The relentless rise in AI PC computational power and full-throttle performance is driving a significant increase in device power consumption and energy replenishment needs, making high-wattage fast charging an irreversible industry trend. Traditional fast charging specifications below 100W are no longer adequate for high-performance AI devices, propelling PC fast charging power into a stepwise upgrade path: 65W→100W→140W→180W→240W. This evolution is designed to fully support the high-power supply demands of AI PCs, high-performance thin-and-light laptops, gaming notebooks, and multi-functional docking stations.

This power upgrade is technologically driven by the continuous iteration of the USB PD protocol, with charging voltage achieving critical specification leaps from 20V (SPR) to 28V (EPR), then to 36V (EPR), and finally 48V (EPR). The PD3.1 SPR 20V specification caters to conventional 65W-100W fast charging, while the new PD3.2 EPR 28V/36V/48V high-voltage specifications help devices break through power bottlenecks, supporting ultra-high-power fast charging above 140W-240W, thereby significantly enhancing charging efficiency and overall system power supply stability. Addressing this industry upgrade trend, Shanghai Awinic Technology Co.,Ltd. has launched a series of fast charging protection products. These meet the SPR 20V/EPR 28V charging voltage requirements, cover 140W-180W charging power applications, and precisely fit the design needs of next-generation AI PC fast charging systems.

The Type-C interface, with its core advantages of universality, high speed, and high integration, has become the standard interface for AI PCs and docking stations. The concurrent operation of multiple Type-C ports is now a mainstream hardware design. This new operating condition—combining 28V high voltage, high power, and multi-port simultaneous operation—dramatically increases the protection pressure on device power supply systems. Traditional simple protection solutions can no longer adapt to the demanding high-voltage fast charging environment, leading the industry to demand high-robustness design standards for the systematic safety protection of Type-C interfaces.

Essential Protection Capabilities

To ensure the long-term safe and stable operation of AI PCs and docking stations in high-voltage, high-power fast charging scenarios, hardware design must be equipped with four core protection capabilities to comprehensively fortify the power supply safety line:

First, adopt a back-to-back structure OVP (Overvoltage Protection) compatible with multi-port concurrent charging and discharging scenarios.

Second, incorporate rapid overvoltage protection coupled with robust surge and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection capabilities, providing high-robustness safety protection for the Type-C interface input and subsequent circuits against various high-voltage anomalies and electrical interference.

Third, integrate reverse current protection to effectively prevent current backflow, avoiding damage to chips and the entire device.

Fourth, include standard short-circuit protection to quickly handle faults such as abnormal plug/unplug events and line shorts, comprehensively covering various safety hazards associated with high-power fast charging.

Key Product Advantages

1. Rapid Overvoltage Protection

The Shanghai Awinic Technology Co.,Ltd. AWP3210x product demonstrates an OVP response time of 27ns, with VIN max at 26.28V and VOUT max at 22.81V under test conditions (external TVS SP1224, VIN=20V, VIN surge 100V, Rload=100Ω). In contrast, other industry solutions show an OVP response time greater than 1 microsecond, with VIN max at 28.5V and VOUT max at 27.6V under the same conditions.

2. Dual Protection: Ideal Diode + Fast Reverse Current Protection (Fast RCP)

This is not merely the addition of two functions but a precise solution to a core design contradiction in OVP protection products: the need for efficient daily power delivery versus self-protection during catastrophic faults. These two independent mechanisms cover two completely different application scenarios.

The Ideal Diode function handles slow-changing anomalies, providing efficient,常态 anti-backflow protection. It uses real-time closed-loop regulation of the MOSFET gate voltage to maintain an extremely low and stable forward voltage drop. Performance does not degrade under high-temperature, full-load conditions, fundamentally eliminating thermal runaway risk and enabling efficient, smooth seamless switching, especially when adapters are unplugged or voltage dips occur.

The Fast RCP function tackles extreme short-circuit faults, offering nanosecond-level hardware protection. It senses and instantaneously cuts off the reverse current path at nanosecond speed, blocking energy before destructive surges form (which could reach tens or hundreds of amps), thereby providing a final safety net for the chip itself and the entire system.

The Ideal Diode is responsible for efficient daily power supply and smooth switching, while Fast RCP ensures survival under extreme fault conditions. These two layers complement each other, forming a complete protection loop from normal operation to catastrophic scenarios.

3. Surge Protection Mechanism Enhanced by Proprietary Technology

The chip integrates a unified surge protection mechanism, using an internal component (equivalent to Q3) to replace an external TVS. A single device safeguards both the VIN and VOUT ends against surges, saving components, board space, and simplifying the design.

Product Overview

AWP32107DNR

Features include a wide input voltage range from 3.4V to 23V, 8A continuous current capability, VIN and VOUT rated at 38V Abs max, an integrated ultra-low Ron switch (typical 17mΩ), over-voltage protection turn-off response (typical 100ns), Ideal Diode RCP, programmable soft-start, VIN under-voltage lockout (UVLO), over-temperature protection (OTP), short circuit protection, IEC 61000-4-2 contact discharge protection of +/-8KV, IEC 61000-4-5 45V surge protection on VIN and VOUT, and a thermally enhanced DFN3*3-12L package.

AWP32109DNR / AWP32109S

Features include a wide input voltage range from 3.4V to 32V, 8A continuous current capability, VIN and VOUT rated at 38V Abs max, an integrated ultra-low Ron switch (typical 17mΩ for AWP32109, 16mΩ for AWP32109S), over-voltage protection turn-off response (typical 100ns), Ideal Diode RCP, programmable soft-start, VIN under-voltage lockout (UVLO), over-temperature protection (OTP), short circuit protection, and IEC 61000-4-2 contact discharge protection of +/-8KV.

The AWP32109 model offers IEC 61000-4-5 45V surge protection on VIN and VOUT, while the AWP32109S provides 115V surge protection on VIN and 80V on VOUT. They come in DFN3*3-12L (AWP32109DNR) and DFN4*4-16L (AWP32109SDNR) packages, respectively.

Typical Application Scenarios

These products are suitable for application scenarios such as notebook computers, docking stations, and notebook expansion bases.