New Reference Design for Highest 65W USB-C Efficiency
Pulsiv Limited just released what they claim is “the world’s most efficient and advanced” 65W USB-C GaN optimized reference design for the complex challenges inherent in power supply thermal performance. The company further claims that the reference design will revolutionize the USB-C fast charging space with its unique combination of features and benefits that have been unavailable until now.
The PSV-RDAD-65USB reference design combines Pulsiv OSMIUM technology with an industry-standard QR Flyback and highly optimized, ultra-compact magnetics. It drastically lowers operating temperatures, minimizes losses, and reduces size, creating a sustainable platform for the USB-C standard.
The Pulsiv OSMIUM reference design shows a significant improvement in thermal performance and reduces critical component temperatures by more than 30% over other designs. At full load, the Flyback transformer reaches 33.9°C at 230VAC and 30.3°C at 265V above an ambient temperature of 26.1°C, expected to set a new benchmark and enable 65W fast charging in space-constrained environments and/or heat-sensitive applications such as in-wall plug sockets that incorporate USB-C connectivity.
The technology senses AC line voltage and frequency to adjust capacitor charging time, and the circuit draws no line current at the AC zero voltage crossing. The half-active bridge increases efficiency, and MOSFETs in the lower half of the AC to DC bridge are carefully controlled in combination with high-side diodes. The half-active bridge balances efficiency, cost, and complexity and supports universal input with efficiency gains of 0.7% at full load from a 115V AC supply.
Pulsiv OSMIUM technology generates an HVDC output that varies between the peak AC input and 150V to drive the QR Flyback at maximum efficiency. The wider voltage range reduces primary side inductance to enable the use of an EQ20 transformer, which was developed in partnership with magnetics experts Frenetic. The technology delivers a 20% size reduction and 50% efficiency improvement compared to an RM8 core typically used in other designs.
The PSV-RDAD-65USB document package is free to download and includes a Datasheet, Schematics, Bill of Materials, & Altium files.
