Controller regulates average current flowing between high and low voltage ports

The LM5170-Q1 controller, from Texas Instruments, provides the essential high voltage and precision elements of a dual-channel bidirectional converter for automotive 48V and 12V dual battery systems. It regulates the average current flowing between the high voltage and low voltage ports in the direction designated by the DIR input signal. The current regulation level is programmed through analog or digital PWM inputs. Dual-channel differential current sense amplifiers and dedicated channel current monitors achieve typical current accuracy of 1%. Robust 5A half-bridge gate drivers are capable of driving parallel MOSFET switches delivering 500W or more per channel. The diode emulation mode of the synchronous rectifiers prevents negative currents but also enables discontinuous mode operation for improved efficiency with light loads. Versatile protection features include cycle-by-cycle current limiting, overvoltage protection at both HV and LV ports, MOSFET failure detection and overtemperature protection. An innovative average current mode control scheme maintains constant loop gain allowing a single R-C network to compensate both buck and boost conversion. The oscillator is adjustable up to 500kHz and can synchronize to an external clock. Multiphase parallel operation is achieved by connecting two controllers for three or four-phase operation, or by synchronizing multiple controllers to phase-shifted clocks for a higher number of phases. A low state on the UVLO pin disables the device in a low current shutdown mode.