Is USB PD 3.1 (240W) on STM32 with built in UCPD possible?

[Gorkem]

Dear Sir/Madam,

Is it possible to have a STM32 with build in UCPD-controller to deliver 240W at the port? or does anyone have experience with this type of application?

According to (link: https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/ecosystems/stm32-usb-c.html?ecmp=tt21056_gl_link_may2021) I should be able to negotiate of up to 240W with EPR (extended power range) if I make use of the STM32G0 series.

After consulting your presentation (link: https://www.st.com/resource/en/product_presentation/stm32-usb-c-pd-solutions-presentation.pdf) I have come to the knowledge (see page 10) that I also need a TCCP0X port protection IC, I want to have a STM that is able to sink or source power (DRP) according to the presentation I need a TCPP03-M20. Consulting the datasheet of the TCCP03-20 I came to the conclusion that it complies with powers up to 100W only. 

Also looking into AN5225 (https://www.st.com/resource/en/application_note/dm00536349-usb-type-c-power-delivery-using-stm32xx-series-mcus-and-stm32xxx-series-mpus-stmicroelectronics.pdf) I don't see any specifications for USB-C PD 3.1 (240W) either...

Another thing to note there is no single port controller or VBUS port protection IC that is suitable for 240W on the current market. I am also aware that I need an energy management system that is able to output 240W but the main question is, is the STM32 capable of driving this power. 

Looking forward for your reply, I would like to thank you in advance.

Greetings,

Gorkem 

[Philippe RABIER · Accepted solution]

Dear Gorkem,

Thanks for the  detailed  description.

TCPP0x series has  been developed  several years  ago when Power Delivery was 100 W maximum. So the  limitation of  the TCPP0x series  is  100 W because  of the voltage of the  technology used. For the  new  EPR up to 240 W, we  are  investigating in a  new TCPPEx series able to manage 240 W. This  new  series  will be  able to work with an STM32 having  UCPD.

I suggest you contact your  local sales office, and  they will come back to you once  our  TCPPEx series is  available.

Regards. Philippe Rabier

[Gorkem]

Dear Philippe,

Does this means that I need to develop a PD circuit without port protection? I you look into the datasheet (https://www.st.com/resource/en/application_note/dm00536349-usb-type-c-power-delivery-using-stm32xx-series-mcus-and-stm32xxx-series-mpus-stmicroelectronics.pdf) @ page 39 you can see that a port protection IC is actually optional but also strongly recommended, so I guess I need to make a trade off between these two.

Greetings,

Gorkem

[Philippe RABIER]

Dear Gorkem,

Protection is like  insurance. Everybody does not  want to pay for that because  it is  useless until you get a  crash. In our  case the crash is either a  surge  or  a  short circuit to Vbus. So it is better to add protection.

When do you you expect to get your 240 W  system to go in production ?

Regrads

Philippe Rabier

[Gorkem]

Dear Philippe,

It is not for production purposes but for my thesis in which I have to design a USB-C DRP station which can deliver up to 240W. It is quite new and it hasn't been implemented before as far as I know. Also a side note, regarding the port protection I am planning to make a port protection with discrete components that is configurable of up to 48V tolerant on the CC and SBU-pins, I will keep you updated. 

Thanks in advance.

Greetings,

Gorkem 

[Philippe RABIER]

Dear Gorkem,

You are  right  this is  quite  new  and  I am not  aware  of  any IC able to manage 240 W EPR either with µC or  stand alone. We  are working on it but we  wont  have  product before Q3-2024 as  the  product is today not fully defined.

CC and SBU-pins must  be  55 V tolerant (48 V + tolerance)

Regards. Philippe

[Gorkem]

Yeah, I have to make a discrete circuit for overvoltage protection on the cc and sbu-pins since there are no IC's available to do that for EPR. That is going to be quite challenging.. 

[j0ule]

I tried putting zener diodes on these lines as protection and it seems to work well 

I haven’t been able to find any EPR support in the STM32 PD 3.1 state machine software though, messages for EPR seem absent.

[Gorkem]

Dear J0ule,

Please keep me updated regarding the progress of your project.

Greetings,

Gorkem