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Power Supply Design - Solution Determination

Requirements to Consider in Power Supply Design

  • Functionality: Input voltage, current (range of variation); output voltage, current, and meeting overall power specifications to achieve maximum system conversion efficiency.
  • Performance: Ripple size on the output voltage, load capacity, efficiency, heat generation, and more.
  • Cost: Overall system cost, considering core components and peripheral devices (inductors or coils, capacitors, MOSFET drivers, etc.).
  • Space: Considerations for space dimensions, placement, heat dissipation, interference, and limitations.

How to Choose a Power Supply Solution

Common Power Supply Types

  • Linear Regulators
    • Three-terminal regulators
    • Low-dropout regulators (LDO)
  • Switching Regulators
    • Non-isolated
      • Buck (step-down)
      • Boost (step-up)
      • Buck-Boost (step-down/step-up)
      • Cuk (two-stage inverting)
      • SEPIC, ZETA (two-stage non-inverting)
    • Isolated
      • Forward
      • Flyback
  • Power Supply ICs
    • Multiple outputs
    • Charging ICs

Comparison of Linear and Switching Regulators

Linear Regulators Switching Regulators
Efficiency Relatively low (30% ~ 60%) Relatively high (70% ~ 90%)
Regulation Mode Only step-down Step-down, step-up, step-up/step-down, inverting
Heat Generation Relatively high Relatively low
Size Relatively large Relatively small
Weight Relatively heavy Relatively light
Circuit Complexity Simple Relatively complex
Stability Relatively high Moderate
Transient Response Fast Slow
Noise None Present (requires noise mitigation measures)
Isolation Non-isolated Isolated
Application Low current, low noise requirements, lower efficiency High current, high efficiency requirements

Visual Differences Between Linear and Switching Regulators

Analogously, consider the output voltage as the flow of water from a tap. In linear regulation, you adjust the tap to control the water flow according to your needs. For switching regulation, the tap only has two states: open and closed. Hence, it rapidly switches, altering the duty cycle to control the water flow.

Linear regulators employ a three-terminal transistor working in a linear mode to control current and achieve stable voltage output. This method is simple, provides high noise suppression (up to 60dB or 1000 times), but generally has lower efficiency. It requires a certain voltage difference between input and output for regulation and can only step-down. Linear regulators have a simple circuit, low ripple, and high power supply rejection ratio (PSRR), but the excess energy is dissipated as heat to limit the output voltage.

Switching voltage regulation takes advantage of the ability of inductive and capacitive components to store energy, allowing energy to be divided into segments and transmitted. These packaged energies are either stored in the magnetic field of an inductor or in the electric field of a capacitor. By controlling the switch, it ensures that each segment only delivers the energy needed for the load, resulting in relatively high efficiency. The benefits of switching voltage regulation include the ability to step down, step up, or invert the input voltage over a wide range while achieving high efficiency (some can reach over 95%). However, the drawback is that the peripheral circuitry is relatively complex, the selection of peripheral components is sensitive, and high-frequency switching signals can introduce significant interference and ripple in the output voltage.

Combining Switching and Linear Voltage Regulation

Considering the pros and cons of switching regulators and linear regulators, combining them (i.e., using switching regulation followed by linear regulation) can reduce output voltage ripple while improving efficiency.

Selection Based on Input and Output Voltage

  • \(V_{in}>V_{out}\)
    • Small voltage difference, low load current, low noise requirements — LDO
    • Large voltage difference, high load current, not very noise-sensitive — Buck converter
    • Low load current, not noise-sensitive, high efficiency required — Charge pump
  • \(V_{in}<V_{out}\)
    • Low power — Charge pump
    • Large voltage difference, high load current, not very noise-sensitive — Boost converter
  • \(V_{in}\) has a wide variation range, possibly greater or less than \(V_{out}\)
    • Low power — Charge pump
    • High load current, not very noise-sensitive — Buck-Boost converter
  • If isolation is required
    • Choose isolated topologies like flyback, forward, push-pull, full bridge, etc.

Component Selection

Factors to consider when selecting components:

  • Functionality: Whether it meets the input/output voltage and current requirements
  • Performance: As low ripple and noise as possible, and as high conversion efficiency as possible
  • Price: Overall system cost
  • Supply Channels: Ease of procurement

You can use tools provided by power chip manufacturers to assist in component selection, such as TI Reference Designs.

PCB Layout and Routing

For LDOs, heat dissipation is a critical factor affecting performance and stability, so heat dissipation should be considered when laying out the PCB. For DC-DC converters, consider the path of high current to avoid significant ripple, and ensure that feedback pins are not disturbed. Generally, you can refer to the layout provided in the datasheet, for example:

PCB Layout Example

References and Acknowledgments

Original: https://wiki-power.com/ This post is protected by CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 agreement, should be reproduced with attribution.

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