EE462L, Spring 2014

DCDC Buck Converter

!
Objective to efficiently reduce DC voltage
The DC equivalent of an AC transformer
Iin
+
Vin

Iout
DCDC Buck
Converter

+
Vout

Lossless objective: Pin = Pout, which means that VinIin = VoutIout and

Vout
I in

Vin
I out
2

Here is an example of an inefficient DCDC

converter
The load

R1
+
Vin

+
R2

Vout

R2
Vout Vin
R1 R2

Vout
R2

R1 R2 Vin
If Vin = 39V, and Vout = 13V, efficiency is only 0.33
Unacceptable except in very low power applications

Taken from Course Overview PPT

Another method lossless conversion of

39Vdc to average 13Vdc
Stereo
voltage

Switch closed
Switch open

39

+
39Vdc

Rstereo
0

Switch state, Stereo voltage

Closed, 39Vdc

DT
T

Open, 0Vdc

If the duty cycle D of the switch is 0.33, then the average

voltage to the expensive car stereo is 39 0.33 = 13Vdc. This
is lossless conversion, but is it acceptable?
4

Taken from Course Overview PPT

Convert 39Vdc to 13Vdc, cont.

+
39Vdc

Try adding a large C in parallel with the load to

control ripple. But if the C has 13Vdc, then
when the switch closes, the source current
spikes to a huge value and burns out the
switch.

Rstereo

L
+
39Vdc

Rstereo

Try adding an L to prevent the huge

current spike. But now, if the L has
current when the switch attempts to
open, the inductors current momentum
and resulting Ldi/dt burns out the switch.

lossless
L
+
39Vdc

Rstereo

By adding a free wheeling diode, the

switch can open and the inductor current
can continue to flow. With highfrequency switching, the load voltage
ripple can be reduced to a small value.

A DC-DC Buck Converter

5

Taken from Waveforms and Definitions PPT

Cs and Ls operating in periodic steady-state

Examine the current passing through a capacitor that is operating
in periodic steady state. The governing equation is
i(t ) C

dv ( t )
dt

t
1 o t
i ( t )dt
which leads to v ( t ) v ( to )

C
to

Since the capacitor is in periodic steady state, then the voltage at time t o is the same as the voltage one
period T later, so

v ( to T ) v ( to ), or

The conclusion is that

t
1 o T
v ( to T ) v ( to ) 0
i ( t )dt
C
to T

i ( t )dt 0

to

which means that

to

the average current through a capacitor operating in periodic steady state is zero

Taken from Waveforms and Definitions PPT

Now, an inductor

Examine the voltage across an inductor that is operating in

periodic steady state. The governing equation is
v(t ) L

di ( t )
dt

which leads to

t
1 o t
i ( t ) i ( to )
v ( t )dt

L
to

Since the inductor is in periodic steady state, then the voltage at time t o is the same as the voltage one
period T later, so

i ( to T ) i ( to ), or

The conclusion is that

t
1 o T
i ( to T ) i ( to ) 0
v ( t )dt
L
to T

v ( t )dt 0

to

which means that

to

the average voltage across an inductor operating in periodic steady state is zero

Taken from Waveforms and Definitions PPT

KVL and KCL in periodic steady-state

Since KVL and KCL apply at any instance, then they must also be valid
in averages. Consider KVL,

v(t )

0, v1 ( t ) v2 ( t ) v3 ( t ) v N ( t ) 0

Around loop
t
t
t
t
t
1 o T
1 o T
1 o T
1 o T
1 o T
v1 ( t )dt
v2 ( t )dt
v3 ( t )dt
v N ( t )dt
(0)dt 0
T
T
T
T
T
to

to

to

V1avg V2avg V3avg V Navg 0

to

to

KVL applies in the average sense

The same reasoning applies to KCL

i (t )

Out of node

0,

i1 ( t ) i2 ( t ) i3 ( t ) i N ( t ) 0

I1avg I 2avg I 3avg I Navg 0

KCL applies in the average sense

Capacitors and Inductors

In capacitors:

i(t ) C

dv ( t )
dt

The voltage cannot change instantaneously

Capacitors tend to keep the voltage constant (voltage inertia). An ideal

capacitor with infinite capacitance acts as a constant voltage source.
Thus, a capacitor cannot be connected in parallel with a voltage source
or a switch (otherwise KVL would be violated, i.e. there will be a
short-circuit)
In inductors: v ( t ) L

di ( t )
dt

The current cannot change instantaneously

Inductors tend to keep the current constant (current inertia). An ideal

inductor with infinite inductance acts as a constant current source.
Thus, an inductor cannot be connected in series with a current source
or a switch (otherwise KCL would be violated)
9

Buck converter
+ vL
iL

iin

Assume large C so that

Iout

Vin

Vout has very low ripple

iC

+
Vout

Since V has very low

out
ripple, then assume Iout
has very low ripple

What do we learn from inductor voltage and capacitor

current in the average sense?
+0V

iin
Vin

Iout

Iout

L
C

+
Vout
0A

10

The input/output equation for DC-DC converters

usually comes by examining inductor voltages
iin

Switch closed for

DT seconds

+ (Vin Vout)

iL

Iout

Vin

(iL Iout)

+
Vout

Reverse biased, thus the

diode is open

vL L

diL
,
dt

vL Vin Vout ,

Vin Vout L

diL
,
dt

diL Vin Vout

dt
L

for DT seconds

Note if the switch stays closed, then Vout = Vin

11

Switch open for (1 D)T seconds

Vout +

iL

Iout

Vin

(iL Iout)

+
Vout

iL continues to flow, thus the diode is closed. This

is the assumption of continuous conduction in the
inductor which is the normal operating condition.

vL L

diL
,
dt

vL Vout ,

Vout L

diL
,
dt

diL Vout

dt
L

for (1D)T seconds

12

!
Since the average voltage across L is zero

VLavg D Vin Vout 1 D Vout 0

DVin D Vout Vout D Vout

The input/output equation becomes Vout DVin
From power balance, Vin I in Vout I out , so

I in
I out
D

Note even though iin is not constant

(i.e., iin has harmonics), the input power is
still simply Vin Iin because Vin has no
harmonics

13

Examine the inductor current

Switch closed, v L Vin Vout ,

diL Vout
vL Vout ,

dt
L

Switch open,

Vout
A / sec
L

iL
Imax
Iavg = Iout

Vin Vout
A / sec
L

Imin
DT

diL Vin Vout

dt
L

From geometry, Iavg = Iout is halfway

between Imax and Imin
I

Periodic finishes
a period where it
started

(1 D)T
T
14

Effect of raising and lowering Iout while

holding Vin, Vout, f, and L constant
iL
I
Raise Iout
I
Lower Iout
I

I is unchanged
Lowering Iout (and, therefore, Pout ) moves the circuit
toward discontinuous operation
15

Effect of raising and lowering f while

holding Vin, Vout, Iout, and L constant
iL

Lower f
Raise f

Slopes of iL are unchanged

Lowering f increases I and moves the circuit toward
discontinuous operation
16

Effect of raising and lowering L while

holding Vin, Vout, Iout and f constant
iL

Lower L

Raise L

Lowering L increases I and moves the circuit toward

discontinuous operation

17

Taken from Waveforms and Definitions PPT

RMS of common periodic waveforms, cont.

Sawtooth
V

2T

2
1
V
V
V

2
2
3T
Vrms t dt
t dt
t

3
3
0
T T
T
3
T
0
0

V
Vrms
3
18

Taken from Waveforms and Definitions PPT

RMS of common periodic waveforms, cont.

Using the power concept, it is easy to reason that the following waveforms
would all produce the same average power to a resistor, and thus their rms
values are identical and equal to the previous example
V

-V

V
Vrms
3
19

Taken from Waveforms and Definitions PPT

RMS of common periodic waveforms, cont.

Now, consider a useful example, based upon a waveform that is often seen in
DC-DC converter currents. Decompose the waveform into its ripple, plus its
minimum value.

i (t )
Imax Imin

the ripple

i (t )
Imax

I avg

Imin

+
the minimum value

I avg

Imax Imin
2

Imin
0

20

Taken from Waveforms and Definitions PPT

RMS of common periodic waveforms, cont.

2
I rms
Avg i (t ) I min 2

2
2
I rms
Avg i2 (t ) 2i (t ) I min I min

2
2
I rms
Avg i2 (t ) 2 I min Avg i (t ) I min

2
I rms

I max I min 2

2I
3

I max I min I 2

min
min
2

Define I PP I max I min

2
I PP
2
2
I rms
I min I PP I min

21

Taken from Waveforms and Definitions PPT

RMS of common periodic waveforms, cont.

I
Recognize that I min I avg PP
2

2
I rms

2
I PP
I
I

I avg PP I PP I avg PP
3
2
2

2
I rms

2
2
I PP
I PP
2

I avg I PP
I avg
I avg I PP
3
2

2
I rms

2
I PP

2
I PP

2
I avg

2
I PP
2
2
I rms I avg

i (t )
I avg

2
I PP
4

I avg

I max I min
2

I PP I max I min

12

22

Inductor current rating

2
2
I Lrms
I avg

1 2
1
2
I pp I out

I 2
12
12

Max impact of I on the rms current occurs at the boundary of

continuous/discontinuous conduction, where I =2Iout
2Iout

iL

Iavg = Iout
0
2
2
I Lrms
I out

1
2
2I out 2 4 I out
12
3

2
I Lrms
I out
3

Use max

23

Capacitor current and current rating

iL

Iout

L
C

Iout

Note raising f or L, which lowers

I, reduces the capacitor current

iC = (iL Iout)

(iL Iout)

Iout

Max rms current occurs at the boundary of continuous/discontinuous

conduction, where I =2Iout
2
2
I Crms
I avg

1
2
2 I out 2 02 1 I out
12
3

Use max

I
I Crms out
3
24

MOSFET and diode currents and current ratings

iL

iin

Iout

L
C

(iL Iout)

2Iout
Iout
0
2Iout
Iout
0
Use max
Take worst case D for each

I rms

2
I out
3

25

!
Worst-case load ripple voltage

Iout
0
Iout

iC = (iL Iout)

C charging

T/2

During the charging period, the C voltage moves from the min to the max.
The area of the triangle shown above gives the peak-to-peak ripple voltage.

1 T
Q 2 2 I out T I out I out
V

C
C
4C
4Cf
Raising f or L reduces the load voltage ripple
26

Voltage ratings
iL

iin
Switch Closed

Iout
C sees Vout

Vin

iC

+
Vout

Diode sees Vin

MOSFET sees Vin

iL

Switch Open

Vin

Iout

L
C

iC

+
Vout

Diode and MOSFET, use 2Vin

Capacitor, use 1.5Vout

27

!
There is a 3rd state discontinuous
Iout

MOSFET

Vin

L
DIODE

Iout

+
Vout

Occurs for light loads, or low operating frequencies, where

the inductor current eventually hits zero during the switchopen state
The diode opens to prevent backward current flow
The small capacitances of the MOSFET and diode, acting in
parallel with each other as a net parasitic capacitance,
interact with L to produce an oscillation
The output C is in series with the net parasitic capacitance,
but C is so large that it can be ignored in the oscillation
phenomenon
28

Inductor voltage showing oscillation during

discontinuous current operation

vL = (Vin Vout)
Switch
closed

vL = Vout
Switch open

650kHz. With L = 100H, this corresponds

to net parasitic C = 0.6nF
29

Onset of the discontinuous state

2Iout
Iavg = Iout

iL

Vout
A / sec
L

0
(1 D)T

Vout
Vout 1 D
2 I out
1 D T
Lonset
Lonset f
Vout 1 D
Lonset
2 I out f
Then, considering the worst case (i.e., D 0),

Vout
L
2 I out f

use max

guarantees continuous conduction

use min

30

Impedance matching
Iout = Iin / D

Iin

+
Source

DCDC Buck
Converter

Vin

Vout = DVin

V
Rload out
I out

Iin
+
Vin

Equivalent from
source perspective

Requiv

Vout
V
Vout
R
D
Requiv in

load
I in I out D I out D 2
D2

So, the buck converter

makes the load
resistance look larger
to the source
31

Example of drawing maximum power from

solar panel

Pmax is approx. 130W

(occurs at 29V, 4.5A)

Isc

For max power from

panels at this solar
intensity level, attach

Rload

Voc
I-V characteristic of 6.44 resistor

29V
6.44
4.5 A

But as the sun conditions

change, the max power
resistance must also
change
32

Connect a 2 resistor directly, extract only 55W

130W

2
r

esi
st

or

55W

4 or
4
.
6 si st
re

To draw maximum power (130W), connect a buck converter between the

panel and the load resistor, and use D to modify the equivalent load
resistance seen by the source so that maximum power is transferred

R
Requiv load , D
D2

Rload
2

0.56
Requiv
6.44

33

Buck converter for solar applications

The panel needs a ripple-free current to stay on the max power point.
Wiring inductance reacts to the current switching with large voltage spikes.

ipanel
Vpanel

+ vL
iL

Iout

L
C

iC

+
Vout

Put a capacitor here to provide the

ripple current required by the
opening and closing of the MOSFET
In that way, the panel current can be ripple
free and the voltage spikes can be controlled
We use a 10F, 50V, 10A high-frequency bipolar (unpolarized) capacitor
34

BUCK DESIGN

9A

10A

250V

5.66A

Our components
200V, 250V
16A, 20A

40V
10A
40V
Likely worst-case buck situation

10A

Our L. 100H, 9A
Our C. 1500F, 250V, 5.66A p-p
Our D (Diode). 200V, 16A
Our M (MOSFET). 250V, 20A
35

BUCK DESIGN

10A
0.033V
1500F 50kHz

Our L. 100H, 9A
Our C. 1500F, 250V, 5.66A p-p
Our D (Diode). 200V, 16A
Our M (MOSFET). 250V, 20A
36

BUCK DESIGN

40V
200H
2A

50kHz

Our L. 100H, 9A
Our C. 1500F, 250V, 5.66A p-p
Our D (Diode). 200V, 16A
Our M (MOSFET). 250V, 20A
37