STMicroelectronics' latest X-CUBE-TCPP software package enhances the company's portfolio of USB Type-C port protection ICs and STM32 interface IP (intellectual property) to simplify product designs by leveraging the USB Power Delivery specification.
USB Power Delivery supports legacy 5V/0.5A operating modes up to 48V/5A (240 Watts) in the latest Revision 3.1 specification. Expanded energy capacity inspires innovative product design and supports new sustainability legislation.
One example is the EU's recent agreement for USB Type-C to become the common charging port on all phones, tablets and cameras to reduce e-waste. New product designs that take advantage of USB Power Delivery include power banks, smart speakers, PC peripherals, communications equipment, medical devices, POS terminals, industrial displays and battery-powered embedded applications.
ST's X-CUBE-TCPP software package facilitates development in the STM32Cube ecosystem and provides libraries for the three USB Type-C port protection ICs. These are the TCPP01-M12 for sink applications, the TCPP02-M18 for source applications, and the TCPP03-M20 for dual-function power (DRP) applications.
The TCPP01-M12, TCPP02-M18, and TCPP03-M20 work with ST's UCPD (USB Type-C and Power Delivery) IP interface featured on select STM32G0, STM32G4, STM32L5, and STM32U5 microcontrollers (MCUs). They cover USB power delivery in the standard power range, up to 20V-5A (100 Watts). This partitioning of the USB Type-C implementation between the MCU and port protection IC enables a two-chip solution that saves cost, reduces complexity, and minimizes PCB space. The STM32 device also functions as a host MCU.
Additionally, X-CUBE-TCPP assists with development on STM32 MCUs that do not contain the Power Delivery PHY, to expedite compliance with the USB Type-C specification.
Users can accelerate collector application development using the X-CUBE-TCPP libraries with the X-NUCLEO-SNK1M1 expansion board and any STM32 Nucleo-64, NUCLEO-G071RB, NUCLEO-G474RE, or NUCLEO-L412RB-P development board containing an STM32 MCU that executes the code.
For source applications, the X-CUBE-TCPP libraries can be used with the X-NUCLEO-SRC1M1 expansion board and any STM32 Nucleo-64 development board for USB Type-C supply without Power Delivery, or NUCLEO-G071RB or NUCLEO -G474RE for USB Type-C source with Power Delivery. The libraries for DRP applications with Power Delivery are used with the X-NUCLEO-DRP1M1 expansion board connected to a NUCLEO-G071RB or NUCLEO-G474RE.
All three cards are certified by the USB Implementers Forum and have a Test ID (TID) number that confirms compliance with the USB-C Power Delivery specification. This guarantees developers interoperability with other certified products in the area. The TIDs for the cards are X-NUCLEO-SNK1M1 (TID 5205), X-NUCLEO-SRC1M1 (TID 7884), and X-NUCLEO-DRP1M1 (TID 6408).
The X-CUBE-TCPP software package is ready for free download from st.com or GitHub.
