Scalability of Quasi-hysteretic FSM-based Digitally Controlled Single-inductor Dual-string Buck LED Driver To Multiple Strings

There has been growing interest in Single-Inductor Multiple-Output (SIMO) DC-DC converters due to its reduced cost and smaller form factor in comparison with using multiple single-output converters. An application for such a SIMO-based switching converter is to drive multiple LED strings in a multi-channel LED display. This paper proposes a quasi-hysteretic FSM-based digitally controlled Single-Inductor Dual-Output (SIDO) buck switching LED Driver operating in Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM) and extends it to drive multiple outputs. Based on the time-multiplexing control scheme in DCM, a theoretical upper limit of the total number of outputs in a SIMO buck switching LED driver for various backlight LED current values can be derived analytically. The advantages of the proposed SIMO LED driver include reducing the controller design complexity by eliminating loop compensation, driving more LED strings without limited by the maximum LED current rating, performing digital dimming with no additional switches required, and optimization of local bus voltage to compensate for variability of LED forward voltage (VF) in each individual LED string with smaller power loss. Loosely-binned LEDs with larger VF variation can therefore be used for reduced LED costs.postprin

Dual-frequency single-inductor multiple-output (DF-SIMO) power converter topology for SoC applications

Modern mixed-signal SoCs integrate a large number of sub-systems in a single nanometer CMOS chip. Each sub-system typically requires its own independent and well-isolated power supply. However, to build these power supplies requires many large off-chip passive components, and thus the bill of material, the package pin count, and the printed circuit board area and complexity increase dramatically, leading to higher overall cost. Conventional (single-frequency) Single-Inductor Multiple-Output (SIMO) power converter topology can be employed to reduce the burden of off-chip inductors while producing a large number of outputs. However, this strategy requires even larger off-chip output capacitors than single-output converters due to time multiplexing between the multiple outputs, and thus many of them suffer from cross coupling issues that limit the isolation between the outputs. In this thesis, a Dual-Frequency SIMO (DF-SIMO) buck converter topology is proposed. Unlike conventional SIMO topologies, the DF-SIMO decouples the rate of power conversion at the input stage from the rate of power distribution at the output stage. Switching the input stage at low frequency (~2 MHz) simplifies its design in nanometer CMOS, especially with input voltages higher than 1.2 V, while switching the output stage at higher frequency enables faster output dynamic response, better cross-regulation, and smaller output capacitors without the efficiency and design complexity penalty of switching both the input and output stages at high frequency. Moreover, for output switching frequency higher than 100 MHz, the output capacitors can be small enough to be integrated on-chip. A 5-output 2-MHz/120-MHz design in 45-nm CMOS with 1.8-V input targeting low-power microcontrollers is presented as an application. The outputs vary from 0.6 to 1.6 V, with 4 outputs providing up to 15 mA and one output providing up to 50 mA. The design uses single 10-uH off-chip inductor, 2-nF on-chip capacitor for each 15-mA output and 4.5-nF for the 50-mA output. The peak efficiency is 73%, Dynamic Voltage Scaling (DVS) is 0.6 V/80 ns, and settling time is 30 ns for half-to-full load steps with no observable overshoot/undershoot or cross-coupling transients. The DF-SIMO topology enables realizing multiple efficient power supplies with faster dynamic response, better cross-regulation, and lower overall cost compared to conventional SIMO topologies

Low Voltage Regulator Modules and Single Stage Front-end Converters

Evolution in microprocessor technology poses new challenges for supplying power to these devices. To meet demands for faster and more efficient data processing, modem microprocessors are being designed with lower voltage implementations. More devices will be packed on a single processor chip and the processors will operate at higher frequencies, exceeding 1GHz. New high-performance microprocessors may require from 40 to 80 watts of power for the CPU alone. Load current must be supplied with up to 30A/µs slew rate while keeping the output voltage within tight regulation and response time tolerances. Therefore, special power supplies and Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs) are needed to provide lower voltage with higher current and fast response. In the part one (chapter 2,3,4) of this dissertation, several low-voltage high-current VRM technologies are proposed for future generation microprocessors and ICs. The developed VRMs with these new technologies have advantages over conventional ones in terms of efficiency, transient response and cost. In most cases, the VRMs draw currents from DC bus for which front-end converters are used as a DC source. As the use of AC/DC frond-end converters continues to increase, more distorted mains current is drawn from the line, resulting in lower power factor and high total harmonic distortion. As a branch of active Power factor correction (PFC) techniques, the single-stage technique receives particular attention because of its low cost implementation. Moreover, with continuously demands for even higher power density, switching mode power supply operating at high-frequency is required because at high switching frequency, the size and weight of circuit components can be remarkably reduced. To boost the switching frequency, the soft-switching technique was introduced to alleviate the switching losses. The part two (chapter 5,6) of the dissertation presents several topologies for this front-end application. The design considerations, simulation results and experimental verification are discussed

Survey on Photo-Voltaic Powered Interleaved Converter System

Renewable energy is the best solution to meet the growing demand for energy in the country. The solar energy is considered as the most promising energy by the researchers due to its abundant availability, eco-friendly nature, long lasting nature, wide range of application and above all it is a maintenance free system. The energy absorbed by the earth can satisfy 15000 times of today’s total energy demand and its hundred times more than that our conventional energy like coal and other fossil fuels. Though, there are overwhelming advantages in solar energy, It has few drawbacks as well such as its low conversion ratio, inconsistent supply of energy due to variation in the sun light, less efficiency due to ripples in the converter, time dependent and, above all, high capitation cost. These aforementioned flaws have been addressed by the researchers in order to extract maximum energy and attain hundred percentage benefits of this heavenly resource. So, this chapter presents a comprehensive investigation based on photo voltaic (PV) system requirements with the following constraints such as system efficiency, system gain, dynamic response, switching losses are investigated. The overview exhibits and identifies the requirements of a best PV power generation system

Reversible DC-DC converter for a dual voltage automative system using zero voltage switching techniques

Abstract: A novel hysteretic controller for a bi-directional dc-dc converter with ZVS and interleaving for dual voltage systems in automobiles is presented. A variable frequency extended band hysteretic current control method is proposed. In comparison with classical fixed frequency current control PWM, the reverse polarity peak current needed for ZVS operation is kept constant. Inductor current ripple decreases with load reduction. Automatic changes in operation between buck and boost modes are accomplished without transient currents. Converter simulations are carried out using Matlab/Simulink platform

Zero voltage switching used for a reversible DC-DC converter

Abstract A novel bi-directional dc-dc converter with Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) and interleaving for dual voltage systems in automobiles is presented. A variable frequency extended band hysteretic current control method is proposed. In comparison with classical fixed frequency current control PWM, the reverse polarity peak current needed for ZVS operation is kept constant. Inductor current ripple decreases with load reduction. Automatic changes in operation between buck and boost modes are accomplished without transient currents. Converter simulations are carried out using Matlab/Simulink platform