Introduction

In today's world, our dependence on electronic devices has grown significantly, and along with it, the demands for faster charging speeds and greater energy efficiency have risen. Traditional chargers typically utilize various chips to manage different functions. While this design meets basic user requirements, it complicates circuit design, increases product size and development costs, and makes maintenance and troubleshooting more challenging.

Recently, iSmartWare and Southchip have launched a series of highly integrated 140W PD3.1 protocol chips, which internally integrate PMIC (power management integrated circuit). Let's take a look!

PD3.1 Protocol Chips

As of October 2023, iSmartWare has introduced a total of eight PD3.1 protocol chips, while Southchip has released one. The following is an overview of these chips without any specific order.

iSmartWare

SW3560

SW3560 is a protocol chip that integrates a 7A Buck controller. It features a Cortex-M0 CPU with a maximum frequency of 40MHz, 1M/2Mbit Flash, 4KB SRAM, and supports I2C and UART communication. Notably, it supports a power output of up to 140W and various protocols, including the latest PD3.1 SPR and EPR, SCP/FCP, QC5, AFC, PE2.0, and more.

It offers excellent performance and protection mechanisms, with an input voltage range of 5V to 36V. Additionally, it integrates rapid discharge functions for VBUS and VOUT, enhancing performance and flexibility. The chip provides comprehensive protection measures, including soft start, overvoltage/undervoltage, and VCONN overcurrent protection. It is suitable for applications in car chargers, power adapters, power strips, power tools, and energy storage devices, and it comes in a QFN-32(4mmx4mm) package.

SW3562

SW3562 is an enhanced version of SW3560 with added support for the VOOC protocol, enabling fast charging for OPPO and OnePlus smartphones.

Like SW3560, it integrates a 7A Buck controller, Cortex-M0 CPU with a maximum frequency of 40MHz, 1M/2Mbit Flash, 4KB SRAM, and supports I2C and UART communication. It also supports multiple GPIO and GPADC inputs and offers a power output of up to 140W. The chip supports various protocols, including PD3.1 SPR and EPR, SuperVOOC, SCP/FCP, QC5, PE2.0, and more.

It provides exceptional performance and protection mechanisms, with a 5V to 36V input voltage range, CV/CC loop control, and integration of impedance compensation and dual-path control. The chip also includes various protection features such as overvoltage/undervoltage, chip/NTC over-temperature, DP/DM weak short-circuit, ensuring system safety. It is suitable for use in car chargers, power adapters, power strips, power tools, and energy storage devices, and it also adopts QFN-32(4mmx4mm) package.

SW3566

SW3566 is another improved version of SW3560, with the A+C configuration updated to C+C, while the rest remains the same.

Similar to SW3560, it integrates a 7A Buck controller, Cortex-M0 CPU, 1M/2Mbit Flash, 4KB SRAM, and supports I2C and UART communication. It supports a power output of up to 140W and a variety of protocols, including PD3.1 SPR and EPR, SCP/FCP, QC5, AFC, PE2.0, and more.

The chip offers excellent performance and protection mechanisms, with an input voltage range of 5V to 36V. It also integrates rapid discharge functions for VBUS and VOUT, enhancing performance and flexibility. Additionally, it includes various protection measures, such as soft start, overvoltage/undervoltage, and VCONN overcurrent protection, making it suitable for applications in car chargers, power adapters, power strips, power tools, and energy storage devices, and it comes in a QFN-32(4mmx4mm) package.

SW2335

iSmartWare SW2335 is a highly integrated fast charging protocol controller. It embeds an ARM Cortex-M0 core, with a maximum operating frequency of 40MHz, and supports general peripheral interfaces like I2C, UART, and GPIO. It supports PD3.1, BC1.2, UFCS, and various mainstream DPDM fast charging protocols.

The chip integrates CV and CC loops, and inside the chip, multiple protection functions are integrated, with a QFN-20 (4x4mm) package.

SW2337

SW2337 is equipped with an ARM Cortex-M0 CPU and accepts input voltages ranging from 3.3V to 32V. It features multiple control methods, including optocouplers, feedback voltage (FB), I2C feedback, making it suitable for managing power supply and communication. Additionally, it adopts a 12-bit ADC and flash memory, providing both high-performance and data storage capabilities.

It supports various charging protocols, including but not limited to PD3.1, backward compatibility with PD3.0, QC5, SVOOC, FCP, AFC, SCP, TFCP, and more. It comes in a QFN4x4-20 package.

SW2505

iSmartWare SW2505 is a low-power controller chip that supports PD3.1, QC, UFCS, and other protocols, with an integrated MCU and 16 GPIOs. The USB-C port supports online upgrades and online simulation debugging, and it also supports optocoupler/FB control and I2C master/slave mode.

It supports PD3.1, QC, UFCS, SCP, AFC, VOOC, SFCP, PE, and other mainstream fast charging protocols, with an embedded ARM Cortex-M0 core, 128K Flash, and 4K SRAM.

It integrates output CV/CC loop control, NMOS driver control, 12-bit ADC converter, as well as multiple protection measures such as overvoltage protection, undervoltage protection, and overcurrent protection.

SW2507

SW2507 is embedded with an ARM Cortex-M0 CPU and accommodates input voltages ranging from 3.3V to 32V. It features multiple feedback control methods, such as optocouplers, feedback voltage (FB), and I2C feedback, making it suitable for managing power supply and communication. Additionally, it adopts a 12-bit ADC and built-in flash memory, providing high-performance and data storage capabilities.

It also supports the PD3.1 protocol and is backward compatible with PD3.0/2.0, QC5, SVOOC, FCP, AFC, SCP, and more. It is packaged in a QFN4x4-28 form.

SW2215

SW2215 is equipped with an ARM Cortex-M0 CPU and accepts input voltages ranging from 3.3V to 32V. It features multiple control methods, including optocouplers, feedback voltage (FB), and I2C feedback, making it suitable for managing power and communication.

And it also adopts a 12-bit ADC and built-in flash memory. SW2215 supports the PD3.1 protocol and is backward compatible with PD3.0/2.0, FCP, AFC, SCP, TFCP, and more. It comes in a QFN4x4-20 package.

Southchip

SC9712A

The SC9712A is a highly integrated dual-port fast-charging SoC that supports various fast-charging protocols. It features a 36V high-efficiency synchronous buck controller with a maximum output current of 7A and configurable switch frequency from 80k to 600kHz. Equipped with a set of USB-C ports and two DPDM fast-charging protocol control interfaces, it minimizes external components, enabling fast charging for both USB ports (1C1A, USB-C + USB A) with up to 140W charging power for laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

SC9712A's USB-C port is DFP port, which supports Type C protocol and USB PD 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 protocols. Its DPDM interface can also support Apple 2.4A mode, BC1.2, DCP, HVDC, FC, SCP, UFCS and other fast

charging protocols.

When used with this chip, the USB-A port can automatically detect the insertion and removal of charging devices, including Apple's Lightning cables. It is also compatible with various fast charging protocols, including Apple 2.4A, BC1.2, DCP, HVDCP, AFC, FCP, SCP, and more.

As shown in the diagram, the SC9712A can work with two chips to ensure that both USB-C ports can output at the same maximum power when used individually and automatically allocate power when used simultaneously. Additionally, it can be used in a 2C1A configuration without the need for MCU control.

Compared to traditional dual-port solutions, the SC9712A integrates fast charging protocols for DCDC and C+A ports, simplifying circuit design and facilitating product development. It can provide fast charging for two USB ports (1C1A, USB-C + USB A) with a power output of up to 140W (28V 5A) for portable electronic devices like laptops, tablets, and phones. This enhances the user experience, especially for MacBook Pro users with 140W PD fast charging support, and reduces product size and production costs. It is primarily used in multi-port adapters, car chargers, fast charging power strips, and other devices.

Furthermore, chargers equipped with the SC9712A support CC/CV mode on both outputs and feature NTC temperature monitoring and multiple protection mechanisms, including overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection, short circuit protection, and over-temperature protection, to effectively safeguard the chip and system. It comes in a 32-pin 4mm x 4mm QFN package.

Summary of ChargerLAB

iSmartWare has introduced eight protocol chips, all capable of supporting output power of up to 140W, featuring efficient power management capabilities. These chips are equipped with a Cortex-M0 CPU, 1M/2Mbit Flash, 4KB SRAM, and more. They also provide support for various mainstream fast charging protocols, making them ideal choices for a wide range of applications. With outstanding performance and comprehensive protection mechanisms, these chips are the ideal solution for PD3.1 charging electronic devices.

On the other hand, SC9712A is a highly integrated dual-port fast charging SoC, offering support for multiple fast charging protocols and a maximum output power of 140W. It is designed with USB-C and DFP ports and includes various protection mechanisms.

Nine PD3.1 Protocol Chips and Their Manufacturers: A ChargerLAB Analysis