Digital Control of PWM Converters: Analysis and Application to Voltage Regulation Modules

Angel Vladimirov Peterchev and Seth R. Sanders

EECS Department
University of California, Berkeley
Technical Report No. UCB/EECS-2006-146
November 13, 2006

http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2006/EECS-2006-146.pdf

Digital controllers have become an attractive choice in switching voltage regulators for low-cost, high performance applications such as microprocessor voltage regulation modules (VRM¿s) and portable electronicssuch as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA¿s). This report discusses issues related to the use of digital control in pulse-width modulation (PWM) converters, with emphasis on VRM applications. The presence of steady-state limit cycles in digitally controlled PWM converters is analyzed, and conditions for their elimination are suggested. Digital dither is introduced as a means of increasing the effective resolution of digital PWM (DPWM) modules. VRM passive current sharing and transient response are discussed from the perspective of digital control. A VRM sensing scheme using a single low-resolution window analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is proposed. The above discussions are illustrated with simulations and experimental results.

Advisor: Seth R. Sanders


BibTeX citation:

@mastersthesis{Peterchev:EECS-2006-146,
    Author = {Peterchev, Angel Vladimirov and Sanders, Seth R.},
    Title = {Digital Control of PWM Converters: Analysis and Application to Voltage Regulation Modules},
    School = {EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley},
    Year = {2006},
    Month = {Nov},
    URL = {http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2006/EECS-2006-146.html},
    Number = {UCB/EECS-2006-146},
    Abstract = {Digital controllers have become an attractive choice in switching voltage regulators for low-cost, high performance applications such as microprocessor voltage regulation modules (VRM¿s) and portable electronicssuch as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA¿s). This report discusses issues related to the use of digital control in pulse-width modulation (PWM) converters, with emphasis on VRM applications. The presence of steady-state limit cycles in digitally controlled PWM converters is analyzed, and conditions for their elimination are suggested. Digital dither is introduced as a means of increasing the effective resolution of digital PWM (DPWM) modules. VRM passive current sharing and transient response are discussed from the perspective of digital control. A VRM sensing scheme using a single low-resolution window analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is proposed. The above discussions are illustrated with simulations and experimental results.}
}

EndNote citation:

%0 Thesis
%A Peterchev, Angel Vladimirov
%A Sanders, Seth R.
%T Digital Control of PWM Converters: Analysis and Application to Voltage Regulation Modules
%I EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley
%D 2006
%8 November 13
%@ UCB/EECS-2006-146
%U http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Pubs/TechRpts/2006/EECS-2006-146.html
%F Peterchev:EECS-2006-146