TIDUFE8A November   2025  – April 2026

 

  1.   1
  2.   Description
  3.   Resources
  4.   Features
  5.   Applications
  6.   6
  7. 1System Description
  8. 2System Overview
    1. 2.1 Block Diagram
    2. 2.2 Design Considerations
      1. 2.2.1 Backbone
      2. 2.2.2 TPLD1201-Q1 For Reverse ISCP Protection
      3. 2.2.3 48V to 12V Conversion
      4. 2.2.4 Jump Post
      5. 2.2.5 LP-AM263P
    3. 2.3 Highlighted Products
      1. 2.3.1  TPS1212-Q1 (48V)
      2. 2.3.2  TPS1HTC30-Q1 (48V)
      3. 2.3.3  TPS482H85-Q1 (48V)
      4. 2.3.4  TPS1214-Q1 (48V)
      5. 2.3.5  DRV8263-Q1 (48V)
      6. 2.3.6  DRV8363-Q1 (48V)
      7. 2.3.7  TPS2HCS10-Q1 (12V)
      8. 2.3.8  TPS4HC120-Q1 (12V)
      9. 2.3.9  DRV8245-Q1 (12V)
      10. 2.3.10 TPS1211-Q1 (12V)
      11. 2.3.11 TPLD1201-Q1
      12. 2.3.12 TXE8124-Q1
  9. 3Hardware, Software, Testing Requirements, and Test Results
    1. 3.1 Hardware Requirements
    2. 3.2 Software Requirements
    3. 3.3 Test Setup
    4. 3.4 Test Results
  10. 4Design and Documentation Support
    1. 4.1 Design Files
      1. 4.1.1 Schematics
      2. 4.1.2 BOM
    2. 4.2 Tools and Software
    3. 4.3 Documentation Support
    4. 4.4 Support Resources
    5. 4.5 Trademarks
  11. 5About the Author
  12. 6Revision History

1 System Description

As automakers adopt zone architecture and a 48V low voltage rail, the vehicle power distribution continues to evolve. Moving to a 48V low voltage rail significantly decreases current requirements in power distribution boxes. Traditional power distribution boxes become unnecessary, leading to backbone introduction. The backbone architecture connects each zone control module (ZCM) in series. This connection enables bidirectional power distribution across each ZCM. Traditional power distribution architecture uses power distribution boxes for primary power distribution. The ZCM handles secondary power distribution in traditional architectures. The backbone architecture enables the ZCM to perform both primary and secondary power distribution. The backbone architecture allows further consolidation of electronic control units (ECU). This approach reduces vehicle wiring.

The input supply moves to 48V, but the transition to full 48V takes time. The 12V rail remains necessary to supply power to legacy 12V loads. The power requirements of 12V loads dictate the type of 48V to 12V power conversion. Zone applications contain large numbers of 12V legacy loads. These loads create high power requirements in the range of 500W to 1kW. Power topologies under consideration include switched capacitor converter and switched tank converter. Additional topologies include inductor-inductor capacitor (LLC), buck-boost, and buck converters. Engineers compare these topologies for cost, size, ease of use, efficiency, and bidirectional functionality.