USB-IF Certified Reference Designs Provide Easy Drop-in Solution to Accelerate Designing Multi-Port USB-C Hubs and Multi-Battery-Cell Power Banks

April 3, 2019

TOKYO, Japan ― Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced two new reference designs that simplify and speed the development of USB Power Delivery (PD3.0) and USB-C™ battery charging applications such as USB-C computing hubs, power banks, car chargers, SSD enclosures, point of sale (POS) printers, and desktop displays. The RTK-251-1PowerBank3 and RTK-251-BuckBoostConverter2 are USB-IF PD3.0 certified design kits, and represent the first in a new series of reference designs for applications implementing the USB Type-C™ power and data connection standard.

The RTK-251-1PowerBank3 board is a 3-cell (series connected) Li-ion battery power bank reference design that employs the R9A02G011 USB PD3.0 controller and ISL95538B buck-boost Narrow Voltage Direct Charging (NVDC) battery charger. Ideal for USB-C multi-battery-cell power banks, the reference design board includes one USB Type-C port that supports the Dual Role Power (DRP) feature, delivering power in both directions via power source and power sink modes. When the power bank is in sink mode, it requests 5V, 9V, 15V, or 20V from a USB PD3.0 provider such as an AC adapter. When the power bank is in source mode, the Li-ion battery supplies 5V up to 20V requested from a PC, tablet, or smartphone. In addition, the RTK-251-1PowerBank3 changes its DRP role based on the remaining battery capacity displayed on the board’s LEDs.

The RTK-251-BuckBoostConverter2 is a DC/DC module that employs the R9A02G011 USB PD3.0 controller and the ISL95338 bidirectional buck-boost voltage regulator. The RTK-251-BuckBoostConverter2 reference design board is ideal for USB-C hubs as part of the USB-PD AC adapter connection. It accepts 19V with 4.73A DC input power and produces USB-PD3.0-compatible VBUS output power. The reference design board supports Programmable Power Supply (PPS) and has two USB Type-C receptacles for VBUS power output.

“The RTK-251-1PowerBank3 and RTK-251-BuckBoostConverter2 reference designs significantly speed up customers’ development schedules by providing tested and complete solutions ready to drop into any design,” said Andrew Cowell, Vice President, Battery & Optical Systems Division, Renesas Electronics Corporation. “Renesas’ industry-leading USB-PD and USB-C products enable smaller form factors, faster charging, and higher efficiency for remarkably longer battery life.”

Key Features of RTK-251-1PowerBank3 Reference Design Kit

  • 1 port USB-PD power bank reference design board includes:
    • R9A02G011 power delivery controller supports dual role operation
    • ISL95538B buck-boost battery charger up to 4-cells (default 3-cell setting)
  • Type-C port supporting PD3.0 with PPS x1 and DRP with bypass mode
  • Supports OVP, OCP, OTP and UVLO protections
  • Supports USB-C authentication
  • SDK sample code and parameter settings configured through Renesas USB Power Delivery Controller Flash ROM Image Generator software tool

Key Features of RTK-251-BuckBoostConverter2 Reference Design Kit

  • 2-port DC/DC Module reference design board includes:
    • Two R9A02G011 power delivery controllers
    • Two ISL95338 buck-boost voltage regulators
  • DC/DC: For 3V, 5V, and PD out = ISL95338 x2
  • Type-C port supporting PD3.0 x2
  • 12V~19V for DC IN
  • Supports PD output voltage
    • Fixed = 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V, and additional user setting 3 PDOs
    • PPS = 20V Programmable (3.3V to 21V)
  • Supports USB-C authentication
  • SDK sample code and parameter settings configured through Renesas USB Power Delivery Controller Flash ROM Image Generator software tool

Pricing and Availability

The RTK-251-1PowerBank3 Reference Design Kit is available now from Renesas Electronics’ worldwide catalog distributors with a recommended resale price of USD $119.00.

The RTK-251-BuckBoostConverter2 Reference Design Kit is available now from Renesas Electronics’ worldwide catalog distributors with a recommended resale price of USD $127.00.

To jumpstart your USB-PD and USB-C designs, download both reference designs kits: https://www.renesas.com/products/renesas-usb-power-delivery-family/c30-group/r9a02g011.html#downloads.

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) delivers trusted embedded design innovation with complete semiconductor solutions that enable billions of connected, intelligent devices to enhance the way people work and live. A global leader in microcontrollers, analog, power, and SoC products, Renesas provides comprehensive solutions for a broad range of automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT applications that help shape a limitless future. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Remarks). USB Type-C and USB-C are trademarks of USB Implementers Forum. All names of products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.


The content in the press release, including, but not limited to, product prices and specifications, is based on the information as of the date indicated on the document, but may be subject to change without prior notice.

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