diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index ccd302e..535ddd9 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -39,7 +39,44 @@ standard uses it. - STUSB4500 - STUSB4500L - - Some Texas Instruments chips + - TPS25730 + - TPS25751 + +#### Comparison + +All of the PD chips can basically run in auto-run mode--also called +dead battey mode. Since Ethy does not have any battery, the PD devices +have to be able to auto-configure or atleast allow for the standard 5V +output of the USB. The STUSB4500 are specc'ed for USB type-C rev 1.2 +(for STUSB4500) and type-c rev 1.4 (for STUSB4500L). Both seem to function +with the PD rev 2.0 standard. However, according to the STUSB4500 documentation +it is interoperable with USB PD rev 3.0 + +Both the TPS devices are built for USB PD rev 3.1. + +The biggest difference, to me, seems to be the control of an external +power path. The STUSB devices can only function with an external power path +while the TPS devies also have an internal power path. The biggest difference +however, is the type of switch that can be used for each chip. + +The STUSB4500 and STUSB4500L have active drain outputs, meaning that the +switches should be based on P-channel MOSFETS, as uses in their reference +design. The TPS devies have an internal charge pump which means they can +use N-channel MOSFETS. N-channel MOSFETS generally have a smaller footprint +and smaller R_ds(on) than the P-channel counterparts. This can be seen in +the reference designs of PD IC's. The TPS chips use the CSD87501L dual common +drain n-channel from Texas Instruments. This dual channel MOSFET has a +source-to-source R_ds(on) of 6.6 milliOhm at a Gate Source Voltage of 10 V. +For the maximum load of 12V @ 5A, the power loss would be around 165mW. + +Comparing to the P-channel MOSFETS in the STUSB chips, the reference design +uses the STL6P3LLH6 MOSFET from STM. This MOSFET has a maximum R_ds(on) of +around 30milliOhm. at 5A this would result in 0.75 W of loss. Considering +that both designs need two MOSFETS, the loss in the MOSFETS for the STUSB chips +would be around 1.5W. + +This difference in power loss can also be seen in the package size, since +the CSD87501L is half the size of a single STL6P3LLH6 MOSFET. #### Possible DC/DC chips for controllers