Challenge: Most PD controllers do not integrate all necessary power paths required into their solutions, yielding inferior over current protection (OCP), over voltage protection (OVP) and reverse current protection (RCP). End users need to either design a discrete power path or purchase a 5V or high voltage (HV) load switch. This results to end users facing a large total solution size and a high total bill of materials (BOM).

Solution: TI offers complete, standalone USB-C PD solutions that integrate all necessary power paths and miscellaneous functions that system designers would need to design a USB-C PD system. Figure 61 shows a simplified block diagram of a TI PD controller. Note the integrated field-effect transistors (FETs) serving as internal power paths, saving end users the trouble of designing extra 5V or HV power paths. At the same time, the integrated dead battery low dropout (LDO) generates a 3.3V rail to help power some of the system in a dead battery scenario. The internal power path protection offers robust defense against RCP, OVP and OCP. Additionally, TI PD controllers integrate 26-V tolerant CC pins for powerful protection when connected to non-compliant device. With a highly integrated design, TI PD controllers eliminate the need for firmware development or an external micro-controller.

On the other hand, typical PD controller products are often less integrated and require additional design effort and materials from system designers in order to complete the system. Figure 62 shows a typical PD controller design. With far fewer integrated functions, these types of solutions leave much of the work needed to implement a complete USB-C PD solution up to the system designer. With no internal power path, no power path protections, no dead battery LDO and oftentimes no BC 1.2 protocol module, it is up to the end users to complete the design. With multiple additional chips and FETs, using a typical PD controller can turn out to be an inefficient, complex, and expensive solution.

Overall, with highly integrated designs, TI is able to provide one of the smallest total solution sizes in the industry while keeping one of the lowest total BOM. With built-in power path management and miscellaneous functions, TI offers a complete one-chip solution that saves end users the trouble and cost of searching for additional parts to complete their USB-C PD system.