Technology

example image

UPMC Technology: Overview

The Universal Power Management Mixed-Signal SoC Controller (UPMC) technology for digital power control and management was conceived to break the barriers of conventional digital solutions and allowing the complete migration from analog to digital control in applications in which the advantages of the digital technology prevail. To this end, the UPMC using parallel processing based on dedicated Configurable Hardwired Engines includes all the building blocks that are essential for the implementation of universal digital power control and management systems. The UPMC is suitable for a broad range of applications common to the power conversion industry, including: Lighting, Building & Home Automation, Power Supplies for Telecom, Computers and Peripherals, Consumer Electronics, Merchant switch-mode power systems (SMPS) and charges, Motor Control, Automotive, etc.

An example of the unique performances that can be achieved with the UPMC technology implementation can be seen in the IDC2000 IC family deployed in a 0.18m with an internal configurable clock of 200MHz.


The UPMC versus Customary Digital Power Management Solutions

  1. Faster in Response
  2. Unparalleled Cost Performance
  3. Unsurpassed Time to Market
  4. Simpler in Design
UPMC cost-vs-respons

Traditionally, digital control of SMPS was accomplished by applying a general purpose Digital Signal Processor (DSP) . Attempts were made to use DSPs to carry out the digital control algorithm, housekeeping, supervisory tasks and communication. Apart from some limited applications, this approach is unsuitable in most industrial instances due to its many drawbacks and limitations. These include:

  1. the single arithmetic unit that limits the speed of computation resulting in a limited control bandwidth,
  2. excessive delays in a multi converter case, limited capabilities to generate non- sequential pulse as might be needed in non linear control,
  3. limited capabilities to achieve high resolution of the output driving signal and its degrading as the number of control channels increases,
  4. as well as other shortcomings.

Another approach to modern digital power management is a closed, dedicated controller for a specific application referred as Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The drawback of this approach is the fact that it is limited to the specific application for which it was developed. Hence, application of the unit to solve other power management problems is impossible since a new ASIC design cycle needs to be initiated for every case.

The UPMC architecture developed by Systel Development & Industries Ltd., and already implemented in silicon, in its IDC2000 IC family, was designed to overcome the limitations of the general purpose DSP approach on the one hand and the limitations of the specialized ASIC solutions on the other


Now available!

PDK L3 New CD
The PDK-L-3.1, a software design tool for configuring the IDC2000 IC family.