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Analysis of Switching Power Supply Principle
Author: Apogeeweb Date: 15 Jan 2018 5240
Warm hints: The word in this article is about 4800 and reading time is about 28 minutes.
Summary
Currently, there mainly includes two types of power supply: linear power (linear) and switching power
(switching). This paper is mainly about analysis of switching power supply principle, such as linear power,
switching power supply; Transformer and PWM control circuit; Transient filter circuit analysis and etc.
Catalog
ⅠLinear Power
Ⅱ Switching Power Supply
Ⅲ Active PFC Circuit
Ⅳ Light Tube
Ⅴ Transformer and PWM Control Circuit
Ⅵ Secondary Side
6.1 Secondary Side(1)
6.2 Secondary Side (2)
Ⅶ Graphic Switching Power Supply
Ⅷ Transient Filter Circuit Analysis
ⅠLinear Power
Currently, there mainly includes two types of power supply: linear power (linear) and switching power
(switching). The principle of the linear power supply is to convert 127 V or 220 V mains into low voltage
through a transformer, say 12V, and the converted low voltage remains AC. Then rectify through a series of
diodes and Converting the low voltage AC to pulsating voltage (with 3 in Figures 1 and 2).
The next step is to filter the pulsating voltage, complete with capacitors, and then convert the filtered low
voltage AC to DC And 2 of the 4). At this time the resulting low-voltage DC is still not pure enough, there
will be some fluctuations (such voltage fluctuations is what we often say that the ripple), so you also need to
stabilize the diode or voltage rectifier circuit to correct. Finally, we can get pure low-voltage DC output (with
5 in Figures 1 and 2)
Figure 1: The standard linear power supply design
Figure 2: Waveform of linear power supply
Although linear power supplies are well suited for powering low-power devices such as cordless phones,
game consoles such as PlayStation / Wii / Xbox, etc. Linear power supplies can be power-hungry for high-
power devices.
For a linear power supply, its internal capacitance and the size of the transformer are inversely proportional to
the AC mains frequency: that is, the lower the input mains frequency, the larger the linear power supply will
be needed for capacitors and transformers, and vice versa. Due to the current AC power frequency of 60 Hz
(in some countries, 50 Hz), which is a relatively low frequency, the transformers and capacitors tend to be
relatively tall. In addition, the AC mains surge, the greater the linear power transformer head.
We can see that it would be a crazy move to build a linear power supply for the personal PC segment because
of its size and weight. So that personal PC users are not suitable for linear power supply.
Ⅱ Switching Power Supply
Switching power supply can be a good solution to this problem through high-frequency switching mode. For
high frequency switching power supplies, the AC input voltage can be boosted before entering the transformer
(typically 50-60 kHz before boosting). As the input power increases, the head of components such as
transformers and capacitors need not be as big as linear power supplies. This high-frequency switching power
supply is exactly what our personal PC and equipment like VCRs require. It should be noted that what we
often refer to as a ’switching power supply‘ is actually an abbreviation for ‘high-frequency switching power
supply’ and has nothing to do with the power supply itself turned off and on.
In fact, the end user's PC's power supply is a more optimized solution: The closed-loop system (closed-loop
system) - responsible for controlling the switch circuit to obtain the feedback signal from the power output,
and then more PC power consumption To increase or decrease the frequency of the voltage within a certain
period in order to be able to adapt to the power transformer (this method is called PWM, Pulse Width
Modulation). Therefore, the switching power supply can be adjusted according to the power consumption of
the connected power devices, so as to allow the transformers and other components to take less energy and
reduce the heat generation.
On the other hand, linear power supply, its design philosophy is above the power, even if the load circuit does
not require a lot of currents. The consequence of this is that all the components work at full capacity, even
when not necessary, resulting in much higher heat.
• Voltage doubler and primary side rectifier circuit
As already mentioned above, the switching power supply mainly includes active PFC power supply and
passive PFC power supply without PFC circuit but equipped with a voltage doubler (voltage doubler). The
voltage doubler uses two huge electrolytic capacitors, that is to say, if you see two large capacitors inside the
power supply, it can basically determine that this is the power doubler. As we have already mentioned, the
voltage doubler is only suitable for the 127V voltage area.
A Rectifier bridge can be seen on the side of the voltage doubler. A Rectifier bridge can be composed of four
diodes, it can be a single component, as shown below. High-end power rectifier bridges are generally placed in
a special heat sink.
There is usually an NTC thermistor on the primary side - a resistor that changes the resistance depending on
the temperature. NTC thermistors are short for Negative Temperature Coefficient. Its role is mainly used to re-
match the power supply when the temperature is low or high, and the ceramic disc capacitance is more similar.
Ⅲ Active PFC Circuit
There is no doubt that this circuit can only be seen in the power supply with an active PFC circuit. Figure 16
depicts a typical PFC circuit:
Active PFC circuit usually uses two power MOSFET lighting. These tubes are usually placed on the side of
the heat sink. For ease of understanding, we used the letters to mark each MOSFET turn-on: S for Source, D
for Drain and G for Gate.
The PFC diode is a power diode and is usually packaged in a power package similar to a power transistor.
Both are long and resembled, and are also mounted on the primary heatsink, though the PFC diode has only
two pins.
The inductance in the PFC circuit is the largest inductance in the power supply. the primary side filter
capacitor is the largest electrolytic capacitor on the primary side of the active PFC supply. The resistor in
Figure 16 is an NTC thermistor that changes resistance at a more temperature-dependent change and acts as a
second EMI NTC thermistor.
Active PFC control circuit is usually based on an IC integrated circuit, and sometimes this integrated circuit
will also be responsible for controlling the PWM circuit (used to control the open tube closed). This type of
integrated circuit is commonly referred to as ‘PFC / PWM combo’.
As usual, look at some examples. In Figure 17, we see the components better after removing the heatsink on
the primary side. The left side is the EMI circuit of the transient filter circuit, which has already been
described in detail above. On the left side, all are the components of the active PFC circuit. Since we have
removed the heat sink, the PFC transistor and the PFC diode have not been seen in the picture. Also, note that
there is an X capacitor (brown element on the bottom of the rectifier bridge heatsink) between the rectifier
bridge and the active PFC circuit. Often, olive-shaped thermistors, which resemble ceramic disk capacitors,
have a rubber-covered wrap.
Figure 18 shows the components on the primary heatsink. This power supply is equipped with two MOSFET
power MOSFET and active PFC circuit power diode:
Ⅳ Light Tube
Switching power supply switching inverter level can have a variety of modes, we summarize a few situations:
mode the number of open Diode number Capacitance Transformer pins
tubes quantity
Single-transistor 1 1 1 4
forward
Two-transistor forward 2 2 0 2
Half-bridge 2 0 2 2
Full bridge 4 0 0 2
Push-pull 2 0 0 3
Of course, we are only analyzing how many components are needed in a given model. In fact, there are many
constraints that engineers face when considering which model to adopt.
Two of the most popular modes at the moment are two-transistor forward and push-pull designs, both of which
use two splitters. These are placed on the side of the heat sink on the open tube we have been introduced in the
previous page, not to go into details here.
The following is the design of these five modes:
Ⅴ Transformer and PWM Control Circuit
Earlier we have already mentioned that a PC power supply would normally be equipped with three
transformers: the largest one is the main transformer marked in Figure 3, 4 and 19-23, the primary side of
which is connected to the switch and the second The secondary side is connected to the rectifier circuit and the
filter circuit to supply the low-voltage DC output of the power supply (+ 12V, + 5V, + 3.3V, -12V, -5V).
The smallest transformer load + 5VSB output, usually also become a standby transformer, stands ready at any
time, because this part of the output is always on, even if the PC is turned off.
The third transformer room isolator, the PWM control circuit and the open tube connected. Not all power
supplies are equipped with this transformer, as some power supplies tend to have optocoupler integrated
circuits with the same functionality.
This power supply uses an optocoupler integrated circuit, not a transformer
The PWM control circuit is based on an integrated circuit. Under normal circumstances, not equipped with an
active PFC power supply will use a TL494 integrated circuit (Figure 26 uses a compatible DBL494 integrated
chip). In power supplies with active PFC circuits, a chip that replaces the PWM and PFC control circuitry is
sometimes used. The CM6800 chip is a good example of how well it integrates all the features of a PWM chip
and PFC control circuit.
Ⅵ Secondary Side
6.1 Secondary Side(1)
The last to introduce is the secondary side. On the secondary side, the output of the main transformer will be
rectified and filtered, then the voltage required by the PC will be output. Rectifiers of -5 V and -12 V are done
with normal diodes because they do not require high power and high current. But +3.3 V, +5 V and +12 V and
other positive pressure rectifier tasks need to be carried out by the high-power Schottky rectifier bridge. The
Schottky has three pins, the shape and power of the diodes are similar, but they are integrated within the two
high-power diodes. Secondary rectification work can be completed by the power supply circuit structure,
generally, there may be two rectifier circuit structure, as shown in Figure 27:
Mode A will be more used in low-end entry-level power supplies, which require three pins from the
transformer. Mode B is more used in high-end power supply, this model generally only needs to equip two
transformers, but the ferrite inductor must be big enough, so the high cost of this model, which is the main
reason why the low-end power supply does not use this mode.
In addition, for the high-end power supply, in order to improve the maximum current output capability, these
power supplies tend to use two diodes in series to the rectifier circuit maximum current output to double.
Both the high-side and low-side power supplies are equipped with full rectifier and filter circuitry for both +12
V and +5 V outputs, so at least two sets of rectifier circuits, shown in Figure 27, are required for all supplies.
For 3.3V output, there are three options to choose from:
+5 V output in the increase of a 3.3V voltage regulator, much low-end power supply is used in this design.
Add a complete rectifier and filter as shown in Figure 27 for the 3.3 V output, but share a transformer with
the 5 V rectifier. This is a more common high-end power supply design.
Adopt a complete independent 3.3V rectifier circuit and filter circuit. This program is very rare, only in a
few top-level fever-class power may occur, such as An anti-US Galaxy 1000W.
3.3V output is often limited by the 5V output because the 3.3V output is usually a fully public 5V rectifier
circuit (common in the low-side power supply) or partially shared (common in the high-end power supply).
This is why many power supplies are famous in the nameplate ‘3.3V and 5V combined output’.
Figure 28 below shows the secondary side of a low-end power supply. Here we can see the integrated circuit
responsible for generating the PG signal. Under normal circumstances, a low-end power supply will use the
LM339 integrated circuit.
In addition, we can also see some electrolytic capacitors (the head of these capacitors is much smaller than the
capacitor of the voltage doubler or active PFC circuit) and the inductor. These components are mainly
responsible for the filtering function.
In order to more clearly observe the power, we remove the fly line and the filter coil on the power supply, as
shown in Figure 29. Here we can see some small diodes, mainly for -12 V and -5 V rectification, through the
current is very small (this power supply as long as 0.5A). Other voltage output current of at least 1A, which
requires the power diode rectifier.
6.2 Secondary side (2)
Figure 30 below shows the components on the secondary heatsink of the low-side power supply:
From left to right:
Regulator IC chip - although it has three pins and looks very similar to the transistor, it is an IC chip. This
power supply uses a 7805 regulator (5V regulator), responsible for the regulator + 5VSB. As we have
already mentioned before, the + 5VSB uses a separate output circuit because it still requires a +5 V output
to + 5VSB even when the PC is powered down. This is why the + 5VSB output is also commonly referred
to as ‘standby output'. The 7805 IC provides up to 1A of current output.
power MOSFET transistor, mainly responsible for 3.3V output. The power MOSFET model is
PHP45N03LT, allowing up to 45A of current through. As we have already mentioned, only the low-side
power supply will use a 3.3V regulator that is shared with 5V.
Power Schottky rectifier made up of two diodes. The Schottky power supply for this model is the
STPR1620CT, which allows up to 8A of current per diode (16A total). This power Schottky rectifier is
usually used for 12V output.
another power Schottky rectifier. The power supply model is E83-004, the maximum allow 60A current
through. This power rectifier is often used for +5 V and + 3.3 V output. Because the +5 V and + 3.3 V
outputs use the same rectifier, their sum can not exceed the rectifier's current limit. This is what we often
call the concept of federated output. In other words, the 3.3V output comes from the 5V output. And
another output is different, the transformer does not have 3.3V output. This design is commonly used in
low-end power supplies. High-end power supplies typically use separate +3.3 V and +5 V outputs.
Let's look at the secondary side of the high-end power supply main components:
We can see that
Two parallel 12V Schottky rectifier power output. Low-end power often has only one such rectifier. This
design naturally allows the rectifier's maximum current output to be doubled. This power supply uses two
STPS6045CW Schottky rectifiers, each can run up to 60A current.
A Schottky rectifier is responsible for 5V output. This power supply uses the STPS60L30CW rectifier, the
maximum allow 60A current through.
A Schottky rectifier is responsible for 3.3V output, which is the main difference between high-side and
low-side power supplies (low-side power often does not have a separate 3.3V output). This power supply
uses the STPS30L30CT Schottky, the maximum allow 30A current through.
a power protection circuit regulator. This is also a symbol of a high-end power supply.
The main point is that the above-mentioned maximum current output is only relative to a single
component. The maximum current output of a power supply actually depends on the quality of many of the
components connected to it, such as the coil inductance, the thickness of the transformer, wires, PCB board
width, and so on. We can get the maximum theoretical power of the power supply by multiplying the
maximum current of the rectifier with the output voltage. For example, the maximum power output of the
12V output of the power supply in Figure 30 should be 16A * 12V = 192W.
Ⅶ Graphic Switching Power Supply
The following figure 3 and 4 describe the switching power supply PWM feedback mechanism. Figure 3
depicts a low-cost power supply without a PFC (Power Factor Correction) circuit. Figure 4 depicts the mid-to-
high-end power supply using an active PFC design.
Figure 3: Power Supply Without PFC Circuit
Figure 4: Power Supply with PFC Circuit
By comparing Figure 3 and Figure 4 we can see the difference between the two: one with active PFC circuit
and the other does not have, the former is not 110/220 V converter, but also no voltage doubler circuit. Below
we will focus on active PFC power explain.
In order to allow readers to better understand the power of the working principle, the above we provide is a
very basic illustration, the figure does not include other additional circuits, such as short circuit protection,
standby circuit and PG signal generator and so on. Of course, if you want to know a more detailed illustration,
look at Figure 5. If you do not understand it does not matter, because this picture was originally for those
professional power designers to see.
Figure 5: Typical low-end ATX power supply design
You may ask, why is there no voltage rectifier circuit in the design of Figure 5? In fact, the PWM circuit has
shouldered voltage rectification work. The input voltage will be recalibrated before it passes through the open-
tube and the voltage into the transformer has become a square wave. Therefore, the transformer output
waveform is a square wave, rather than a sine wave. Since the waveform is already a square wave at this time,
the voltage can easily be converted into a DC voltage by a transformer. That is, after the voltage is recalibrated
by the transformer, the output voltage has become a DC voltage. This is why many times the switching power
supply is often referred to as a DC-DC converter.
The loop feeding the PWM control circuit is responsible for all the required tuning functions. If the output
voltage is wrong, the PWM control circuit will change the duty cycle of the control signal to adapt to the
transformer, the final output voltage correction. This situation often occurs when the PC power consumption
increases, when the output voltage tends to decline, or when the PC power consumption decreases, the output
voltage tends to rise.
What we need to know
All circuits and modules before the transformer are called 'primary' (primary side) and all circuits and modules
behind the transformer are called 'secondary'
Active PFC power supply design does not have a 110 V / 220 V converter, but also no voltage doubler.
For the power supply without a PFC circuit, if 110 V / 220 V is set to 110 V, the current will use the voltage
doubler to raise 110 V to 220 V before entering the rectifier bridge.
PC power on the open tube by a pair of power MOSFET, of course, there are other combinations, after
which we will explain in detail.
Transformer waveform required for the square wave, so after the transformer voltage waveform is a square
wave, rather than a sine wave.
The PWM control current is often an integrated circuit, usually isolated from the primary side by a small
transformer, and sometimes through a coupling chip (a small IC chip with LEDs and phototransistors) and
primary side isolation.
PWM control circuit is based on the power output load conditions to control the power switch tube closed.
If the output voltage is too high or too low, the PWM control circuit will change the voltage waveform to
adapt to open the light tube, so as to achieve the purpose of the school positive output voltage.
Next, we will be through the picture to study the power of each module and circuit, through the physical
image to tell you where in the power can find them.
When you turn on power for the first time (make sure the power cord is not connected to the mains, or it will
be powered), you may be disoriented by the weird components inside, but there are two things you know for
sure: Power supply fan and heat sink.
However, you should be able to easily identify which components within the power supply belong to the
primary side and which belong to the secondary side. In general, if you see a large filter capacitor (power
supply with active PFC circuit) or two (power supply without PFC circuit), that side is the primary side.
Under normal circumstances, there are three transformers arranged between the two heat sinks of the power
supply. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the main transformer is the largest one. the medium 'body' is usually
responsible for the output of + 5VSB and the minimum Is generally used for PWM control circuits and is used
mainly to isolate the primary and secondary side parts (which is why the 'isolator' tag is attached to the
transformer in Figures 3 and 4 above). Instead of using the transformer as an 'isolator', some power supplies
use one or more optocouplers (which look like IC-integrated chips), meaning that the power supply using this
design has only two transformers - The main transformer and auxiliary transformer.
The power supply usually has two heat sinks inside, one on the primary side and the other on the secondary
side. If it is an active PFC power supply, then on the primary side of the heat sink, you can see the switch, PFC
transistors and diodes. This is not absolute, as some vendors may choose to install active PFC components on
separate heatsinks, with two heatsinks on one side.
On the secondary side of the heat sink, you will find there are some rectifiers, they look a little like the
transistor, but in fact, they are two power diodes combined.
Next to the secondary heatsink, you'll also see a lot of capacitors and inductors that together make up the low-
voltage filter module - find them and find the secondary side.
The simplest way to differentiate the primary and secondary sides is to follow the power line. In general, the
output line is often connected to the secondary side, while the input line is connected to the primary side
(input line from the mains). As shown in Figure 7.
Above, we give a general introduction of the internal modules of a power supply from a macro point of view.
Below we refine, the topic transferred to the power of the various components of the module.
Ⅷ Transient Filter Circuit Analysis
When connected to the PC switching power supply, the electricity goes into the transient filter circuit
(Transient Filtering), we often say that the EMI circuit. Figure 8 below shows a circuit diagram of a
recommended transient filter circuit for a PC power supply.
Why do I emphasize 'recommended'? Because a lot of power on the market, especially low-end power supply,
often will save some components in Fig. 8. So by checking whether there is a shrinking EMI circuit can
determine the pros and cons of your power quality.
The main components of EMI circuit circuits are MOVs (Metal Oxide Varistors) or varistors (shown as RV1
in Figure 8), responsible for suppressing spikes in mains transients. MOV elements are also used on surge
suppressors. However, many low-end power supplies often cut off important MOV components in order to
save costs. Surge suppressors are no longer important for MOV-equipped power supplies because the power
supply already has a surge suppression feature.
L1 and L2 in Figure 8 are ferrite coils. C1 and C2 are disc capacitors, usually blue, these capacitors are often
called Y capacitors. and C3 is a metalized polyester capacitor with a typical capacity of 100nF, 470nF, or
680nF, also called the X capacitor. Some power supplies are equipped with two X capacitors connected in
parallel with the mains, as shown in RV1 in Figure 8.
X capacitors can be any of the parallel capacitors and mains. Y capacitors are generally pairs of pairs, the need
to be connected in series to the fire, zero and the midpoint of the two capacitors through the chassis ground. In
other words, they are connected in parallel with the mains.
The transient filter circuit can not only play a role in filtering the mains but also prevent the noise generated by
the open tube interfere with the same in mains on the other electronic devices.
Let's look at a few practical examples. Can you see some weirdness as shown in Figure 9? This power is
actually no transient filter circuit! This is a cheap cottage power supply. Note that looking at the markings on
the board, the transient filter circuit should have been talented, but it was brought to the market by the
conscience-riddled JS.
This inexpensive cottage power supply has no transient filter
As you can see in Figure 10, this is a low-side power supply with a transient filter, but as we can see, this
power supply's transient filter eliminates the need for an important MOV varistor and only A ferrite coil.
however, this power supply is equipped with an extra X capacitor.
The transient filter circuit is divided into first-level EMI and second-level EMI, a lot of power supply EMI
will often be placed in a separate PCB board, near the mains interface section, two EMI is placed in the power
of the main PCB As shown in Figures 11 and 12 below.
Look at the second level of this power EMI. Here we can see the MOV varistor, although its placement is
somewhat weird, behind the second ferrite. Overall, it should be said that this power supply EMI circuit is
very complete.
It is worth mentioning that the above MOV varistor power supply is yellow, but in fact, most of the MOV is
dark blue.
In addition, this power transient filter circuit is also equipped with fuses (F1 in Figure 8). Note that if you find
that the fuses in the fuse have been blown, you can be sure that one or some of the components inside the
power supply are defective. If you replace the fuse at this time is useless, when your boot is likely to be
burned again.
Switch Mode Power Supply Measurements and Analysis video site:
This video shows that switch mode power supply measurements and analysis
Book Recommendation
Switching Power Supplies A - Z, Second Edition 2nd Edition
This book is the most comprehensive study available of the theoretical and practical aspects of controlling and
measuring Electromagnetic Interference in switching power supplies, including input filter instability
considerations. The new edition is thoroughly revised with six completely new chapters, while the existing
EMI chapters are expanded to include many more step-by-step numerical examples and key derivations and
EMI mitigation techniques. New topics cover the length and breadth of modern switching power conversion
techniques, lucidly explained in simple but thorough terms, now with uniquely detailed "wall-reference
charts" providing easy access to even complex topics.
1. A step-by-step and iterative approach for calculating high-frequency losses in forwarding converter
transformers, including Proximity losses based on Dowell's equations
2. Thorough, yet uniquely simple design flow-chart for building DC-DC converters and their magnetic
components under typical wide-input supply conditions
3. Step-by-step, solved examples for stabilizing control loops of all three major topologies, using either
transconductance or conventional operational amplifiers, and either current-mode or voltage-mode control
--Sanjaya Maniktala (Author)
Switching Power Supply Design and Optimization, Second Edition
Extensively revised throughout, Switching Power Supply Design & Optimization, Second Edition, explains
how to design reliable, high-performance switching power supplies for today's cutting-edge electronics. The
book covers modern topologies and converters and features new information on designing or selecting
bandgap references, transformer design using detailed new design charts for proximity effects, Buck efficiency
loss teardown diagrams, active reset techniques, topology morphology, and a meticulous AC-DC front-end
design procedure.
This updated resource contains design charts and numerical examples for comprehensive feedback loop
design, including TL431, plus the world’s first top-down simplified design methodology for wide-input
resonant (LLC) converters. A step-by-step comparative design procedure for forwarding and Flyback
converters is also included in this practical guide.
--Sanjaya Maniktala (Author)
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