Application Report SLVA452 – July 2012 Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Jeff Falin, Tahar Allag, Ben Hopf ........................................................ PMP - DCDC Low-Power Converters ABSTRACT This application report summarizes one method for compensating a current-mode-controlled boost. A detailed description of both the power stage and the feedback network is provided. The design procedures are explained step by step. A design example using TPS61175 is provided. Similar design steps are used for the TPS61199 as well. Contents 1 Simplified Small Signal Model ............................................................................................. 2 Design Steps ................................................................................................................ 3 Design Example using the TPS61175 ................................................................................... Appendix A Additional Data ..................................................................................................... 2 4 5 9 List of Figures 1 Simplified Diagram of a Current-Mode Boost Converter with gM Amplifier .......................................... 2 2 TPS61175 Design Example Schematic 3 ................................................................................. Simulated Bode Plot of Power Stage Gain and Phase ................................................................ 5 6 4 Simulated Bode Plot of the Type II Compensation (Including Feedback Network) for a gm Error Amplifier ...................................................................................................................... 7 5 Modeled Bode Plot of the Total Open Loop ............................................................................. 7 6 Loop Gain and Phase ...................................................................................................... 8 7 Full Model Diagram ......................................................................................................... 9 SLVA452 – July 2012 Submit Documentation Feedback Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Copyright © 2012, Texas Instruments Incorporated 1 Simplified Small Signal Model 1 www.ti.com Simplified Small Signal Model Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a current-mode boost converter with a transconductance amplifier providing the feedback. Power Stage L VOUT RESR d VIN Slope Comp fSW RSNS K + Modulator & Slope Compensation RINJ Sn Se CLK Q R Latch ROUT COUT REA Vc RTOP GEA RC CC2 C C1 RBOT VREF gM Amplifier & Feedback Network Figure 1. Simplified Diagram of a Current-Mode Boost Converter with gM Amplifier With inductor current information fed back by RSNS (and possibly gained by factor K) as well as output voltage feedback, this boost converter's inductor and switches effectively combine into a current source driving an RC load. By removing the inductor, the small-signal, control-loop model of the power stage reduces from a two-pole system, created by L and COUT, to a single-pole (fP) system, created by ROUT and COUT. The single-pole system is easily used with Type-II compensation. The single-pole system only holds true if the slope of the external compensation signal, Se, is not too large in relation to the ramp sensed across RSENSE, Sn or the natural slope. If the Se slope dominates Sn, for example, when the inductance is oversized in order to give ripple current much smaller than the recommended 0.2-0.4 times the average input current, then the converter begins behaving more like a voltage-mode converter and the full model, included in Appendix A, must be used. Regardless of which model is used, the right-half-plane zero (ƒRHPZ), created by lack of continuous current flow to the output, is still present. Including the slope compensation, the new power stage small-signal model is presented mathematically as follows: GPS ( S ) = ROUT * (1 - D) * 2 * RSENSE (1 + S S )(1 ) 2p * f ESR 2p * f RHPZ * He(s) S2 1+ 2p * f P (1) Where D is the duty cycle and the single pole is: fP = 2 2p * ROUT * Cout (2) The zero created by the ESR of the output capacitor is: f ESR = 2 1 2p * RESR * Cout (3) Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Copyright © 2012, Texas Instruments Incorporated SLVA452 – July 2012 Submit Documentation Feedback Simplified Small Signal Model www.ti.com For a boost converter having multiple, identical output capacitors in parallel, simply combine the capacitors and ESR in parallel and use the result in Equation 2 and Equation 3. For boost converters with ceramic capacitor(s) in parallel with a much larger, high-ESR capacitor, use the total capacitance in parallel for COUT in Equation 2 but only use the high-ESR capacitor's capacitance and ESR for Equation 3. The right-hand plane zero is: f RHPZ = Rout V * ( IN ) 2 2p * L Vout (4) He(s) models the inductor current sampling effect as well as the slope compensation effect on the smallsignal response. 1 He( s ) = s* [(1 + 1+ Se ) * (1 - D) - 0.5] s2 Sn + f SW (π * f SW ) 2 (5) The equation for Se is unique to each IC and is found in the IC's datasheet. Equation 6 gives the typical equation for Sn regarding a peak current mode converter. Sn = VIN * RSNS L (6) The natural slope may change for other types of current mode converters. Figure 3 in the design example section shows a bode plot of a typical CCM boost converter power stage, assuming the ESR pole is at a very high frequency. Equation 7 shows the equation for feedback resistor network and the error amplifier. H EA = GEA * REA * RBOT * RBOT + RTOP (1 + 1+ S 2p * f z S S ) * (1 + ) 2p * f P1 2p * f P 2 (7) Where GEA and REA are the error amplifier’s transconductance and output resistance. 1 2p * REA * CC1 1 = 2p * RC * CC 2 (Optional) f P1 = f P2 (8) (9) CC2 is optional and is modeled as 10-pF stray capacitance. and fZ = 1 2p * RC * CC1 (10) Figure 4 in the design example shows a typical shape of a bode plot for transfer function HEA(s) with TypeII compensation components. SLVA452 – July 2012 Submit Documentation Feedback Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Copyright © 2012, Texas Instruments Incorporated 3 Design Steps 2 www.ti.com Design Steps The steps to compensate the loop are as follows: 1. Choose the desired loop crossover frequency, fc The higher in frequency that the loop gain stays above zero before crossing over, the faster the loop response is and, therefore, the lower the output voltage droops during a step load. It is generally recommended that the loop-gain crossover point is no higher than the lower of either 1/5 of the switching frequency, fSW, or 1/3 of the RHPZ frequency, fRHPZ. It is also recommended to cross over at a frequency where the power stage gain is decreasing at approximately a -20 dB/decade slope (after the dominant pole and well before the effects of an RHPZ). The size of the output capacitor plays a significant role in how wide the loop bandwidth is. Once the minimum capacitance is met, meeting the output ripple specification, Equation 11 is used to estimate the capacitance needed to meet the application's load transient requirement for the maximum voltage dip (VTRAN) after a given load step (ΔITRAN). Cout = DI TRAN 2p * f C *VTRAN (11) 2. Properly size the compensation resistor, Rc By placing fZ below fC, for frequencies above fC, Rc| |RREA ~= RC and so RC × GEA sets the compensation gain. Setting the compensation gain, KCOMP-dB, at fC , results in the total loop gain, T(s) = GPS(s) × HEA(s) × He(s) being zero at fC. Therefore, to approximate a single-pole roll-off up to fP2, rearrange Equation 12 to solve for RC so that the compensation gain, KCOMP-dB, at fC is the negative of the gain, KPW -dB, read at frequency fC for the power stage bode plot or more simply K COMP- dB ( f c ) = 20 * log( G EA * RC * RBOT ) = - K PW -dB ( f c ) RBOT + RTOP (12) 3. Properly size the compensation capacitor, CC1 Compensation capacitor CC1 is sized so that fZ ≈ fC/10 and optional fP2 > fC × 10 4. Optionally, size the compensation capacitor, CC2. Equation 9 is for a pole produced by RC and CC2. This pole may be necessary to ensure that the gain continues to roll off after the crossover frequency. Alternatively, for boost circuits with high ESR output capacitors, and therefore a low-frequency ESR zero per Equation 3, this pole is useful for canceling unhelpful effects of the ESR zero. The preceding steps lead to a loop with a phase margin near 45 degrees. Lowering RC, while keeping fz ≈ fBW/10, increases the phase margin without significantly changing the gain and therefore increases the time it takes for the output voltage to settle following a step load. 4 Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Copyright © 2012, Texas Instruments Incorporated SLVA452 – July 2012 Submit Documentation Feedback Design Example using the TPS61175 www.ti.com 3 Design Example using the TPS61175 Figure 2 shows the EVM schematic and Table 1 gives the specifications for the design example. In order to meet the transient requirement, the output capacitance value may need to changed. Figure 2. TPS61175 Design Example Schematic Table 1. TPS61175EVM-326 Performance Specification Summary for VIN = 12.0 V PARAMETER CONDITIONS MIN NOM MAX UNIT INPUT CHARACTERISTICS VIN Input Voltage fSW Switching Frequency 12 V 750 kHz OUTPUT CHARACTERISTICS VO Output Voltage 23 IO Output Current 1 24 25 V 1.2 A TRANSIENT RESPONSE ΔITRAN Load Step ΔIO/ΔT Load slew rate 9 A/µs ΔVTRAN VO undershoot 500 mV tS Settling time 300 µs 0.35 A Equation 13 and Equation 14 give Sn and Se for the TPS61175. VIN 12V * RSNS = * 40mW L 22 mH 0.32V 0.5uA R4 + Se = 16 * (1 - D) * 6 pF 6 pF Sn = (13) (14) Where R4 is the frequency setting resistor. 1. Choose the desired loop crossover frequency, fc. One fifth of the switching frequency is SLVA452 – July 2012 Submit Documentation Feedback Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Copyright © 2012, Texas Instruments Incorporated 5 Design Example using the TPS61175 www.ti.com f SW 750kHz = = 150kHz 5 5 (15) fRHPZ is calculated using Equation 4 Where: ROUT = VOUT 24V = = 20W I OUT 1.2 A (16) From Equation 4 f RHPZ = 12V 2 20 ) = 36.2kHz *( 2p * 22uH 24V (17) one-third of fRHPZ is f RHPZ 36.2kHz = = 12.1kHz 3 3 (18) thus, try fC = 10 kHz. 2. Find the output cap value using Equation 11 Cout = DI TRAN 350mA = = 11 .14 mF 2p * f C *VTRAN 2p *10kHz * 500mV (19) Three 4.7 µF capacitors in parallel yield a total of 14.7 µF for the output capacitance (C8, C9, and C11 in Figure 2) 3. Properly size the compensation resistor, RC (R3 in Figure 2). Using MathCAD, plot the power stage, GPS(s), with RSENSE = 40 mΩ (given in the datasheet) from Equation 2 fP = 2 = 2p * ROUT * Cout 2 = 1.1kHz 2p * 20W * 3 * 4.7uF (20) From Equation 4, fRHPZ is 36.2 kHz. Neglecting the ESR zero produced by the ceramic output capacitors gives the plot found in Figure 3. 60 180 Phase Gain 40 120 20 60 0 0 –20 –60 –40 –120 –60 1 10 100 1k 10k 100k Phase (°) Gain (dB) 22 –180 1M Frequency (Hz) Figure 3. Simulated Bode Plot of Power Stage Gain and Phase The crossover frequency, fC, was chosen as 10 kHz and from Figure 3, KPW (10 kHz) = 22 dB. With RTOP = 301 kΩ, RBOT = 16.2 kΩ (R1 and R2 respectively in Figure 2), and GEA(TYP) = 340 μmho, solving Equation 12 for RC gives: K COMP - dB ( f c ) = 20 * log(GEA * RC * 6 RBOT ) = - K PW - dB ( f c ) Þ RBOT + RTOP Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Copyright © 2012, Texas Instruments Incorporated (21) SLVA452 – July 2012 Submit Documentation Feedback Design Example using the TPS61175 www.ti.com K COMP-dB ( fc ) RC = GEA * -22 20 dB 10 RBOT RBOT + RTOP 10 20 = 4.57 kW = 16.2kW 340umho * 16.2kW + 301kW (22) 4. Properly size the compensation capacitor, CC1 (C4 in Figure 2). Solving Equation 10 for CC1 and setting fz = fc/10 = 1 kHz gives CC 1 = 1 1 = = 34.82nF Þ 33nF 2p * RC * f z 2p * 4.57 kW *1kHz (23) 5. Optionally, size the compensation capacitor, CC2 (C5 in Figure 2) A stray capacitance of 10 pF is assumed for C5. Figure 4 displays the plot for the Type II compensated amplifier and Figure 5 shows T(s) = GPS(s) × HEA(s) × He(s) with RC (R3) reduced to 3.09 kΩ, getting closer to the desired 60 degree phase margin. 180 80 Phase 60 Gain (dB) 20 Gain 0 0 –20 Phase (°) 90 40 –90 –40 –60 –80 1 10 100 10k 1k 100k –180 1M Frequency (Hz) Figure 4. Simulated Bode Plot of the Type II Compensation (Including Feedback Network) for a gm Error Amplifier 180 120 135 90 90 30 45 0 0 Gain −30 −45 −60 −90 −90 −135 −120 1 10 100 1k 10k Frequency (Hz) 100k Phase (°) Gain (dB) Phase 60 −180 1M G003 Figure 5. Modeled Bode Plot of the Total Open Loop SLVA452 – July 2012 Submit Documentation Feedback Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Copyright © 2012, Texas Instruments Incorporated 7 Design Example using the TPS61175 www.ti.com As Figure 6 shows, the measured loop compares favorably with the simulated loop. Figure 6. Loop Gain and Phase 8 Compensating the Current-Mode-Controlled Boost Converter Copyright © 2012, Texas Instruments Incorporated SLVA452 – July 2012 Submit Documentation Feedback www.ti.com Appendix A Additional Data Power Stage Gvd(S), Gid(S) d VO iL RSENSE Fm + + He(S) VC Kr GGMA(S) Figure 7. Full Model Diagram 3 R C 2 VO (1 + O O s) 2 2 VIN Gid (s) = 2 2 VO L VO LCO 2 s+ s 1+ 2 2 VIN R OUT VIN (24) Where: GPS (s) = Fm = vo FmGvd (s) = v c 1 + FmR SENSEHe (s)Gid (s) - FmK r Gvd (s) 1 (S e + Sn )Ts (26) 2 Gvd (s) = 2 V L VO (1 - O2 s)(1 + RESR CO s) VIN VIN R O 2 1+ He(s) = 1 A.1 (25) 2 VO L V LC s + O 2 O s2 2 VIN R O VIN (27) TS T s + S2 s 2 p 2 (28) References He, Dake, and R. M. Nelms, “Peak Current-Mode for a Boost Converter Using an 8-bit Microcontroller,” IEEE 34th Annual Power Electronics Specialist Conference 2, June 2003 Record, pp. 938–943. Ridley, R. D., “Current-Mode Control Modeling,” Switching Power Magazine, 2006, pp. 1–12. 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