Hi,
I am completely new to the UCD series devices. we are regarding the development of electronic power conditioner for communication system. So far we have been using analog PWM controllers as well multiple Atmel and microchip micro controller for power management and communication purposes. We have found many limitations with this approach and we are switching the platform to digital power management and control. After an extensive survey we have found that TI power controller UCD3040 is ideal solution for our application. But unfortunately the literature & knowledge base available in your website is limited. Hence I request to help us to guide us with a complete life cycle deign document , application notes, manuals and other necessary software on trial basis so that we quick start the design. The queries as follows,
1.The devices UCD3040 requires which software tools to design for our application?
2.There are confusion with "TI's Fusion Digital power Designer" and "TI's CCStudio software" what are they used for regarding UCD3040? How to start with?
3.The requirement of our design is to implement digital DC-DC converters with multiple power supplies.
We do UCD3040 support in case-by-case manner. If UCD3040 is what you need in your applications, you can contact me via email of hong_huang@ti.com. Then I will help direct to a proper channel.
To make simple reply to your questions:
C-language is its programming languauge. TI Code Composer Studio is a powerful development tool including c-language compiler. TI Fusion Digital Power Designer is a combined name for GUI to be used in several levels of development. Virtually, this GUI can help to do system development such as firmware debugging including accessing device's registers and memories in real time, and in nature no simulator would be needed. UCD3xxx family is targeting isolated applications, especially off-line applications, such as PFC pre-regulator, LLC resonant half-bridge converters, and phase-shifted full-bridge converters. UCD9xxx family is more oriented to non-isolated DC-DC conversion applications.
If you are implementing non-isolated DC-DC converters then you should be focusing on the UCD92xx product line.
This device has a specific target market and thus more information is available than for the UCD3xxx products.
As our application for using UCD3040 is to isolated applications, LLC half-bridge converters, and also for phase-shifted full-bridge converters. I have sent a mail the requirement and clarifications in this regard. The UCD3040 is been choosen for our isolated DC-DC conversion applications exclusively. But I have been struck up with the programming and r in search for the programmer for UCD3040. How to start with ? should we start with CCStudio software or Fusion digital power designer?
I have replied to you through email.
On the programmer for UCD3040, yes, we recommend using our Code Composer Studio (CCStudio) which including c-language compiler so Code Coposer Studio is used to develop the firmware. The GUI of Fusion Digital Power Designer is used to debug the firmware with the device of UCD3xxx and the system hardware.
For your mentioned two converter topologies, we have basic platform fimwares under development and close to the final stage.
Thank u Mr Brad and as per my requirement and specification is only for isolated DC-DC converter. If u have any updated information regarding UCD3xxx it will great help.
I have seen your reply and found very useful Mr Hong Huang. But its still not clear for me to choose which programmer hardware supported for UCD3xxx. Will XDS510 from Spectrum Digital will be suitable for programming UCD3xxx or please suggest the other programming hardware through which we can program. The basic platform firmwares under development will be more useful for proper utilization of UCD3xxx product.
The hardware to download the firmware to the UCD3xxx devices is called USB-TO-GPIO, USB Interface Adapter. Refer to the below link:
http://www.ti.com/tool/usb-to-gpio
This adapter is to use PMBus to access the UCD3xxx devices internal circuit such as memories and registers. This adapter is used with the GUI - Fusion Digital Power Designer. Fusion Digital Power Designer, or the GUI for short, is a combined name and contain hardware communication functions for several families of digital power controllers including UCD3040 (UCD3xxx Device GUI).
XDS510 can do similar and most of the communication and debugging functions. XDS510 is using JTAG to realize the functions while USB-TO-GPIO plus the GUI is to use the PMBus to realize the functions. We recommend using the latter as it is capable of full access.
It means that we can program the firmware through JTAG or GPIO using XDS510 or USB-TO-GPIO plus the Fusion digital power designer software GUI respectively? If so, we can program the UCD3xxx device using both JTAG interface and also GPIO pins is that true? Initially to program UCD3xxx for isolated DC-DC zero voltage switching topology the firmware code has to be written by the designer? or using Fusion digital power designer GUI by filling the values we can generate the code using Fusion digital power designer GUI on to the UCD device?
Code Composer Studio is for the firmware writing and compiling. The c-language is used for the firmware writing / programming. The USB-TO-GPIO and the GUI will be used to download the firmware codes to the UCD3xxx device and then used to debug the firmware codes together with the device and the system hardware.
You can use XDS510 through JTAG connection to download the codes to the device and debuggging the codes with the hardware, - this can be done since UCD3xxx support JTAG and have JTAG connection pins. But again, we recommend using the GUI and the USB-TO-GPIO through PMBus to do the firmware dowloading and debugging with the device and the system hardware, as these tools provide full access capability to the UCD3xxx internal registers and memories.
Which CCS version support UCD3K family?
v3.3
For the mentioned two converter topologies(Isolated phase shifted full bridge converters and half-bridge converters) I requested for could u send me the firmwares if they r developed and I want to test them using USB-to-GPIO programmer along with Fusion digital Power Designer.
I will reply to you through email.