A power chip is an integrated circuit specially designed to manage and control the conversion, distribution, detection and protection of electrical energy. In electronic device systems, power chips play a crucial role in ensuring a stable, efficient power supply to other electronic components that meet specific requirements.

Learn about the detailed features and functional overview of power chips

1. Electric energy conversion and regulation:

Linear voltage regulator: through the internal linear components (such as transistors) to reduce and stabilize the input voltage to the desired output voltage, characterized by small output voltage ripple, low noise, fast response, but relatively low efficiency, especially in the application of large pressure difference will be significant heating, suitable for high power quality requirements and small load current occasions.

Switching power supply (such as DC-DC converter) : The use of switching components (such as MOSFET or IGBT) and energy storage components (such as inductors, capacitors) for high-frequency switching operations to achieve efficient energy conversion. The switching power supply chip usually adopts pulse width modulation (PWM) or pulse frequency modulation (PFM) technology to control the duty cycle of the switching component, so as to adjust the output voltage. This type of chip has high efficiency and low heat output, and is suitable for applications requiring high power conversion and space efficiency.

2. Power Management:

Power path management: Control the switching and priority of different power sources (such as batteries, adapters) to ensure the normal operation of the system under multiple power supply conditions.

Battery charging and management: Provide charging control for rechargeable batteries (such as lithium batteries), monitor battery status (such as voltage, current, temperature, charging status), and protect the battery from overcharge, overdischarge, overheating and other damage.

Power sequencing: Ensure that multiple power rails are powered on and off in a predetermined order to avoid power surges and logic errors.

3. Control and protection:

Driver signal generation: Provide the appropriate driver signal for external power switching devices (such as MOSFETs) to ensure that they switch effectively and efficiently.

Pulse width control: Maintain the stability of the output voltage by precisely controlling the switching time (i.e. pulse width) of the switching element.

Protection function: Built-in overvoltage protection (OVP), undervoltage protection (UVP), overcurrent protection (OCP), short circuit protection (SCP), overheat protection (OTP) and other mechanisms, when abnormal conditions are detected, the power supply is automatically cut off or the working mode is adjusted to prevent equipment damage.

4. Efficiency optimization and regulatory compliance:

Power factor correction (PFC) : In AC input power applications, improve phase consistency and reduce harmonic distortion between input current and voltage to meet energy efficiency standards and grid specifications.

Energy saving control: Supports energy saving policies such as dynamic voltage adjustment (DVFS), dynamic current adjustment (DVS), and light load mode. Adjusts output parameters according to load requirements to reduce power consumption.

5. Interface and communication:

Provides communication interfaces with the master processor or other system components, such as I²C, SPI, GPIO, etc., so that the system can monitor power status, configuration parameters, and receive control instructions.

Technical characteristics of power chip

1. Operating voltage and current range

The applicable voltage and current range of the power supply chip is the key parameter to determine whether it can match the target device. When purchasing, it is necessary to examine the maximum input voltage, minimum input voltage, output voltage range and maximum output current of the chip. Ensure that the selected chip can withstand fluctuations in the operating voltage of the device, provide a stable output current, and avoid system failures caused by overvoltage, undervoltage, or overcurrent.

2. Efficiency and power consumption

High efficiency and low power consumption are important indicators of modern power supply chips. Pay attention to the conversion efficiency (such as the efficiency of DC-DC converter), static current (IQ), standby power consumption and other parameters of the chip, and preferentially select products with energy-saving technologies (such as synchronous rectification, sleep mode, etc.) to help reduce system energy consumption and improve the overall energy efficiency ratio.

3. Stability and protection function

An excellent power supply chip should have a good linear adjustment rate and load adjustment rate to ensure that the output voltage is stable under various working conditions. In addition, overvoltage protection (OVP), overheat protection (OTP), short circuit protection (SCP) and other functions are also important indicators to measure the reliability of the chip. When selecting, make sure that the chip has a comprehensive protection mechanism to prevent abnormal conditions from causing damage to the system.

Scope of application

1. Application field and standard compliance

Power chips are widely used in all kinds of electronic devices, including but not limited to personal computers (especially CPU power supply modules on the motherboard), mobile devices (such as smartphones, tablets), consumer electronics (TV, audio, game consoles), industrial control equipment, automotive electronics, medical equipment, Internet of Things equipment, and any other occasions that require a stable and efficient power supply. Devices in different fields have specific requirements for power chips. For example, consumer electronics focuses on miniaturization and low power consumption; Industrial equipment emphasizes wide temperature and high reliability; Medical devices are subject to stringent EMC and safety standards. In the purchase, clear the application field, check whether the chip meets the relevant industry standards (such as IEC, UL, EN, etc.) and certification (such as CE, RoHS, REACH, etc.), to ensure that it ADAPTS to the specific environment and regulatory requirements.

2. Function expansion and integration

Depending on the project requirements, consider whether the power chip has the necessary additional features such as soft start, programmable voltage/current Settings, fault indication, telemetry interface, etc. At the same time, evaluating the integration of the chip, such as whether it integrates MOSFETs, inductors, filter components, etc., helps simplify the design, reduce the size, and reduce the cost.

Common power chip brands and models

Texas Instruments (TI) :

• LM78XX series (linear voltage regulator, such as LM7805, LM7812)

• LM2576, LM2596 series (Switching regulator)

• TPS61085, TPS61045 (Boost converter)

• TPS5430, TPS54320 (Buck converter)

• BQ2407x, BQ25xxx series (Battery charge management chip)

• TPS65023, TPS6521x series (Power Management Unit)

ON Semiconductor (ON) :

• NCP1117, NCP152x series (Linear Voltage regulator)

• NCV4276, NCV4277 (Switching regulator)

• NCP1342, NCP158x series (synchronous buck converter)

• NCP185x Series (Battery Charge Management)

Maxim Integrated:

• MAX603, MAX78xx series (Linear voltage regulator)

• MAX1771, MAX15001 series (Switching regulator)

• MAX17841, MAX1785x series (Battery meter and protection)

• MAX1756x, MAX7765x series (Battery charge management)

STMicroelectronics:

• L78xx series (linear voltage regulator, such as L7805, L7812)

• LDOs (such as LD1117, LD39000 series)

• VIPer, VIPerPlus series (High Voltage switch regulator)

• STM32 PMIC series (e.g. STM32L5 PMIC)

• STBC03, STBC04 (Battery Charge Management)

Linear Technology (now part of Analog Devices) :

• LT108x, LT107x Series (Linear Voltage regulator)

• LT347x, LT375x Series (Switching regulator)

• LTC36xx Series (Synchronous Buck Converter)

• LTC4000 Series (Battery Charge Management)

NXP:

• PCA941x Series (Linear Voltage Regulator)

• TEA17xx Series (Switching Regulator)

• TJA1100, TJA1145 series (Power Path Controller)

• MWCT1013, MWCT1014 (Battery Charge Management)

Infineon:

• BTS716x Series (Intelligent High Side Switch)

• ILDxxxA, ILDxxxB series (Linear Voltage regulator)

• XDPxxxA, XDPxxxB series (DC-DC converter)

• CoolSET™ F3/F4 Series (Switching regulators with integrated MOSFETs)

In addition, there are many manufacturers such as Dialog Semiconductor, Microchip, Renesas, Silicon Labs, TI, Renesas Electronics, Analog Devices and other manufacturers also provide a rich product line of power chips.

The purchase of power chips needs to investigate brand strength and technical support

1. Brand reputation and market share

Choose a brand with a long history, good reputation and large market share, and its products are often tested by the market, and the quality is more guaranteed. Consult industry reports, user reviews, third-party reviews and other multi-channel information to comprehensively evaluate the comprehensive strength of the brand.

2. Technical support and service

High-quality power chip suppliers should provide detailed data manuals, design tools, reference design, application notes and other technical support resources, as well as timely and professional pre-sales consultation, after-sales support services. In the purchase process, actively contact the manufacturer, test its response speed and problem solving ability, to ensure that the project implementation process can get strong technical support.

Weigh the cost performance and formulate the purchasing strategy

1. Price comparison and cost analysis

Under the premise of meeting the performance requirements, the price of different brands and models of power chips is compared, and the expected output and life cycle cost are combined with comprehensive cost analysis. Consider the discounts that may be brought by bulk purchasing, as well as the long-term supply stability of chips, to avoid ignoring long-term cost benefits because of short-term low prices.

2. Supply chain risk management

Evaluate suppliers' supply chain management capabilities, including component sourcing, manufacturing, inventory management, logistics and distribution. Choosing a supplier with a robust supply chain system can reduce the risk of outages and ensure that the project schedule is not affected.