DCDC Buck Converter

DC-DC switch mode converters

Basic DC-DC converters

Step-down converter
Step-up converter

Applications
DC-motor
drives
SMPS

Derived circuits
Step-down/step-up converter
(flyback)
(uk-converter)
Full-bridge converter

Objective to efficiently reduce DC

voltage
The DC equivalent of an AC transformer
Iin
+
Vin

Iout
DCDC Buck
Converter
Vout
I
in
Vin
I out

+
Vout

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

Inefficient DCDC converter

The load

R1
+
Vin

+
R2

Vout

R2
Vout Vin
R1 R2

Vout
R2

R1 R2 Vin
If Vin = 15V, and Vout = 5V, efficiency is only 0.33
Unacceptable except in very low power applications
5

A lossless conversion of 15Vdc to

average 5Vdc
voltage

Switch closed
Switch open

15

+
15Vdc

R
0

Switch state, voltage

Closed, 15Vdc

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 15 0.33 = 5Vdc. This is
lossless conversion, but is it acceptable?
6

Convert 15Vdc to 5Vdc, cont.

+
15Vdc

Try adding a large C in parallel with the load to

control ripple. But if the C has 5Vdc, then when
the switch closes, the source current spikes to
a huge value and burns out the switch.

Rstereo

L
+
15Vdc

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
+
15Vdc

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

7

Cs and Ls operating in periodic steadystate

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 to 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
8

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 to 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
9

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

10

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)

11

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

12

The input/output equation for DC-DC converters

usually comes by examining inductor voltages
iin

Switch closed for

DT seconds

+ (Vin Vout)

iL

Vin

Iout

diL Vin Vout

dt
L

(iL Iout)

+
Vout

Reverse biased, thus the

diode is open

vL L

diL
,
dt

vL Vin Vout ,

Vin Vout L

diL
,
dt

for DT seconds

Note if the switch stays closed, then Vout = Vin

13

Switch open for (1 D)T seconds

Vout +

iL

Iout
Vout
diL +

dt
L

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

for (1D)T seconds

14

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

15

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
16

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
17

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
18

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

19

RMS of common periodic waveforms,

cont.
Sawtooth
V

2
Vrms

1 V
V2 2
V2 3T
t dt
t
dt

t
3
3
T T
0
T
3
T
0
0

V
Vrms
3
20

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

Vrms

V
3

0
21

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

22

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

23

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

24

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

25

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)

0
1
2
2
2
2 1 2
I
I Crms
out I avg 2 I out 0 I out
12

(iL Iout)

I
I Crms out
3

Max rms current occurs at the boundary of continuous/discontinuous

conduction, where I =2Iout

Use max

26

MOSFET and diode currents and current

ratings
iL

iin

Iout

L
C

(iL Iout)

2Iout
I rms

2
I out
3

Iout
0
2Iout
Iout
0
Use max

Take worst case D for each

27

Worst-case load ripple voltage

Iout
0
Iout

iC = (iL Iout)

C charging

T/2

1 T
I out period, the C voltage moves from the min to the max.
During the
T I out I out
Qcharging
2
2
V

The area Cof the Ctriangle4Cshown

4Cf above gives the peak-to-peak ripple voltage.

Raising f or L reduces the load voltage ripple

28

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

29

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
30

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

31

Impedance matching
Iout = Iin / D

Iin

+
Source

DCDC Buck
Converter

Vin

Vout = DVin

V
Rload out
I out
Requiv

Iin
+
Vin

Equivalent from
source perspective

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

32

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
33

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
34

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
35