Power Control Ref Design Enables a Secondary-Side MCU to Control Primary Power

In modern offline AC-DC power solutions, programmability and adaptive control offer the flexibility and intelligence needed by smart home devices to better interface with their power systems. In these systems, a secondary side microcontroller (MCU) is typically not capable of starting a system without the use of a separate bias power supply.

A recent reference design from Microchip Technology addresses this problem using the MCP1012 high voltage auxiliary AC-DC controller, demonstrating the ability to remove the independent bias power supply in many applications. The MCP1012 offline auxiliary device enables the system to transfer control of the power and duty cycle to a secondary MCU. The control between the system and the load can be more precise and purposefully coupled, through a design that can be simplified, reducing size and cost.

The reference design uses a patented isolation technique for isolated feedback. This patented isolation technique called Inde-Flux transformer technology is being licensed to Würth Elektronik eiSos. Inde-Flux technology is used in the Inde-Flux Transformer (Part Number 750318659), the first transformer made by Würth Elektronik eiSos using this IP and sold as part of Microchip’s 15W MCP1012 offline reference design.

This transformer combines the signal power and signal communication into one device, eliminating the need for optical feedback or an independent signal transformer. The option is also available to use more traditional approaches with a planar pulse transformer on the reference design, as well as the ability of the design to work with more traditional optocouplers and signal transformers. The secondary-side control is then enabled through a combination of the transformer and Microchip’s newly released MCP1012 AC-DC controller along with the SAM D20 series 32-bit MCU.

The MPC1012 primary-side auxiliary controller provides for system start up, gating and protecting an offline flyback converter for the secondary MCU. The device enables a range of benefits such as direct measurement and active regulation of voltage and/or current, high loop bandwidth by direct loop closure and simplified communication for load-referenced systems.

The 15W MCP1012 offline reference design provides the principal working elements for a 15W offline power design with the necessary firmware to enable the elimination of the auxiliary power supply on the primary side. This can reduce the complexity of the system including eliminating the need for optocouplers in many applications such as appliances and smart speakers. This Inde-Flux transformer technology, in cooperation with Würth Elektronik eiSos, can be scaled to standard and custom transformer designs for different voltages and power levels as needed.

The 15W MCP1012 offline reference design includes a user guide and comes with schematics and bill of materials, design files, firmware, and a demonstration unit. Microchip also offers a fundamental 1W evaluation board, the DT100118, for the MCP1012 AC-DC controller. The 15W MCP1012 offline reference design, part number EV37F82A, is available now for $225.00 each. The DT100118 1W reference design is available now for $115.00 each. The MCP1012-V/EKA is available now starting at $.40 each in 5,000-unit quantities.