Current-mode PWM controller for automotive and industrial power supplies
The Texas Instruments UC2843AQDRHT is a current-mode PWM controller designed for step-up (boost), buck, flyback, and forward converter topologies. It delivers a single transistor-driver output with a maximum duty cycle of 96%, allowing wide conversion ratios without pulse-skipping. The controller operates from a 7.6 V to 30 V supply and switches at frequencies up to 500 kHz, giving designers flexibility to shrink magnetics or optimize for efficiency. This part is AEC-Q100 qualified and rated over the -40°C to 125°C ambient temperature range, making it suitable for under-hood automotive electronics, industrial power supplies, and any environment where commercial-grade parts would derate.
96% duty cycle and 500 kHz switching — what they mean for the converter
The 96% maximum duty cycle allows the controller to keep the switch on for nearly the whole period. The 500 kHz upper switching frequency lets you use smaller magnetics and output capacitors.
Automotive-grade reliability with AEC-Q100
The UC2843AQDRHT carries AEC-Q100 qualification and an operating temperature range of -40°C to 125°C. The 14-SOIC package (3.90 mm width) is a standard footprint for automotive power controllers.
Active lifecycle — no LTB risk for production programs
The product status is listed as Active, meaning Texas Instruments continues to manufacture and support the UC2843AQDRHT. For automotive programs that run five to ten years, this is the right lifecycle stage — you can qualify the part into a new BOM without worrying about a sudden obsolescence notice. The AEC-Q100 qualification also means the part has passed the automotive-grade stress tests (pre- and post-cond, HTSL, TC, etc.), so requalification effort at the module level is minimal.