Intelligent Power

Level 4 Intelligent Power Integration: Digital Control

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Full digital control replaces the standard analog design and also provides the power management functions of Levels 1-3 integration. The power supply regulation function is directly controlled by the digital circuits on the processor and the software running on the processor. The full digital solution allows the designer to employ techniques that are not possible with the analog solution, including proprietary digital compensation algorithms and non-linear control techniques. The full digital solution enables a customized response to power input change or load change events, which can lower system cost and increase system efficiency. Microchip's 16-bit dsPIC DSCs enable the Level 4 solution. Feedback from the power supply is obtained using high-speed ADCs. The power supply is controlled using specialized high-speed PWM peripherals. The PWM module can directly drive all popular power supply topologies and the CPU core allows digital compensation algorithms to be executed quickly. dsPIC DSCs can be used for various power conversion and power control applications, and they offer higher power density, lower system cost, improved reliability, and lower manufacturing and maintenance cost.

Level 4 Integration Examples

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PFC with Advanced Digital Control

Power Factor Correction (PFC) is essential in higher wattage power supplies to reduce harmonic contents, system losses and radiated emissions. In this example, the dsPIC DSC simplifies implementing Boost-PFC algorithms with the Average Current Mode Control technique. The current signal is calculated digitally by computing the product of the rectified input voltage, the output of voltage error compensator and output of voltage feed-forward compensator. Implementing the digital PFC function uses little of the DSC resources, leaving plenty of additional capability to perform the rest of the primary side control.

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AC-DC Conversion with Complete Digital Control

Are you facing challenges in designing an efficient, reliable, cost effective AC-DC power supply with advanced features? Our family of dsPIC DSCs can help optimize design cycles effectively. The high-speed PWM module with multiple advanced operating modes helps implement various advanced conversion stages such as PFC;, phase shift, zero voltage, transition converter with full-bridge conversion and synchronous rectification and multi-phase buck converters. Our high-speed ADC can be triggered on an edge of the PWM to sample the various voltages and currents for high speed processing. The high-performance CPU helps in implementing advanced PID digital control loops and compensators in software.

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Full Digital DC-DC Conversion

The dsPIC33FJXXGS dsPIC DSC in power efficient and highly integrated DC-DC converters dynamically controls different power stages. High-speed ADC, PWM and comparators work together without using much CPU bandwidth. Faster digital control loops and compensators can be executed using a high-performance DSP engine. Advanced features such as dynamic load response, protections, sequencing, remote control and communications can also be implemented.

Digital Power: Quick Reference Table

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