Introduction

A bidirectional buck-boost chip can automatically regulate the voltage up or down when the input voltage is lower, equal to, or higher than the required voltage, enabling bidirectional voltage conversion. The output voltage of a car's cigarette lighter port is generally 12V or 24V, but different electronic devices require different charging voltages. Currently, devices such as smartphones and laptops that support PD fast charging typically need varying voltage levels ranging from 5V to 20V. Therefore, a car charger with a built-in bidirectional buck-boost chip can automatically adjust the output voltage according to the input voltage and the voltage needed by the device. It converts the car's cigarette lighter port voltage to a suitable charging voltage, meeting the fast charging needs of multiple devices.

Pioneering this market opportunity, POWLICON introduced the PL5501, a synchronous buck-boost controller that replaces the traditional design of separate buck and boost converters. This integration enhances device compactness, reduces size, and simplifies device design and manufacturing.

POWLICON PL5501

The POWLICON PL5501 is a high-efficiency 4-switch buck-boost controller that operates reliably within a wide input voltage range of 3.6V to 32V (with a maximum of 36V). It supports a continuous load current of up to 20A and can maintain a stable output voltage whether the input voltage is higher or lower than the output. This makes it ideal for a variety of buck-boost applications, providing an optimal solution for high-power Type-C PD car chargers.

The POWLICON PL5501 controller uses constant on-time control in buck, buck-boost, and boost operating modes to achieve excellent load and voltage regulation. It features a programmable switching frequency, allowing settings of 150 kHz, 300 kHz, 600 kHz, or 1.2 MHz.

The chip also includes a programmable soft-start function and offers a range of protection features, such as cycle-by-cycle current limiting, input undervoltage lockout (UVLO), output overvoltage protection (OVP), input overvoltage protection, over-temperature protection, and output short-circuit protection. Additionally, the PL5501 controller has a built-in frequency jitter function to enhance EMI performance, making it easier to pass EMC radiation certification and effectively addressing engineers' challenges in EMC rectification.

Application Cases

Baseus 100Ｗ Digital Display Car Charger

Baseus has launched a 100W high-power fast-charging car charger to meet consumers' needs for powerful car chargers. It features a USB-A and a USB-C port, with the USB-C port supporting 100W PD fast charging and offering a 5A PPS voltage range. The USB-A port supports up to 30W fast charging and is also compatible with Huawei's 22.5W SCP fast charging. Both ports can fast charge simultaneously, delivering strong overall performance.

Car Chargers Enter the 100W Fast Charging Era, Teardown of Baseus 100W Digital Display Car Charger

Baseus 160W Three-port Fast Charging Car Charger

This 160W car charger from Baseus is equipped with two USB-C and one USB-A port and is compatible with QC, AFC, FCP, SCP, PE, PD3.0, and PPS fast charging protocols. It has a full voltage range of 5-20V and is very compatible. In addition, it supports 100W+30W+30W three-port fast charging at the same time and has powerful performance, which can meet the needs of high-power fast charging of three devices at the same time.

Teardown of Baseus 160W Three-port Fast Charging Car Charger (CCZX-160C)

iottie 30W PD Fast Charging Car Charger

iottie launched a 30W single-port fast-charging car charger. The car charger has a simple and elegant appearance, and the USB-C output interface is decorated with a metal ring, which is beautiful and wear-resistant.

Google Authorized, Teardown of iottie 30W PD Fast Charging Car Charger

ZEEKR 83W Car Charger

ZEEKR 83W car charger uses 1 USB-A and 1 USB-C interface. USB-C supports 65W PD and 5A PPS, and USB-A supports 18W output. The dual ports support independent fast charging output, with a total output power of 83W, which is convenient for fast charging of mobile phones and laptops at the same time. 5A PPS can also provide high-power charging for mobile phones, and the output power design is very reasonable.

Teardown of ZEEKR 83W Car Charger

Shell 54W Car Charger

The car charger launched by Shell has two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. Each port supports fast charging. The USB-A port supports 18W fast charging when used alone, and supports 24W output when two USB-A ports are used simultaneously. The USB-C port supports 30W fast charging, 20V output gear, and PPS.

Teardown of Shell 54W Car Charger

UGREEN 69W Car Charger

The UGREEN 69W car charger is equipped with a buck-boost circuit, which can output 20V even in a 12V battery car, meeting the fast charging needs of laptops in the car.

Teardown of UGREEN 69W Car Charger

UGREEN 130W Car Charger

The UGREEN 130W car charger has three ports in total: two USB-C and one USB-A. Each port supports fast charging output, with a total power of up to 130W. It can be said that its performance is quite powerful.

Teardown of UGREEN 130W Car Charger

TOPFOR 100W Car Charger

TOPFOR 100W car charger has one USB-A and one USB-C port. The USB-C port supports 65W fast charging, and the USB-A port supports 35W fast charging, with a total output power of 100W. The USB-C port has a built-in buck-boost circuit that supports 20V output. Cars with 12V batteries can also use this car charger to charge laptops, which is more practical.

Teardown of TOPFOR 100W Car Charger

Center Console data recovery module

The center console data recovery module supports 65W fast charging, which can be used to restore the data transmission function of Tesla Model 3/Y and change the car's USB-C interface to a USB-A interface.

Designed for Tesla Model 3/Y, Teardown of Center Console data recovery module

Summary of ChargerLAB

The POWLICON PL5501 is a synchronous 4-switch unidirectional buck-boost controller with a wide input voltage range of 3.6V to 32V and a continuous load current of up to 20A. It is suitable for various buck-boost applications, making it an ideal choice for high-power PD car chargers. The chip features constant on-time control, a programmable switching frequency, and a programmable soft-start function. It also includes multiple protection features and a built-in frequency jitter function to enhance EMI performance, helping manufacturers easily pass EMC radiation certification.

Powlicon is abbr. Of Powerful Silicon. Powlicon Inc. is a high-performance analog semiconductor company founded in 2015 by a strong team of industry veterans. All founders have more than 10 years of USA work experience at famous USA semiconductor companies like Texas Instruments, National Semiconductor, MPS, etc. The company has three core strengths: deep system-level and applications knowledge, strong power management IC design expertise, and innovative proprietary BCD process technology. These combined advantages enable Powlicon to deliver highly integrated monolithic power management IC products that offer the most energy-efficient and cost-effective solutions.