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Power Distribution Architecture
Research Topics
Centralized vs. Split Power Distribution Architecture
Research advantages and disadvantages of a centralized power distribution architecture versus a split power distribution architecture with multiple duplicated voltage rails (5V, 12V, 24V, etc.)
Buck Converter or Buck Boost Converter. What about Buck-Boost Converters?
Research advantages and disadvantages between using a buck converter versus a boost converter to generate a desired voltage rail (Ex. if I need to make a low power consumption rail of 24V, and I have both a 12V and a 50V rail, should I use a buck converter to step down 50V to 24V? Or, should I use a boost converter to step up 12V to 24V?
In what applications should we use buck-boost converters?
Buck Converter Sourcing
Research a list of manufacturers, suppliers with available in stock buck converter ICs
Optional Current Sense Interface
Should the connector interface for optional current sense of the voltage regulator buck converter PCB modules be V_sense+ and V_sense-, or I_sense and GND? That is, should the buck converter PCBs send the raw Kelvin-sensed signals to a connector, or should the PCBs have a dedicated current sense amplifier from which the output and GND is sent to a connector?
Buck Converter Projects
12V-5V @ 3A Buck Converter Board - Nolan Haines Neel Bullywon
12V-5V Synchronous Buck Converter PCB @ 3A Max Load Current Consumption (15W)
I/O:
Input Voltage Connector
+12V
GND
Output Voltage Connectors (2x)
+5V
GND
Current Sense Connector
V_sense+ and V_sense-, or:
I_sense and GND
Features:
12V-5V Buck Converter @ 3A
Reverse Polarity Protection
Status LEDs for both +12V and +5V voltage rails
Optional current sense interface
Dimensions:
15mm x 25mm
No vertical design constraints
24V-12V @ 2A Buck Converter Board - Michael Botros
24V-12V Synchronous Buck Converter PCB @ 2A Max Load Current Consumption (24W)
I/O:
Input Voltage Connector
+24V
GND
Output Voltage Connectors (3x)
+12V
GND
Current Sense Connector
V_sense+ and V_sense-, or:
I_sense and GND
Features:
24V-12V Buck Converter @ 2A
Reverse Polarity Protection
Determine for given PMOS selection if conduction power loss is acceptable. If unacceptable, consult your leads to discuss compromising solutions
Status LEDs for both +24V and +12V voltage rails
Optional current sense interface
Should also be able to provide 5V @ 3A with the change of a few passives
This “requirement” is optional depending on the difficulty level we’re looking for. It would be useful for the use case of the PCBA, but it increase project difficulty.
Dimensions:
20mm x 30mm
No vertical design constraints
50V-24V @2A Buck Converter Board - (Unasigned)
(12S) 50V-24V Synchronous Buck Converter PCB @2A Max Load Current Consumption (48W)
I/O:
Input Voltage Connector
(12S) +36V to +50.4V
GND
Output Voltage Connector (3x)
+24V
GND
Current Sense Connector
V_sense+ and V_sense-, or:
I_sense and GND
Features:
50V-24V Buck Converter @ 2A
Status LEDs for both +50V and +24V voltage rails
Optional current sense interface
Should also be able to provide 12V @ 2A if needed with the change of a few passives
Dimensions:
25mm x 35mm
No vertical design constraints
+5V USB - 24V @0.25A Boost Converter PCB - Steven Wang
Boost Converter PCB !
Output Voltage
Adjustable to these standard voltages:
5V
12V
18V
24V
Allowing for voltages in between is fine, but getting to these values would be nice!
Output Current
Targeting 0.25A Output minimum at all adjustable voltage values
The highest minimum output power of which will be 24V*0.25A=6W
Being able to handle higher output current than this is absolutely fine under the requirement that it doesn’t vastly increase cost or development time.
Efficiency
The use case for this board is take output from a 120VAC Single Phase to 5V USB standard power converter and use that output as the input to this board
Looking at a standard wall adapter I see they can do 1-2.5 A of output current at 5V so with some basic math, 24V*0.25A=6W & 1A*5V=5W, so efficiency is a concern in this case
Anything above 80% efficiency will work for us, but the higher the better for our use case!
Previously using a synchronous buck converter was considered imperative due to efficiency concerns, but a decision matrix should be used to evaluate it’s necessity vs cost.
Cost
We don’t want cost to gate this project’s progress. Evaluate efficiency and difficulty vs cost via decision matrixes!
There are no hard requirements.
Timeline
In order for this board to be most useful we would like it all debugged and functional before competition in May 2023 such that it can be utilized for debugging at that time.
Beyond that soft requirement it is entirely up to you. Once the Asana is back, we will utilize that to track progress.
Input Output Connectors:
Vin
Take a pick of USB-C or whatever other standard USB you want.
Only need +5V and GND pins, (presumably no ERC +D and -D pins)
Vout
XT60PW-F
PWR and GND
Other Features:
Status LEDs for both Vin and Vout voltage rails
Since the output voltage is adjustable, an LED indication to the user roughly where their output voltage is would be nice.
Bonus if you’re feeling crazy is roughly indicating the output current and other states of the converter though this is far from a requirement