Open-source PD software enables code integration for USB system differentiation

USB Type-C with Power Delivery (PD) and open-source software are two technologies driving the next wave of wired connectivity. With Microchip Technology’s new PD Software Framework (PSF), designers may now modify and own the IP in their USB-C PD systems. By consolidating their proprietary code with the company's fully functional PD stack, designers have the ultimate flexibility for producing differentiated product offerings while picking from a wide variety of the company's SmartHubs, MCUs and standalone PD solutions for their USB systems.

This PSF solution provides both an open-source code base for power delivery and a comprehensive programming environment, eliminating the requirement for manufacturer dependence and making it simple for users to program MCUs and instantly modify PD code as their system evolves. Harnessing the benefits of this industry-changing solution, customers can determine their product destiny, lessening time to market and overall BOM.

Using both a software and hardware framework, developers can select from an expanded family of its controller options to host PD functionality, including the new UPD301B and UPD301C standalone PD controllers. The PD architecture’s open approach allows customers to simply add a USB-C/PD port to an extensive range of embedded applications while also enabling customers to reallocate unused pins or CPU memory to other system functions. A range of its SAM and PIC MCUs and dsPIC DSCs are supported. The PSF solution provides designers with the option to run PD on an existing company MCU infrastructure by adding the UPD350 PD transceiver or by combining PD into more complex product offerings with proprietary system code.

“With our new PD Software Framework, all Microchip MCUs and standalone controllers that support USB-C now share the same PD code base,” said Charles Forni, vice president of Microchip’s USB and networking business unit. “This code is provided free to customers and is easy to configure and modify, enabling our customers to implement new features and system updates without the need for a manufacturer to customise the code for them. Microchip’s PSF offering changes the way USB-C PD is integrated into customer systems.”

The PSF software solution is supported by the company's MPLAB X IDE development environment. The evaluation board features the SAMD20 MCU and the UPD350 PD PHY.