Texas Instruments’ High Voltage Power busi- beads, usually required to meet EMI certifica- this proprietary transformer design.”
ness. “As we put these power supplies into a tion, shortening design time while shrinking The silent control scheme makes it easier
smaller space, and as we have more power sup- the solution footprint and bill of materials. Its for engineers to pass their projects for the
plies than ever connected to the grid, we can’t high efficiency and extended operating tem- Comité International Spécial des Perturba-
afford to waste energy. We need to provide the perature range (from –40°C to 125°C) provide tions Radioélectriques (CISPR) 32 Class B EMI
highest-density and most efficient solutions. more power under extreme conditions. test, with margin, on a two-layer printed-
In addition, the electrification of vehicles, the TI’s integrated transformer technology circuit board.
increased need for factory automation as well enables the conversion of high-density iso- TI offers the UCC12050EVM-022 module
as building automation, and other fast-growing lated DC/DC power while maintaining a low to help designers evaluate the characteristics
areas, like medical, all require higher levels of level of EMI. The surface-mount monoblock of UCC12050DVE quickly and easily for use in
robustness and reliability.” architecture provides designers with an easy- isolated systems. The EVM allows the supply’s
In each of these applications, the most to-use, low-profile IC that operates efficiently features to be enabled and disabled for test. ■
significant concerns relate to EMI, as inter- over a wide temperature range.
ference is amplified in tighter spaces. One “As a semiconductor manufacturer, we are Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio is a staff
common EMI source is the power supply itself. able to integrate more external components correspondent at AspenCore, editor of Power
Energy quality is defined as the electrical on our die, and now, with this proprietary Electronics News, and editor-in-chief of EEWeb.

www.eetimes.eu | MARCH 2020