dsPIC® Digital Signal Controllers (DSC)
Level 4
Microchip’s dsPIC® Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) are an excellent choice for use in
common, multi-loop switch-mode power supplies (SMPSs) and other power-conversion
applications. The dsPIC30F1010 and dsPIC30F2020/2023 (dsPIC30F202X) DSCs have a high-
speed, 1 nanosecond (ns) resolution pulse-width-modulator (PWM) and 2 million sample per
second (MSPS), 10-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) converter onboard for low latency and high-
resolution control. The devices are ideal for AC/DC converters, isolated DC/DC power-
converters and other power-conversion applications, such as embedded power-supply
controllers, power inverters and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs).
Microchip is a leading supplier of microcontrollers and analog control products to the power-
conversion industry. The Company’s microcontrollers have long been used in intelligent power
supplies for communications, power-sequencing, soft-start and topology control. However,
until now, a lack of effective solutions has hampered the development of supplies using digital
control of the complete power-conversion loop. The dsPIC30F1010 and dsPIC202X DSCs free
designers to implement complete digital control of their products.
Example Applications
AC to DC Converters
DC to DC Converters
Power Factor Correction (PFC)
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
Inverters
Embedded Power-Supply Controllers
Circuit Breakers, Arc Fault Detection
Digital Lighting
dsPIC DSC SMPS Devices
The new DSCs enable full control of the power-conversion process via software running on the
DSC and through its high-performance integrated peripherals. Designers are no longer limited
by analog-control design techniques. Components no longer need to be “oversized” to
account for component variation. There is no need to worry about component drift and
temperature compensation. Manual tuning at the end of the manufacturing line can be a thing
of the past. Fewer product platforms are required to serve a wider range of applications, as
they are differentiated through software, rather than hardware. Additionally, new, fully-digital
topologies help provide designers with a higher degree of freedom to develop supplies with
improved power density and improved cost effectiveness.
Figure 1 below shows a block diagram of the dsPIC-SMPS products. The PWM onboard the
dsPIC30F1010 and dsPIC30F202X devices offers 1 ns duty cycle resolution and seven modes
of operation, including standard, complementary, push-pull and variable-phase. The 10-bit
A/D converter has up to 12 input channels and samples at up to 2 MSPS. Advanced sampling
capabilities include individual triggers for each of four sample and holds, and precise, uniquely
timed or simultaneous sampling. The dsPIC30F1010 has 6 Kbytes of Flash and two PWM
generators, and the dsPIC30F202X have 12 Kbytes of Flash and four PWM generators. All
devices in this family operate between 3.0 and 5.5 volts. Additional features include:
Onboard high-speed analog comparators (2 or 4)
30 MIPS performance at 5.0 volts
Small footprint QFN package (6 mm x 6 mm)
Fast, deterministic response
Extended temperature operation (-40 to 125 degrees Celsius)
Optional PWM dither mode for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) reduction
Part Number Pins Flash SRAM 2 MSPS 10 High Communication /
(Kb) (Bytes) bit ADC Speed Timers
CH x S&H PWM
dsPIC30F1010 28 6 256 6 CH x 2 2x2 UART, I2C™,
S&H SPI, 2 x Timers
dsPIC30F2020 28 12 512 8 CH x 4 4x2 UART, I2C™,
S&H SPI, 3 x Timers
dsPIC30F2023 44 12 512 12 CH x 4 4x2 UART, I2C™,
S&H SPI, 3 x Timers
CH – Channel
S&H – Sample and Hold
Note: This table does not list all microcontrollers and digital signal controllers available. If the
specific mix of peripherals desired is not shown, you can use the following links to:
complete 8-bit PICmicro® MCU selection chart
complete dsPIC digital signal controllers selection chart
Benefits of Digital Loop Control
By using digital loop control to implement power conversion products developers can realize
many benefits to their design and business. These are enabled by the ability to perform the
power conversion control via reprogrammable software and the performance and features of
the Microchip DSC solutions. Benefits can include the following.
Increased Power Density
Reduce System Size via Component Count and Size Reduction
Lower Cost, Improved Time to Market & Ease of Manufacturing
Feature-Rich Designs with Fewer Components
Power Factor Correction Performed by DSC Software
Complexity Designing for Component Tolerance/Drift Reduced
Fewer Hardware Platforms Supports Varied-End Products Through Software
Manufacturing Line Tuning Eliminated – No Component Tolerance Issues
End-of-Line Configuration Possible (Load Limits, Communication
Protocols, etc.)
Improved Self-Test Capability Simplifies/Speeds Product Testing
New, Cost-Effective Features
Adapt to Changing Load (Capacitive, Inductive, Resistive, Current Demands)
Better Transient Response Specifications – Not Limited to Linear Techniques
Managed Voltage Transitions Eliminate “Over specified” Components
Improved Reliability
Supplies Can Be Restricted From Operating Out of Specification
Fewer Components Help Reliability
Lower Cost Redundancy Options
Protect Intellectual Property
Key Innovative IP Implemented in Secured Flash Software
Benefits of the dsPIC-SMPS
The benefits of the dsPIC-DSC SMPS digital signal controllers for digital power conversion
applications are many. The dsPIC DSC SMPS controllers are Self-Contained SMPS Solutions
that do not require much in the way of external support chips as they have all the necessary
peripherals to do the job. As opposed to solutions from others the dsPIC DSC SMPS does not
need the following external components because they are all performed internally:
NO External PWM
NO External ADC
NO External Power Management Chip
NO Crystal Required
NO Separate Chip for Communications
NO Separate Chip for Power Factor Correction
So when using the dsPIC DSC SMPS solution in applications developers can obtain a 50%
reduction in component count over other solutions.
In addition to the space and cost saving features that are in the dsPIC DSC SMPS solution it
also has special features specifically enabling advanced power conversion. These include
Intelligent Power. The independent PWM, ADC and Analog Comparators peripherals form the
Intelligent Power Peripheral via an internal configurable control fabric that enables them to
interact directly with one another. Below is some of the capability and benefits offered by the
configurable control fabric.
Configurable Control Fabric
Controls Coordination between Comparators, PWM, and ADC
Set-up via Software / Operates Independently of Software
Precisely Times ADC Conversions
Controls PWM Response to Faults
Benefits of Configurable Control Fabric
Provides Real-Time Response without Firmware Intervention
Expands Control Range of Options
Adaptable for a Wide Variety of Control Methodologies
Provides Fail-Safe Control
Developed with Deep Understanding of SMPS
Many Years of Working With and Delivering Products to
the Power-Conversion Industry