Next-generation power factor correction controller improves energy efficiency

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) introduced a power factor correction (PFC) controller with the industry’s widest range programmable frequency operating in continuous conduction mode. The UCC28180 8-pin PFC controller cuts power consumption in half and delivers power factor correction greater than 0.95, compared to existing solutions to support many universal-input AC/DC applications, such as industrial, server power supplies, air-conditioners, lighting, consumer appliances and home office electronics.

The UCC28180’s adjustable switching frequency helps the designer optimize their design for size, cost and efficiency. The controller also achieves AC-input current total harmonic distortion (THD) as low as 5 percent with a 50 percent smaller shunt resistor, in comparison to previous-generation solutions.

Key features and benefits of the UCC28180:

• Widest application usage: Wide-range, programmable frequency range operates from 18 kHz to 250 kHz and allows usage of IGBTs, GaN, SiC or Si MOSFETs, which minimize component count and improves efficiency.
• Lowest power dissipation: By employing reduced current sense thresholds, the PFC controller uses a smaller shunt resistor, which cuts power dissipation in half compared to previous-generation devices, while maintaining low THD.
• High reliability: Rich protection functions, such as soft over current, cycle-by-cycle peak current limit, output open-loop, overvoltage and open-pin detection, guard the power supply system components.
• Audible noise minimization: UCC28180 allows faster loop response when output voltage exceeds regulation level, thus minimizing incidence of audible noise in magnetic components caused by abrupt PWM output shut-off during overvoltage protection.

The UCC28180 operates seamlessly with any TI DC/DC controller, such as the UCC28950, UCC28250 or UCC25600, as well as motor control and lighting solutions, providing reliable, efficient, low-cost power designs for a wide range of applications.

Availability and pricing

The UCC28180 PFC controller is available in an 8-pin SOIC package and is priced at US$0.85 in quantities of 1,000. The UCC28180EVM-573 360-W PFC evaluation module is priced at US$99 and available for ordering through TI’s eStore.

TI
www.ti.com