Chapter 1

Introduction

This chapter introduces the ARM PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface (PL160) and contains the following sections:

•About the ARM PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface (PL160) on page 1-2

•AMBA compatibility on page 1-4.

Introduction

1.1About the ARM PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface (PL160)

The PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface is an Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture (AMBA) compliant System-on-a-Chip peripheral that is developed, tested and licensed by ARM.

The PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface is an AMBA slave module, and connects to the Advanced Peripheral Bus (APB). The PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface can be used to implement a configurable dual-output, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) power converter. Figure 1-1 illustrates a typical interconnection scheme for a PWM controller using the PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface.

Figure 1-1 PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface connections diagram

Introduction

1.1.1Features of the PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface

The features of the PrimeCell DC-DC Converter Interface are:

•Compliance to the AMBA Specification (Rev 2.0) onwards for easy integration into System-on-a-Chip (SoC) implementation.

•Dual PWM drive outputs, with independent closed loop feedback.

•Software programmable configuration of one of four output frequencies (each being a fixed divide of the input clock). The selectable divide factors are 16, 32, 128, or 304.

•Software programmable configuration of duty cycle from 0 to 15/16, in intervals of 1/16.

•Output polarity (that is, positive or negative voltage generation) is hardware-configured during power-on reset via the polarity select inputs.

•Each PWM drive output can be dynamically switched to one of a pair of preprogrammed frequency/duty cycle combinations via external pins.