Renesas Electronics Corporation introduced the RAA489300/RAA489301 buck controller featuring three-level buck topology for battery charging and voltage regulation in USB-C systems, including multi-port USB-PD chargers, portable power stations, PC docking stations, robots, and drones. The three-level converter topology incorporates two additional switches and a flying capacitor compared to conventional two-level buck converters, reducing voltage stress on switches and enabling designers to use lower voltage FETs with improved figures of merit.
The flying capacitor configuration reduces conduction and switching losses while enabling smaller inductor designs with peak-to-peak ripple of approximately 25 percent compared to two-level converters. This topology reduces inductor core and direct current resistance losses through decreased inductance requirements for output voltage regulation. The controller provides wide input and output voltage ranges for various battery pack configurations and PD adapter compatibility, integrated protection mechanisms against overcharging, overheating, and voltage anomalies, and an optimized switching architecture that divides voltage across power switches.
The design improves thermal performance, reducing cooling requirements and enabling cost and space savings in compact power management systems. The controller features scalability for adaptation to various power levels and application requirements, contributing to reduced power consumption and lower thermal stress for improved system reliability. Renesas offers RTK-251-SinkCharger-240W and 240W Dual-Port Daughter Card Winning Combinations to streamline USB-C battery charging implementation. The RAA489300/RAA489301 is available in a 4×4 mm 32-lead TQFN package with comprehensive design support, including evaluation boards and development kits.
