tiny i2c programmable power supply

[_Beau_]

Hi all!

I made a little i2c controllable buck/boost converter PPS.

Here's the specs:
22x52mm
-Vin 2.7 V - 36 V
-Vout  0.8 V to 22 V with 20-mV step
-Iout 5A
-Ideal for USB-C PD power input or output
-Over Current Protection
-Output overvoltage protection
-Output short-circuit protection
-Shunt with x20 amplified voltage for current measurement
-High efficiency ~97%
-Thermal shutdown protection
-Breadboard compatible
-Texas Instruments TPS55288 based


You can use the i2c interface to control Voltage, over current limit and response time, enable/disable, operating mode PWM/PFM, load discharge, cable voltage droop compensation, hiccup mode, short circuit indication...

Together with a microcontroller it makes for a nice little programmable power supply.



I'm planning to open source it, maybe crowdfund, and to do a small production run. I'd like some feedback from you all here. To improve the design, and get an idea if there would be any interest for it. And maybe at what pricepoint.

Thanks!
Beau

[NiHaoMike]

Looking up the chip, it doesn't seem to be PMbus compatible. See if it would be a trivial change to swap to one that is.

[_Beau_]

I got the PMBus question before. It's not supported and there's no similar IC that does support it.

I personally don't care much for the PMBus, and for it's intended purpose I don't think it's a big issue, but it would be nice to have for sure.

[voltsandjolts]

Nice idea.

Is this essentially the same circuit as the evaluation board?

TPS55288 doesn't seem plentiful right now. TI.

[_Beau_]

Yep, it's very close to the EVM. Here's a side-by-side pic.

[Hydron]

Good luck getting anything from TI before 2023. I'm in the process of designing a few of their parts out of a product - thankfully nothing that can't be worked around but it's very annoying, especially when the alternatives are more expensive and miss a few nice to have features.

[_Beau_]

ok, didn't see that coming. I got 5 more in stock to build prototypes. I'm not in a rush though. It can wait till 2023

I'll take the time to build some add-ons to it: PPS control and I/O board, and a 100W USB-C PD battery pack.

[hatte]

 @_Beau_ what happened to this project?
I am looking for something exactly like this, so I would be interested in any design resources or similar products that you have come across.
Not looking to invest a lot of time in it myself, as I have plenty to keep me busy.
But I need a few like this to power equipment being tested in a small test chamber with thermal, humidity and barometric pressure control – as well as control of supplied power.