1998-06-25, BG9801,
Technical Backgrounder from Philips Semiconductors

Philips Semiconductors' new GreenChip™ (TEA156x) power module family is available in a range of wattages up to 125 watts, while the  TEA1504 GreenChip can handle up to 200 watts for heavy-duty applications. This range provides for turnkey SMPS solutions for most consumer and office applications with custom variants also being available. It is supported by a comprehensive range of wire-wound components, discrete semiconductors and passive components, which are all designed to complement the high quality, small size and energy-saving features of the range.

"Customers are very aware of Green issues and are actively looking for products that save energy and the environment," commented Leo Warmerdam, Philips Semiconductors' GreenChip marketing manager. "Our GreenChips are 'plug & play', making it easy for the designer to cut the amount of energy wasted by a product by up to 99%. And there is an added bonus. The total system cost of using our GreenChips in products is less than current energy-wasting solutions due to a thirty component reduction compared with basic SMPSs."

The TEA156x GreenChip is built as a Multi-Chip Module (MCM) in a small SIL9P or DIP16 IC package. It consists of an integrated power MOSFET for excellent EMC and a controller IC. The latter is the secret behind the power saving capability of the GreenChip because it uses the company's BCD (Bipolar, CMOS and DMOS) PowerLogic™ process to create high-density digital-control circuitry, analog bipolar drive circuitry and power DMOS transistors on the same chip. This enables power MOSFETs to be intelligently controlled with algorithms for efficient power management on the same chip along with analog functionality. The resulting MCM is very rugged and fully tested as a final module during manufacture for increased product reliability.

The highly integrated GreenChip design features integrated electronic on/off circuitry to eliminate the cost of an expensive mains switch and an on-chip rapid-start-up current source that is turned off during normal operation to save energy. Several protection features are included: such as thermal control to provide cut-off in the event of overheating to prevent damage to the SMPS; demagnetisation detection to ensure a new primary stroke can only begin after a secondary stroke has finished; and cycle-by-cycle over-current protection. The overall circuit design reduces standby power consumption, start-up losses and switching losses during normal operation. GreenChips require few external components, are suitable for both flyback and buck circuit topologies (Figures 3 & 4), and can be synchronised to an external frequency. They are optimised for both primary or secondary sensing configurations and operate directly from a mains supply.

For an example of costs, the 100W TEA1566 GreenChip is priced in the region of US $2.50 for 10,000 volumes and is available now.

Type Number	MOSFET	Power	Application	Package	Availability
TEA1501	650V @ 40 Ohm	0.1 - 3 W	standby supply	DIP8	now
TEA1504	control	1 - 200 W	main supply for any system	DIP14	now
TEA1562	600 V @ 6 Ohm	1 - 12 W	main supply e.g. : - USB	DIP16	Q3 1998
TEA1563	600 V @ 4.4 Ohm	1 - 24 W	main supply e.g. : - VCR - set top boxes	SIL9P	Q3 1998
TEA1564	600 V @ 2.5 Ohm	1 - 60 W	main supply e.g. : - VCR - set top boxes - 14" monitor	SIL9P	Q3 1998
TEA1565	600 V @ 1.8 Ohm	1 - 80 W	main supply e.g. : - low end TV - 14",15" monitor	SIL9P	Q3 1998
TEA1566	600 V @ 1.2 Ohm	1 - 100 W	main supply e.g. : - low, mid end TV - 14" - 17" monitor	SIL9P	May 1998
TEA1569	600 V @ 0.85 Ohm	1 - 125 W	(target) main supply e.g. : - mid end TV - 15" - 19" monitor	SIL9P	Q4 1998

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Philips Electronics NV, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the ninth largest semiconductor supplier in the world and the third largest supplier of discretes in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs.

Figure 1: Simplified block diagram of GreenChip

Figure 2: GreenChip standby mode options

Figure 3: The TEA15xx in flyback topologies

Figure 4: The TEA15xx in buck topologies