ST introduces easy-to-configure controllers that effectively simplify digital power conversion design

     STMicroelectronics introduces the new STNRG family of digital controllers to help designers maximize the benefits of digital power conversion technology, including high energy efficiency at full load, enhanced security, rich diagnostic capabilities, and easy networking.

     The high durability of the new products is sufficient to meet the needs of high-end industrial applications as well as a variety of outdoor power equipment, such as solar power converters, electric vehicle fast charging points, industrial switching power supplies (SMPS), and other applications. STNRG numerical control chip contains ST's unique State Machine Event Driven (SMED, State Machine Event Driven) high-resolution Pulse-width Modulation (PWM, pulse-width Modulation) signal generator, as well as STM8-based monitoring kernel. Integrated 32KB EEPROM, 6KB RAM, analog to digital converter, operational amplifier, I2C interface, and GPIO port.

     Unlike ordinary digital signal processors or microcontroller-based CNC solutions, the new STNRG digital controller can be triggered directly by an internal timer or an external event, such as peak current, excess current or voltage cross zero, detected by a buck converter, and a constant shutdown time is set on the timer. No need to involve other core processors. In addition, a simple proportional integral (P-I) loop performed by the kernel sets the peak current value for the output regulator circuit.

     The STNRG family currently includes four SMED control output STNRG288A, five SMED STNRG328A, and six SMED STNRG388A. For a half-bridge configuration, designers can optionally connect two SMED units together to generate a dual-gate drive signal that is inserted at dead time. The outstanding performance of ST's LED control chip, STLUX, proves that SMED is a high-performance digital control solution.