A power supply solution for small to medium power industrial and consumer equipment (30W to 1kW class) has been developed by ROHM called LogiCoA. It offers low power consumption and costs comparable to analog power types while offering the same functionality as fully digital control power sources.
Equipment utilized in semiconductor manufacturing and industrial robotics that operate in the medium power range frequently uses analog controlled power supplies. However, in order to meet market needs with analog-only configurations, these power supplies now also need to provide a high degree of precise control and reliability.
However, because of the high cost and power consumption of the digital controller, fully digitally controlled power supplies are not commonly used in the small to medium power range, while offering fine control and settings. In order to solve this problem, ROHM developed the LogiCoA power solution, which makes use of the advantages of digital and analog technology. Control of various power supply topologies is facilitated by the use of high performance low power LogiCoA MCUs.
The design philosophy behind the this brand is to combine digital elements in analog circuits to optimize the performance. Touted as the first* “analog-digital fusion control” power supply in the industry, ROHM’s new power solution blends analog circuitry made up of silicon MOSFETs and other power devices with a digital control block based around the LogiCoA MCU.
Low-bit MCUs can process the functions handled by digital controllers, such as high-speed CPUs or DSPs, in a fully digital control power supply. This allows for the low power consumption and low cost realization of increased functionality that is challenging to achieve with an analog control power supply.
This solution stores various settings, including voltage and current values in the LogiCoA™ MCU, to compensate for differences in peripheral component performance based on the power supply circuit. Because of this, design margins are not necessary, unlike in the case of analog control power supplies, which results in smaller power supplies with higher dependability. Furthermore, because operation log data may be stored in the nonvolatile memory of the MCU, it is perfect for industrial equipment power supplies that need logging as a backup in case of malfuncion.
The evaluation reference design REF66009 allows users to experience the LogiCoA™ power supply solution in a non-isolated buck converter circuit. Various tools necessary for evaluation are also offered, including circuit diagrams, PCB layouts, parts lists, sample software, and support documents, while actual device evaluation is possible using the optional LogiCoA001-EVK-001 evaluation board.
In order to help create a sustainable society, ROHM will keep developing LogiCoA MCUs to support a range of power supply topologies. This will be accomplished by making the power supply block, which is responsible for most power loss in applications, more compact and energy efficient.
LogiCoA™ Brand
The design goal is to maximize the performance of analog circuits by merging digital parts together. Maximizing the potential of circuit topologies can lead to more efficient power utilization by combining the benefits of digital control with analog circuitry. Since LogiCoA is a design concept that can be used in power solutions overall as well as the field of power supplies, ROHM is thinking about incorporating its aplications into upcoming products and solutions.
Details of the LogiCoA™ Power Supply Reference Design
The REF66009 evaluation reference design offered on ROHM’s website allows users to verify the functionality of the LogiCoA™ MCU along with the basic operation of the LogiCoA™ power supply solution using a non-isolated 12V buck converter circuit. Sample software available on the reference design page makes it possible to confirm the sequence control of execution tasks and the monitoring of various parameters in the actual set using the LogiCoA001-EVK-001 reference board. For more information on the reference board, please contact a sales representative or the contact page on ROHM’s website.
Application Examples
- Industrial robots
- Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
- Gaming applications
Supports mounting in a wide range of general industrial equipment and consumer devices (30W to 1kW).
About the LogiCoA™ MCU
ROHM is developing these new MCUs optimized for integrated analog-digital control such as LogiCoA™ power supply solutions. Features include a built-in 3ch analog comparator that can be linked to a timer and D/A converter that enables digital control of various parameters to support different power supply topologies.
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