Charging port controller gives reliable on-the-road charging

Texas Instruments' new TPS25831-Q1 integrates a synchronous buck regulator, programmable voltage droop compensation and intelligent thermal management into an efficient Type-C port converter solution. These features provide an enhanced user experience by facilitating devices to charge at optimal levels notwithstanding long, resistive USB power cables and high ambient temperatures.

The device is a USB Type-C and BC1.2 charging port controller that comprises a synchronous DC-DC converter. With cable droop compensation, the VBUS voltage remains constant despite load current, assuring connected portable devices are charged at optimal current and voltage.

The TPS25830-Q1 incorporates high bandwidth analog switches for DP and DM pass-through, while the TPS25831-Q1 comprises a thermistor input pin and thermal warning flag for user-programmable thermal overload protection.

The synchronous buck regulator operates with current-mode control and is internally compensated simplifying the design. A resistor on the RT pin sets the switching frequency between 300kHz and 2.2MHz. They are operating below 400kHz results in greater system efficiency. Operation over 2.1MHz avoids the AM radio bands and provides for the employment of a smaller inductor.

Integrated protection features incorporate cycle-by-cycle current limit, hiccup short-circuit protection, under-voltage lockout, VBUS overvoltage and overcurrent, CC overvoltage and overcurrent, the data line (Dx) short to VBUS and VBAT, and die overtemperature protection.