Cypress USB-C with Power Delivery Making Universal Power Adapters a Reality

Flexible Charging Solution Set to Replace Plethora of Barrel
Connectors, Increasing User Convenience and Reducing e-Waste

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: CY), the embedded solutions leader,
today introduced a USB-C Power Delivery (PD) solution designed to reduce
the e-waste resulting from the estimated one million tons of power
adapters produced per year¹. The Cypress EZ-PD™ Barrel
Connector Replacement (BCR) solution has the potential to replace the
myriad of barrel connectors used in power adapters that consumers are
currently burdened by. It can also replace all legacy USB micro-B
connectors that provide only 7.5 Watts, which is not nearly enough to
power most consumer electronic devices or industrial applications. USB-C
connectors with USB PD provide up to 100W and are widely being adopted
in automobiles, smartphones, laptops and peripherals, and tablets. This
combination makes USB-C connectors ideal to serve as a universal power
adapter standard that eliminates the need for manufacturers to produce
customized chargers—enabling the convenience of reusing chargers for
electronic devices such as IoT devices, smart speakers, power tools,
electric shavers, drones and other rechargeable devices.

Cypress’ EZ-PD BCR controller offers a high level of integration in a
small footprint package that minimizes bill-of-material cost and
simplifies designs, enabling developers to quickly convert their
products to be powered via a USB-C connector with few external
components and no firmware required. Cypress accelerates the transition
to USB-C connectors with the new EZ-PD BCR Kit, which enables product
developers to quickly prototype without requiring firmware development.
More information on the solution is available at www.cypress.com/bcr.

“Using USB-C with Power Delivery as the universal power adapter solution
makes sense across the board,” said Ajay Srikrishna, Vice President of
Cypress’ Wired Connectivity Business Unit. “For consumers, having one
charger for multiple devices is much more convenient. For manufacturers,
using our Barrel Connector Replacement solution to quickly prototype USB
PD charging and eliminate the need to ship a custom charger with your
product provides cost savings over the long haul. And, of course, the
world as a whole benefits from the reduction of e-waste by maximizing
the re-use and sharing of a universal charger for multiple devices.”

The EZ-PD BCR Kit enables product developers to quickly prototype the
conversion of their products from a conventional power adapter to USB PD
in three steps:

• One, select a commercially available USB PD power adapter that
  supports the desired power profile;
• Two, set up the desired USB PD power profile with the EZ-PD BCR Kit
  and quickly prototype with no firmware development required;
• And three, embed the EZ-PD BCR controller into the product, replacing
  the barrel receptacle with a USB-C receptacle.

The product can then be powered by any USB-C power adapter supporting
the desired USB Power Delivery profile, giving the manufacturer the
option to allow consumers to use their own USB-C power adapters instead
of providing one in-box.

Cypress will demonstrate the EZ-PD BCR solution at Embedded World 2019
in Nuremberg, Germany in its stand (#148 in hall 4A) of the Nuremberg
Exhibition Center from February 26-28.

Cypress’ EZ-PD BCR solution complies with the latest USB Type-C and USB
PD 3.0 standards. The BCR controller integrates a complete Type-C USB-PD
transceiver, a load switch controller with a soft start, all termination
resistors required for a USB-C port and system-level ESD protection. The
one-chip solution minimizes bill-of-material costs for USB-C power
adapters by integrating error amplifiers for constant voltage, constant
current and PPS applications, a 30 V regulator that allows direct
operation from VBUS, VBUS short protection on configuration channel (CC)
pins, gate drivers for high-voltage power FETs, a low side current sense
amplifier, and dedicated hardware for legacy charger detection protocols
plus system level electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. Overvoltage
and overcurrent circuitry protects systems against power overloads and
other faulty operating conditions.

Product Availability

The CYPD3177 EZ-PD BCR controller is now in production in a 24-pin QFN
(16 mm²) package. Designers can get started with the EZ-PD
BCR Kit (CY4533), which is now available for $25. More info on Cypress’
USB-C and PD solutions is available at www.cypress.com/Type-C.

About Cypress’ EZ-PD Portfolio

Cypress’ EZ-PD portfolio of USB-C controllers also includes CCG1, the
world’s first programmable USB-C controller, CCG2, the market’s smallest
programmable USB-C solution, CCG3, the market’s most integrated
programmable USB-C solution, CCG4, the world’s first two-port USB-C
solution, and CCG5 and CCG6, the market’s first two-port USB-C solutions
optimized for Thunderbolt notebook and desktop PCs. The EZ-PD portfolio
was the first to support the latest USB PD 3.0 specification, which
enables more robust end-to-end power delivery and charging solutions for
laptop and mobile devices. The portfolio also includes versions of CCG2
and CCG3PA that are AEC-Q100 certified for automotive-grade performance,
enabling fast charging of portable electronics in vehicles.

The USB-C standard is gaining rapid support with top-tier electronics
manufacturers by enabling slim industrial designs, easy-to-use
connectors and cables, and the ability to transmit multiple protocols
and deliver up to 100 Watts of power. The USB-C standard’s 2.4-mm-high
connector plug is significantly smaller than the current 4.5-mm USB
Standard-A connector.

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About Cypress

Cypress is the leader in advanced embedded solutions for the world’s
most innovative automotive, industrial, smart home appliances, consumer
electronics and medical products. Cypress’ microcontrollers, wireless
and USB-based connectivity solutions, analog ICs, and reliable,
high-performance memories help engineers design differentiated products
and get them to market first. Cypress is committed to providing
customers with the best support and development resources on the planet
enabling them to disrupt markets by creating new product categories in
record time. To learn more, go to www.cypress.com.

Cypress and the Cypress logo are registered trademarks and EZ-PD is a
trademark of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. All other trademarks are
property of their owners.

1. The Global e-Waste Monitor 2017

Contacts

Samer Bahou
Cypress PR
(408) 232-4552
[email protected]