Texas Instruments introduced the industry’s first fully integrated multiphase bidirectional DC/DC current controller, which efficiently transfers electric power greater than 500 W per phase between dual 48-V and 12-V automotive battery systems. The highly integrated LM5170-Q1 analog controller features an innovative average current-mode control method that overcomes the challenges of today’s high-component-count, full digital control schemes. For more information, samples and an evaluation module, see www.ti.com/lm5170q1-pr.
TI will demonstrate the LM5170-Q1 controller in booth No. 701 at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) in Tampa, Florida, March 27-29, 2017. The LM5170-Q1 is the latest in TI’s portfolio of industry-leading DC/DC converters, controllers and charge pumps, enabling engineers to innovate and differentiate their power supply designs.
Hybrid electric vehicles use both a high-voltage 48-V battery and the standard 12-V automotive battery. Design engineers typically manage these dual battery systems using a digital control scheme, which includes multiple discrete components such as current-sense amplifiers, gate drivers and protection circuits. These full digital control schemes are bulky and expensive. To solve this challenge while improving performance and system reliability, TI offers a mixed architecture in which the microcontroller handles higher-level intelligent management, and the highly integrated LM5170-Q1 analog controller provides the power conversion. Read the blog post, “Interconnecting automotive 48V and 12V rails in dual battery systems,” to learn how to overcome the challenges of designing a power supply for hybrid electric vehicles.
LM5170-Q1 key features and benefits
- Unique design for optimized system cost and performance: The LM5170-Q1’s average current-mode control method improves performance, simplifies implementation and reduces cost. Read the blog post, “Selecting a bidirectional converter control scheme,” to find out how TI’s average current-mode control method compares to conventional control schemes.
- High accuracy: The controller’s 1 percent accurate bidirectional current regulation ensures precise power transfer.
- Power efficient: The LM5170-Q1 achieves greater than 97 percent efficiency.
- High precision: The controller monitors current with up to 99 percent accuracy.
- High power: Integrated 5-A peak half-bridge gate drivers for high power capability.
- Superior performance: Diode emulation mode of the synchronous rectifier MOSFETs prevents negative current and enhances light load efficiency.
- Automotive quality: The LM5170-Q1 is AEC-Q100 qualified. Download the white paper “Driving the green revolution in transportation,” to learn how advanced electronics are increasing the automation, safety, comfort and convenience of electric vehicles.
