Top Real time MCU options

The best microcontroller for the digital PFC includes the STM32F334/G4x4 (STMicroelectronics) for high-resolution PWM, TMS320F28004x/F28002x (TI) for high-performance control, and UCD3138A (TI) for specialized, fast-loop digital power tasks. These MCUs are chosen for their fast ADC sampling and dedicated timers needed for high-efficiency digital power conversion. Below is the list of few selected microcontrollers.

Top Microcontroller Families for Digital PFC

• STMicroelectronics STM32 Digital Power Series:
• STM32G4x4/F334: Features high-resolution timers (HRTimer) offering PWM resolution down to 184 ps, critical for precise PFC loop control.
• STM32F103: Used in lower-cost digital PFC designs.
• Advantage: Strong ecosystem with Biricha digital power training support.
• Texas Instruments (TI) C2000 Series:
• TMS320F28004x/F28002x: Excellent for complex PFC algorithms (e.g., interleaved PFC) due to their high-speed ADCs and Control Law Accelerators (CLA) that free up the main CPU.
• UCD3138A: A dedicated digital power controller with a hardware state machine, ideal for high-efficiency, fixed-frequency PFC.
• Infineon XMC1300/XMC4000 Series:
• XMC1300: Known for handling complex PFC and motor control tasks in a single chip at lower costs.
• Renesas SH7216:
• Used in high-performance digital power applications, offering fast RISC core processing.

 

When choosing a microcontroller for digital PFC, ensure that it has:

• High-Resolution PWM (HRPWM): Essential for maintaining low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and high efficiency.
• Fast ADC Sampling: The ADC must be fast enough to sample the current and voltage within a single switching cycle.
• Fast CPU Speed: A high-speed CPU (e.g., 100+ MHz) or dedicated hardware accelerators (CLA) is needed for real-time control loop calculations.

For most new designs, the STM32G4 or TI C2000 series are recommended due to their modern features, widespread adoption, and robust supporting software for digital power design.

You can see the video tutorial below