DC/DC converter with integrated transformer shrinks solution size by as much as 80%

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

Texas Instruments (TI) has developed its first integrated circuit (IC) with a new proprietary EMI-optimized integrated transformer technology . TI claims that the 500-mW high-efficiency isolated DC/DC converter offers the industry’s lowest electromagnetic interference (EMI). In addition, the UCC12050  chip with a 2.65-mm height enables designers to reduce their power solution volume by as much as 80% compared to discrete solutions and 60% compared to power modules with twice the efficiency of competing devices, according to the company.

The UCC12050 comes with 5-kVrms reinforced isolation and 1.2-kVrms working voltage to protect against high-voltage spikes in systems such as industrial transport, grid infrastructure, and medical equipment. The reinforced isolation with 8-mm creepage and clearance is used for protection against ground potential differences. The device’s high efficiency coupled with the extended −40°C to 125°C operating temperature range delivers more power in extreme conditions. TI also offers the UCC12040 , which provides all of the same benefits with 3-kVrms basic isolation.

The UCC12050’s integrated transformer with very low primary-to-secondary capacitance is optimized for EMI performance, and its quiet control scheme makes it easier for engineers to have their designs pass Comité International Spécial des Perturbations Radioélectriques (CISPR) 32 Class B EMI tests, with margin, on a two-layer printed circuit board, said TI.

The solution also eliminates external filter components such as low-dropout regulators and ferrite beads normally required to meet EMI certification, which reduces component selection, design time, and cost. (Download the whitepaper “Power Through the Isolation Barrier: The Landscape of Isolated DC/DC Bias Power Supplies ” to learn more about this new family of reinforced isolated DC/DC bias supplies.)

The UCC12050  and UCC12040  devices in a 16-pin, 10.3 × 10.3 × 2.65-mm SOIC package are available in volume production from TI and authorized distributors. Pricing starts at $3.90 and $3.15, respectively, in quantities of 1,000. The UCC12050EVM-022 evaluation module  is available on TI.com for $99.

TI will demonstrate the UCC12050 in Booth No. 1001 at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana.