The USB-C standard is gaining rapid support with top-tier electronics manufacturers by enabling slim industrial designs, easy-to-use connectors and cables, and the ability to transmit multiple protocols and deliver up to 100 Watts of power. The USB-C standard’s 2.4-mm-high connector plug is significantly smaller than the current 4.5-mm USB Standard-A connector.
As the standards continue to evolve, compliance and interoperability pose an ongoing challenge, but the programmable controller overcomes these issues with its firmware upgradeability. Additionally, the controller offers a high level of integration that minimizes bill-of-material cost and simplifies designs, replacing multiple discrete components.
“Car makers are basing their in-vehicle infotainment designs on drivers and passengers connecting their smartphones, tablets and other portable electronics, and they want to offer the convenience to quickly charge these devices without compatibility issues,” says Ajay Srikrishna, Vice President of Cypress’ Wired Connectivity Business Unit. “Our highly-integrated Automotive EZ-PD CCG3PA controller simplifies the design of reliable, in-vehicle charging ports by minimizing the need for external components. It enables fast charging while keeping pace with changes in standards.”
“The combination of our MPQ4230 USB PD-optimized, configurable Automotive Buck-Boost Converter and Cypress’ Automotive CCG3PA PD controller delivers a best-in-class user experience for in-vehicle charging ports,” adds Maurice Sciammas, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Monolithic Power Systems. “Our joint reference designs give automotive systems designers a complete, easy-to-implement solution.”
Cypress’ Automotive EZ-PD CCG3PA controller is AEC-Q100 certified for automotive-grade performance. The controller’s programmability enables load sharing between ports, cable compensation and output power throttling based on temperature and battery voltage. The one-chip solution minimizes bill-of-material costs for USB-C power source products by integrating error amplifiers for constant voltage, constant current and PPS applications, a 30 V regulator that allows direct operation from VBUS, VBUS short protection on configuration channel (CC) pins, gate drivers for high-voltage power FETs, a low side current sense amplifier, and dedicated hardware for legacy charger detection protocols plus system level electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. Programmable overvoltage and overcurrent circuitry protects systems against power overloads and other faulty operating conditions. The controller also integrates an ARM Cortex-M0 and 64KB Flash with read-while-write function for firmware upgradeability.
Cypress demonstrated the Automotive EZ-PD CCG3PA controller reference designs with DC/DC buck-boost converters from Monolithic Power Systems at the Electronica trade show (November 13-16) in Munich, Germany.
The Automotive EZ-PD CCG3PA controller is now sampling in a 24-pin QFN (16 mm2) package. The controller will be in production in the first quarter of 2019. Designers can get started with the CY4532 CCG3PA evaluation kit, which is now available for $149. More info on Cypress’ automotive USB-C and PD solutions is available at www.cypress.com/AutoUSB-C.
Cypress’ EZ-PD portfolio of USB-C controllers also includes the CCG1 programmable USB-C controller, CCG2, the smallest programmable USB-C solution, CCG3, the brand's most integrated programmable USB-C solution, CCG4, a two-port USB-C solution, and CCG5, a two-port USB-C solution optimized for Thunderbolt notebook and desktop PCs. The complete EZ-PD portfolio supports the latest USB PD 3.0 specification, which enables more robust end-to-end power delivery and charging solutions for laptop and mobile devices.
More information on the EZ-PD CCG3PA controller is available at www.cypress.com/AutoCCG3PA
