AN:024 - Vicor

APPLICATION NOTE | AN:024
Accurate Point-of-Load Voltage Regulation
Using Simple Adaptive Loop Feedback
By Maurizio Salato Principal Engineer, VI Chip® Applications Engineering
Contents
Page
Introduction
1
Adaptive Loop
Regulation Concept
1
PRM-AL Block Diagram 2
Introduction
Accurate point-of-load (POL) voltage control is essential for highly dynamic electronic loads.
‘Adaptive loop’ is a technique for efficient, feed-forward compensation of isolated power
management systems based on PRM® Regulator and VTM® Voltage Transformer combinations.
This application note describes the design methodology for optimal DC set point compensation of
PRM and VTM combinations[a], including small arrays of two identical VTMs driven by one PRM.
DC Set Point
Calculation
4
Considerations
8
Adaptive Loop with
Half-Chip VTMs
9
For your reference, an automated spreadsheet version of the following procedure is available at
http://cdn.vicorpower.com/documents/calculators/dcaldesign.xls.
Adaptive Loop Regulation Concept
Adaptive loop is a model-based, positive-feedback compensation technique that can easily
complement negative feedback, voltage mode regulation. Figure 1 shows the conceptual block
diagram.
Design Example with
VI Chip Customer
Boards
13
Conclusion
17
Isolation
barrier
PRM
output voltage
Voltage
loop
Input power line
K
LOAD
Output
power line
Factorized bus
VTM
PRM
PRM
output
current
Figure 1
Adaptive loop regulation
conceptual diagram
Adaptive
loop
Voltage drop
model
VTM temperature
While the local voltage feedback loop maintains regulation at the PRM output, the adaptive loop
(AL) provides compensation for the voltage drops that occur from the PRM output to the actual
load. As stated before, AL is based on a model that requires VTM temperature and factorized bus
current as inputs. The resistive behavior of power lines (factorized bus and output line) as well as
the VTM, enables accurate modeling of their voltage drops.
[a] The
calculations represented in this application note apply to 24 V, 36 V and 48 V input PRMs. Though the same methodology applies to 28 V input MIL-COTS PRMs,
care should be taken to apply the correct values. For further assistance, please contact a Field Applications Engineer via your local Technical Support Center.
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 1
Major benefits of this approach are:
• No signals need to be transmitted across VTM’s isolation barrier
• Simpler circuit, lower component count
Regulation accuracy is affected by the accuracy of this model; this application note explains how
to optimize the model for a given system, and how to estimate the obtained accuracy.
Standard regulation techniques are based on direct observation and integral error compensation of
POL voltage, and the steady state error (compared to the reference) is therefore forced to be zero.
AL only asymptotically approaches the zero error state, therefore widening the total distribution of
the POL voltage.
PRM-AL Block Diagram
Figure 2 shows the functional block diagram for a full-chip PRM-AL regulator (e.g.
P045F048T32AL). The OS and SC pins provide for local voltage feedback loop setting, while the
VC and CD pins provide for settings and connections of the downstream system model.
Figure 2
PRM-AL functional block diagram
+OUT
+IN
5 µF
M1
D1
M2
M3
5 µF
R16
93.1 kΩ
OS
G1=0.961
+
PC
Soft start and reference
10 kΩ
R18
Enable
Type 2 compensation
VREF
1.24 V
G2=0.0386
Modulator
Error
amplifier
+
IL
PR
100 µA
SC
C18
0.22 µF
100 kΩ
+
9 V, 5 mA max
Inst. curr. protection
Average
current
protection
∫
CD
Q62
14 V
10 ms
-
IAL = V-OUT / RCD
VH
VC start
pulse
generator
VC
RS
-IN
SG
10 mΩ
Adaptive loop
-OUT
In summary:
• Local voltage feedback loop:
– VREF, through R18, provides a reference voltage source on the SC pin. This is routed to the
non-inverting input of the error amplifier, through the gain stage G1.
– The factorized bus (+OUT) voltage is fed back to the inverting input of the error amplifier
through R16.
– SC and OS provide for the connection of the external resistor dividers.
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 2
• Adaptive loop circuit:
– The voltage controlled current source has variable gain, controlled by the resistance connected
between CD and signal ground (SG) pins. The current injected on the VC line by the variable
gain transconductance amplifier is:
— directly proportional to the voltage across the sense resistor RS
— inversely proportional to the resistor connected between CD and SG
according to the following relationship:
I AL =
Equation 1
V-OUT
R I
= S F
RCD
RCD
where IF is the factorized bus (PRM® output) current and V-OUT is the voltage drop across RS.
– The VC pin voltage is added to the reference pin voltage SC through the gain stage G2.
A PRM and VTM® system is considered, as shown in the block diagram in Figure 3. The system
PCB adds further voltage drops from the PRM output to the load: the factorized bus resistance, RF,
and the output line resistance, RO, which are assumed to be constant and equally divided on the
positive and negative trace / wire. In order to account for them, these resistances must be
estimated or measured.
RF /2
+OUT
+IN
5 µF
5 µF
R16
93.1 kΩ
+
Error
amplifier
VTM
RO /2
IOUT
ROS2
PRM
Type 2
compensation
+OUT
+IN
ROS1
OS
Modulator
IF
G1=0.961
+
G2=0.0386
R18 10 kΩ
1.24 V
RSC
SC
PNL / VF
ROUT
0.22 µF
C18
Vref
K
RCD
LOAD
Figure 3
Factorized Power Architecture (FPATM)
system with adaptive loop
control block diagram
CD
IAL = IF * RS / RCD
SG
IAL
VC
-IN
RS
VC
-OUT
10 mΩ
RVC
RF /2
-IN
RPTC
-OUT
RO /2
IF + IAL
It is important to correctly identify the total voltage drop parameters, which are RF, ROUT and RO in
this specific case. Their compensation model must therefore be resistive, and temperature
dependent.
Such a model is easy to implement, thanks to:
• The PTC resistor embedded in the VTM module, which will change its value according to the
VTM temperature.
• RVC resistor, which allows precise match of RPTC to VTM ROUT temperature characteristic.
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 3
The parallel of RVC and RPTC resistors, in series with RF/2 and RS resistors constitutes the voltage
drop model. The AL circuitry forces a scaled version of the PRM output current (IAL) in the VC line,
which then merges with the factorized bus current IF on its return path (as shown in Figure 4).
Figure 4
Voltage drop model for the
considered system
Scaled
PRM
output
current
Modeled
voltage
drop
VTM
temperature
IAL = IF • RS / RCD
VC
RS
10 mΩ
-OUT
VC
RVC
RF /2
-IN
R PTC
IF
IF + IAL
The voltage obtained on the VC pin, with some scale factor, is the model of the total voltage drop
in the system.
DC Set Point Calculation
The necessary inputs to the procedure are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Adaptive loop calculation
procedure inputs
Standard Full-Chip VTM Characteristics
• ROUT_25: 25ºC output resistance
• ROUT_100: 100ºC output resistance
Power System Characteristics
• VF_NOM: nominal factorized bus voltage
at no load
• IOUT: maximum system (VTM) output
current
• K: transformer ratio
• RPTC_25: PTC resistance at 25ºC
• RPTC_100: PTC resistance at 100ºC
• RF: factorized bus (PRM to VTM) total
resistance
• PNL: no load power dissipation at
nominal input voltage
• RO: output bus (VTM to point of load)
total resistance
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 4
Table 2 summarizes the data for standard full-chip VTM® transformers. It is important to note that
the internal resistors in the PRM have 1% tolerance.
Table 2
Standard full-chip VTM data
required (typical)
Output Resistance
VTM Part Number
Temperature Sensor
ROUT_25
ROUT_100
Tolerance
Temp.
RPTC_25
Coeff.(TCR)
[%/°C]
[%]
0.39
5
[mΩ]
[mΩ]
[%]
[Ω]
V048F015T100
0.99
1.17
11
3000
V048F020T080
1.31
1.56
10
2000
V048F030T070
1.61
1.97
10
V048F040T050
2.76
3.29
8
V048F060T040
5.76
6.73
5
V048F080T030
7.54
8.76
8
V048F096T025
V048F120T025
9.84
10.85
11.97
13.39
10
6
V048F160T015
29.76
32.80
7
V048F240T012
48.11
57.17
4
V048F320T009
79.48
96.10
6
V048F480T006
177.44
215.63
5
Tolerance
1000
560
510
With reference to Figure 3:
A.Calculate the maximum voltage drop (at 25ºC and 100ºC) due to VTM output resistance ROUT.
Equation 2
ΔVROUT _ 25 = ROUT _ 25 ⋅ IOUT
Equation 3
ΔVROUT _ 100 = ROUT _ 100 ⋅ I OUT
B. Calculate the maximum current flowing on the factorized bus.
I F = K ⋅ I OUT +
Equation 4
PNL
VF _ NOM
Although the no load power (PNL) required by the VTM is input voltage dependent, the variation
has only a minor influence on the AL compensation, and will therefore be neglected in the
following steps.
C.Calculate the total PRM output voltage increase that will compensate all the drops
(factorized bus resistance, VTM output resistance and output bus resistance).
Equation 5
ΔVF _ 25 =
Equation 6
ΔVF _ 100 =
AN:024
ΔVROUT _ 25 + RO I OUT
K
ΔVROUT _ 100 + RO I OUT
vicorpower.com
K
+ ( RF + RS ) ⋅ I F
+ ( RF + RS ) ⋅ I F
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 5
D.Calculate the total temperature coefficient of the power circuit and the RVC resistor needed
to match it.
The PTC resistor and the VTM® ROUT resistance are subject to the same temperature, but they have
different rates of change, as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5
ROUT and RPTC vs. VTM internal
temperature
RPTC
ROUT
RPTC_100
ROUT_100
ROUT_25
RPTC_25
25
100
TVTM [ºC]
In order for the model to precisely match the voltage drop over temperature, its slope must match
the system slope. The RVC resistor in parallel to RPTC can be calculated in order to meet this
condition.
RVC ⋅ RPTC _ 100
ΔRTOT =
ΔVF _ 100
ΔVF _ 25
=
RVC + RPTC _ 100
RVC ⋅ RPTC _ 25
RVC + RPTC _ 25
Equation 7
RVC = (1 − ΔRTOT )
RPTC _ 25 ⋅ RPTC _ 100
ΔRTOT ⋅ RPTC _ 25 − RPTC _ 100
There is an important reason for choosing a parallel rather than a series resistor to match the
system temperature coefficient. At start-up, the PRM issues a 14 V, 10 ms pulse on the VC line to
synchronously start the VTM. A series resistor would cause significant amplitude change on this
signal, avoided by the parallel arrangement. However, the designer should exercise judgment and
avoid extreme cases, where the temperature dependency might be so low as to cause the RVC
value to fall below 200 Ω (which would cause overload during the 14 V, 10 ms startup pulse).
E. Calculate the maximum VC pin voltage for the given system at 25ºC (100ºC should provide
the same value, given the temperature dependency has been taken care of through RVC, [7]):
VC _ MAX _ 25 = I AL ⋅
RPTC _ 25 ⋅ RVC
RPTC _ 25 + RVC
⎛R
⎞
+ ( I F + I AL ) ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟ =
⎝ 2
⎠
Equation 8
= RS
AN:024
IF
⋅
RPTC _ 25 ⋅ RVC
RCD _ MIN RPTC _ 25 + RVC
vicorpower.com
+ ( I F + RS
IF
⎛R
⎞
) ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟
RCD _ MIN ⎝ 2
⎠
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 6
Minimum allowable RCD value for current products is 20 Ω.
F. Calculate the needed (if any) VSC trim that allows enough AL dynamic range under the worst
case: VC_MAX_25 and ΔVF_100 (this will allow enough design margin).
The voltage on VC, through the gain stage G2, is summed to the reference voltage SC in order to
compensate for the voltage drop ΔVF. Because the VC voltage dynamic range is set, VSC might be
reduced in order to match the relative changes of factorized bus and adaptive loop compensation.
ΔVF _ 100
Equation 9
VF _ NOM
≤
G2 ⋅ VC _ MAX _ 25
G1 ⋅ VSC
VSC ≤
G2 ⋅ VC _ MAX _ 25
ΔV
G1 F _ 100
VF _ NOM
G1 and G2 gains are 0.961 and 0.0386 respectively.
If VSC ≤ Vref = 1.24 V, the external resistor to be connected on SC will be easily calculated as
following:
RSC = R18
Equation 10
VSC
Vref − VSC
The absolute minimum value for VSC is 0.25 V, because of the characteristic of the internal error
amplifier. The minimum resistance value for RSC is therefore 2550 Ω.
G.Calculate the voltage feedback divider resistor needed to set the nominal output voltage.
Equation 11
VF _ NOM = G1 ⋅ VSC
R16 + ROS
ROS
ROS = G1 ⋅ R16
VSC
VF _ NOM − G1 ⋅ VSC
ROS defines the gain on the voltage feedback, which accommodates for the chosen reference
voltage VSC. It is recommended to calculate its value using the VSC voltage obtained with a
standardized value resistor as RSC. Moreover, if a standard value resistor is not available to match
(within 0.2%) the calculated ROS value, it is strongly recommended to use a parallel configuration.
H. Calculate the RCD resistor that allows AL to compensate for the drops (25ºC or 100ºC will
give the same result, because of RVC).
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 7
First, substitute the VC line voltage at full IF current (room temperature):
VC _ 25 =
Equation 12
⎞ ⎛R
RS ⋅ I F RPTC _ 25 ⋅ RVC ⎛ RS ⋅ I F
⎞
⋅
+ ⎜⎜
+ I F ⎟⎟ ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟
RCD RPTC _ 25 + RVC ⎝ RCD
⎠
⎠ ⎝ 2
into the expression for the related factorized bus increase:
ΔVF _ 25 = G2 ⋅ VC _ 25
= G2 ⋅
R16 + ROS
=
ROS
⎞ ⎛R
RS ⋅ I F RPTC _ 25 ⋅ RVC ⎛ RS ⋅ I F
⎞ R + ROS
⋅
+ ⎜⎜
+ I F ⎟⎟ ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟ 16
RCD RPTC _ 25 + RVC ⎝ RCD
⎠ ROS
⎠ ⎝ 2
Then solve for RCD:
G2
Equation 13
RCD =
⎛ R
⎞
⋅R
R16 + ROS
R
RS I F ⎜ PTC _ 25 VC + F + RS ⎟
⎜R
⎟
2
ROS
⎝ PTC _ 25 + RVC
⎠
ΔVF _ 25 − G2
R16 + ROS ⎛ RF
⎞
+ RS ⎟ I F
⎜
ROS ⎝ 2
⎠
Considerations
In order to improve regulation accuracy, the following guidelines should be followed:
- Discrepancy between the model and the system will directly affect regulation accuracy. System
characterization is strongly recommended during the design phase, specifically factorized bus
(RF) and output line (RO) resistances.
- Statistical distribution of components values plays also a key role on accuracy distribution.
To this end, ‘Monte Carlo’ (or similar) analysis and optimization is strongly encouraged.
It should include all the components directly affecting regulation, i.e. setting resistors, model
resistors and component characteristics. Any extra component designed in the system,
i.e. filter inductors, connectors, etc., should also be included if affected by variability.
- While the impact of RS and RF on VC voltage may be neglected in a few cases, it normally
affects accuracy distribution. In order to evaluate it, both resistors should be included in
the analysis.
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 8
Adaptive Loop with Half-Chip VTMs
The major difference between full- and half-chip VTMs is the absence of temperature feedback.
While the full-chip VTMs implement a PTC resistor, the half-chip modules use a simple precision
resistor, as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6
Adaptive loop regulation
concept without
temperature feedback
Isolation
barrier
PRM
output voltage
Voltage
loop
Input power line
LOAD
Output
power line
Factorized bus
K
VTM
PRM
PRM
output
current
Adaptive
loop
Voltage drop
model
VTM resistor ID
The absence of temperature feedback slightly degrades the regulation accuracy; however, the
half-chip units have tighter parameter distributions, which partially compensate for the reduced
model accuracy. The control configuration in this case is shown in Figure 7.
RF /2
+OUT
+IN
5 µF
5 µF
R16
93.1 kΩ
Type 2
compensation
Modulator
+
Error
amplifier
G1=0.961
+
G 2=0.0386
R18
SC
10 kΩ
1.24 V
+OUT
+IN
ROS2
HalfChip
VTM
RSC
PNL / VF
ROS1
OS
PRM
IF
RO /2
IOUT
ROUT
0.22 µF
C18
Vref
K
LOAD
Figure 7
Adaptive loop control
with half-chip VTM
RCD
CD
IAL = IF * RS / RCD
SG
IAL
VC
VC
-IN
RS
-OUT
10 mΩ
RVC
RF /2
-IN
-OUT
RO /2
IF + IAL
The voltage drop model also differs with the one for the full-chip version (Figure 3), resulting in the
simpler one shown in Figure 8.
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 9
Figure 8
Voltage drop model in
systems with half-chip VTMs
Scaled
PRM
output
current
Modeled
voltage
drop
IAL = IF • RS / RCD
VC
RS
VC
-OUT
10 mΩ
RVC
RF /2
IF
-IN
IF + IAL
Having explained the differences, it is now possible to revise the design procedure in this specific
case. Table 3 shows the necessary inputs.
Table 3
Adaptive loop calculation
procedure inputs for
half-chip VTMs
Half-Chip VTM Characteristics
Power System Characteristics
• VF_NOM: nominal factorized bus voltage
at no load
• ROUT_25: 25ºC output resistance
• ROUT_100: 100ºC output resistance
• IOUT: maximum system (VTM) output
current
• K: transformer ratio
• RVC: VTM VC pin internal resistance
• RF: factorized bus (PRM to VTM) total
resistance
• PNL: no load power dissipation at
nominal input voltage
• RO: output bus (VTM to point of load)
total resistance
Table 4 summarizes the data for the half-chip VTMs.
Table 4
Half-chip VTM data required
(typical)
Output Resistance
VTM Part Number
ID Resistor
ROUT_25
ROUT_100
Tolerance
RVC
Tolerance
[mΩ]
[mΩ]
[%]
[Ω]
[%]
VIV0102THJ
2.72
3.22
8
1430
VIV0103THJ
3.03
3.78
11
9310
VIV0104THJ
6.86
8.07
8
8870
VIV0105THJ
13.80
16.24
7
4640
VIV0101THJ
44.32
57.65
6
2050
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
1.0
Page 10
For sake of clarity, only the steps that differ from the procedure already explained for the full-chip
VTMs are reported.
Step(s):
A., B., C.: unchanged
D.Calculate the total temperature coefficient of the power circuit at the estimated VTM® working
temperature.
The VTM ROUT resistance is temperature dependent, as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 9
Half-chip VTM ROUT vs.
module internal
temperature
ROUT
ROUT_100
ROUT_25
25
TVTM [ºC]
100
In order for the model to match the system voltage drop better, the VTM operating temperature
should be estimated. In cases where temperature is unknown, a conservative approach would be
to assume the module will operate at half of its temperature range, for example 75ºC:
ΔVF _ 75 = ΔVF _ 25 +
Equation 14
ΔVF _ 100 − ΔVF _ 25
75
⋅ 50
Linear interpolation used in [14] is acceptable in this case, as ROUT temperature dependency is
linear.
E. Calculate the maximum VC pin voltage for the given system.
Equation 15
⎛R
⎞
VC _ MAX = I AL ⋅ RVC + ( I F + I AL ) ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟ =
2
⎝
⎠
= RS
IF
RCD _ MIN
⋅ RVC + ( I F + RS
IF
⎛R
⎞
) ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟
RCD _ MIN ⎝ 2
⎠
F., G.: unchanged
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 11
H. Calculate the RCD resistor that allows AL to compensate for the drops.
First, substitute the VC line voltage at full IF current (ambient temperature):
VC =
Equation 16
⎛R ⋅I
⎞ ⎛R
RS ⋅ I F
⎞
⋅ RVC + ⎜⎜ S F + I F ⎟⎟ ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟
RCD
⎠
⎝ RCD
⎠ ⎝ 2
into the expression for the related factorized bus increase:
ΔVF _ 75 = G2 ⋅ VC
= G2 ⋅
R16 + ROS
=
ROS
⎞ ⎛R
⎛ R ⋅I
RS ⋅ I F
⎞ R + ROS
⋅ RVC + ⎜⎜ S F + I F ⎟⎟ ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟ 16
RCD
⎠ ROS
⎠ ⎝ 2
⎝ RCD
Then solve for RCD:
Equation 17
RCD
AN:024
R16 + ROS
R
⎞
⎛
RS I F ⎜ RVC + F + RS ⎟
ROS
2
⎠
⎝
=
R + ROS ⎛ RF
⎞
ΔVF _ 75 − G2 16
+ RS ⎟ I F
⎜
ROS ⎝ 2
⎠
G2
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 12
Design Example with VI Chip® Customer Boards
System requirements:
Input: 36-75 V
Output: 5 V, 36 A, 180 W
VI Chip selection:
PRM®: P048F048T24AL (due to the wide range input voltage and the power level).
VTM®: V048F060T040 (due to output voltage and current requirements).
Corresponding customer boards are P048F048T24AL-CB and V048F060T040-CB respectively. They
come with a connector which routes factorized bus and VC line, as explained in the User Guide
UG:003. Figure 10 shows the two selected boards once connected.
Figure 10
PRM and VTM
customer boards
First, collect the characteristics from the VTM’s data sheet and from Table 2:
•
•
•
•
•
•
ROUT_25: 5.76 mΩ
ROUT_100: 6.73 mΩ
K: 1/8
RPTC_25: 1000 Ω
RPTC_100: 1000·(1+0.0039·75) = 1293 Ω
PNL: 2.7 W
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 13
Second, calculate or measure the power system characteristics:
• VF_NOM: VOUT/K = 40 V
• IOUT: 36 A
• RF and RO: these values are strictly related to the board traces or cables used to route
power. A convenient way to obtain these values is to identify the current paths of interest,
as shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11
Factorized bus current path
(long-dash red)
and output current path
(short-dash blue)
Then, a simple DC impedance measurement from terminal to terminal will provide RF and RO
values. In this particular case:
RF= 10 mΩ
RO= 80 uΩ
It is now possible to apply the proposed procedure.
A.Calculate the maximum voltage drop (at 25ºC and 100ºC) due to VTM output
resistance, ROUT.
ΔVROUT _ 25 = ROUT _ 25 ⋅ I OUT = 0.00576 ⋅ 36 = 0.207 V
ΔVROUT _ 100 = ROUT _ 100 ⋅ I OUT = 0.00673 ⋅ 36 = 0.242 V
B. Calculate the maximum current flowing on the factorized bus.
I F = K ⋅ I OUT +
AN:024
PNL
VF _ NOM
vicorpower.com
1
2. 7
= ⋅ 36 +
= 4.568 A
8
40
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 14
C.Calculate the total PRM® output voltage increase that will compensate all the drops
(factorized bus resistance, VTM® output resistance and output bus resistance).
ΔVF _ 25 =
ΔVF _ 100 =
ΔVROUT _ 25 + RO I OUT
K
ΔVROUT _ 100 + RO I OUT
K
+ ( RF + RS ) ⋅ I F =
0.207 + 80 μ ⋅ 36
+ (10 m + 10 m) ⋅ 4.568 = 1.77 V
18
+ ( RF + RS ) ⋅ I F =
0.242 + 80 μ ⋅ 36
+ (10 m + 10 m) ⋅ 4.568 = 2.05 V
18
D.Calculate the total temperature coefficient of the power circuit and the RVC resistor needed
to match it.
ΔRTOT =
RVC = (1 − ΔRTOT )
ΔVF _ 100
ΔVF _ 25
=
2.05
= 1.158
1.77
RPTC _ 25 ⋅ RPTC _ 100
ΔRTOT ⋅ RPTC _ 25 − RPTC _ 100
= (1 − 1.158)
1000 ⋅ 1293
= 1513 Ω
1.158 ⋅ 1000 − 1293
The RVC value is greater than 200 Ω, therefore valid. The nearest available 1% resistor value chosen
for RVC is 1500 Ω.
E. Calculate the maximum VC pin voltage for the given system at 25ºC. From the PRM-AL
data sheet, RCD_MIN = 20 Ω:
VC _ MAX _ 25 = RS
IF
⋅
RPTC _ 25 ⋅ RVC
RCD _ MIN RPTC _ 25 + RVC
= 10 m
+ ( I F + RS
IF
⎛R
⎞
) ⋅ ⎜ F + RS ⎟ =
RCD _ MIN ⎝ 2
⎠
4.568 1000 ⋅ 1500
4.568 ⎛ 10 m
⎞
⋅
+ (4.568 + 10 m
+ 10 m ⎟ = 1.44 V
)⋅⎜
20 1000 + 1500
20
⎝ 2
⎠
F. Calculate the needed (if any) VSC trim that allows enough AL dynamic range under the
worst case: VC_MAX_25 and ΔVF_100.
VSC ≤
G2 ⋅ VC _ MAX _ 25 0.0386 ⋅ 1.44
=
= 1.12 V
ΔVF _ 100
2.05
0.961
G1
40
VF _ NOM
As VSC ≤ Vref = 1.24 V, RSC must be installed:
RSC = R18
AN:024
VSC
1.12
= 10 k
= 93.3 kΩ
Vref − VSC
1.24 − 1.12
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 15
RSC is greater than 2550 Ω, therefore acceptable. The closest 1% tolerance value is chosen,
RSC = 93.1 kΩ, which provides for an obtained VSC = 1.12 V
G.Calculate the voltage feedback divider resistor needed to set the nominal output voltage.
ROS = G1 ⋅ R16
VSC
1.12
= 0.961 ⋅ 93.1 k
= 2574 Ω
VF _ NOM − G1 ⋅ VSC
40 − 0.961 ⋅ 1.12
The closest standard value would be 2550 Ω, which is almost 1% off the target. In order to gain
accuracy, the highest standard value is chosen, 2610 Ω, and a parallel resistor is used in order to
closely match the required value:
ROS1 = 2610 Ω and ROS2 = 187 kΩ
H.Calculate RCD resistor that allows AL to compensate for the drops.
G2
RCD =
⎛ RPTC _ 25 ⋅ RVC
⎞
R16 + ROS
R
RS I F ⎜
+ F + RS ⎟
⎜R
⎟
ROS
2
⎝ PTC _ 25 + RVC
⎠
ΔVF _ 25
R + ROS ⎛ RF
⎞
− G2 16
+ RS ⎟ I F
⎜
ROS ⎝ 2
⎠
=
93.1 k + 2574
⎞
⎛ 1 k ⋅ 1.5 k 10 m
10 m ⋅ 4.568⎜
+
+ 10 m ⎟
2574
2
⎝ 1 k + 1. 5 k
⎠ = 23.5 Ω
93.1 k + 2574 ⎛ 10 m
⎞
1.77 − 0.0386
+ 10 m ⎟ ⋅ 4.568
⎜
2574
⎝ 2
⎠
0.0386
=
The nearest standard value is chosen, RCD = 23.7 Ω.
The design is now complete, the calculated resistors:
RSC = 93.1 kΩ, ROS1 = 2610 Ω, ROS2 = 187 kΩ, RVC = 1500 Ω and RCD = 23.7 Ω
can be implemented in the two customer boards and regulation accuracy verified.
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 16
Conclusion
This procedure highlights the adaptive loop regulation concept and the design procedure to achieve
good voltage regulation for a simple PRM®/VTM® combination.
Monte Carlo analysis shows that 1% regulation accuracy over line, load and temperature can be
statistically achieved 82% (or greater) of the time. Figure 12 shows accuracy distribution for the
design example previously illustrated.
100%
80%
80%
60%
60%
40%
40%
20%
20%
0%
-4%
Cumulative distribution function
100%
Probability distribution function
Figure 12
Accuracy distribution over line, load and
temperature for the design example
0%
-3%
-2%
-1%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
The same design concepts are directly applicable to arrays of V·I Chips if proper modeling applied. It
is recommended to contact V·I Chip Application Engineering for any array involving 2 or more
PRMs and 3 or more VTMs. The automated spreadsheet version of the procedure is available at
http://cdn.vicorpower.com/documents/calculators/dcaldesign.xls.
AN:024
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Page 17
Appendix A
Changes applicable to MIL-COTS versions of VI Chips.
MIL-COTS VTM®: parameters and modeling of MIL-COTS VTMs are identical to the commercial
counterparts with the same K factor. The AL design procedure can be applied directly.
MIL-COTS PRM®: parameters and modeling of MP028F036M12AL are identical to the commercial
parts as with the only exception of R16 which changes to 69.8kΩ, as shown in the figure below.
+OUT
+IN
5 µF
M1
D1
M2
M3
5 µF
R16
69.8 kΩ
OS
G1=0.961
+
PC
Soft start and reference
10 kΩ
R18
Enable
Type 2 compensation
VREF
1.24 V
G2=0.0386
Modulator
Error
amplifier
+
IL
PR
100 µA
SC
C18
0.22 µF
100 kΩ
+
9 V, 5 mA max
Inst. curr. protection
Average
current
protection
∫
CD
Q62
14 V
10 ms
-
IAL = V-OUT / RCD
VH
VC start
pulse
generator
VC
RS
-IN
SG
10 mΩ
-OUT
Adaptive loop
The automated spreadsheet version of the procedure for MIL-COTS products is available at
http://cdn.vicorpower.com/documents/calculators/mil_al_design_procedure.xls
Information furnished by Vicor is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is
assumed by Vicor for its use. Vicor components are not designed to be used in applications, such as
life support systems, wherein a failure or malfunction could result in injury or death. All sales are
subject to Vicor’s Terms and Conditions of Sale, which are available upon request.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
11/2013
vicorpower.com
Applications Engineering: 800 927.9474
Rev 1.4
Page 18