These advanced algorithms enable the design of power supplies with greater energy efficiency and improved power specifications. Higher switching frequencies allow for the development of smaller, higher-density, and lower-cost power supplies. Compared to the previous generation of DSC devices, latency has been reduced to less than half in the new dsPIC33EP “GS” devices when used in a three-pole, three-zero compensator, and they consume up to 80% less power in any application.
This new dsPIC33EP “GS” family incorporates advanced features such as Flash capability for instant updates, which is especially useful for high-availability or always-on systems. Instant updates can be used to change the firmware of a running power supply, including the active compensator calculation code, while maintaining continuous regulation. Versions of this new family of digital power supply-optimized DSCs are supplied in the smallest 4 x 4 mm UQFN package on the market, ideal for space-constrained designs.
See a brief presentation: http://www.microchip.com/Presentation-051215a
Other important features of this new family include up to five 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with up to 22 inputs, providing a total throughput of 16 megasamples per second (MSPS) with an ADC latency of 300 ns. The dsPIC33EP “GS” devices include 12-bit digital-to-analog converters for each of the four analog comparators, enabling higher-precision designs. The two integrated programmable gain amplifiers can be used for current sensing and other precision measurements. Incorporating these advanced analog amplifiers into the device reduces the number of external components required, thus saving cost and board space.
These characteristics, together with the high performance of the dsPIC33EP “GS” family in general, make it very suitable for a wide variety of applications, such as: AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies for computing and telecommunications; industrial solar inverters, LED lighting, high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting, battery chargers, projectors and welding machines; LED and HID headlights and DC/DC converters for automobiles; among others.
The dsPIC33EP “GS” family is supported by Microchip’s MPLAB® Digital Power Supply Starter Kit (DM330017-2), priced at $129.99, which allows customers to explore using the new dsPIC33EP “GS” family in the most popular digital power conversion topologies.
Microchip's new digital compensator design tool helps engineers calculate the optimal compensator coefficients needed to maximize the performance of their designs. This free tool, along with Microchip's compensator software libraries and numerous royalty-free dsPIC33 reference designs, makes designing digital power conversion applications easier than ever.
Microchip has also partnered with Biricha Digital to offer digital power supply design seminars that help analog power supply engineers and embedded system programmers take advantage of the capabilities of fully digital control in their designs.
The 14 devices in the dsPIC33EP “GS” family are available in various packages ranging from 28 to 64 pins. For a complete list of versions and package options, click on this product version table. All of these new DSCs are now available for sampling and volume production.
