The Role of Digital Control in Power Supplies

Focus:

This short article provides a quick overview of the benefits of digital control in power supplies, while explaining the different levels of digital control that may be implemented. The author describes four levels of digital power control, explaining how they offer increasing levels of functionality while requiring increasingly digital approaches to controlling the power supply. These four levels range from the use of a low-cost microcontroller to add simple functions like soft start (Level 1) up to full digital control of the power supply with its control signals digitized and processed by a digital controller such as a DSP (Level 4).

What you’ll learn:

• How to understand the different degrees of digital control that are possible in power supply designs
• How to understand the benefits of digital control in power supply designs
• http://powerelectronics.com/digital_power/design_features/power_control_algorithm_modern/ .

Notes:

For another viewpoint on the different levels and benefits of digital power control, see Reno Rossetti's short article, "Control Algorithm of Modern Switching Regulators" in Power Electronics Technology, January 1, 2004, available online at

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Author & Publication:

Fanie Duvenhage, Product Marketing Manager, Microchip Technology Inc., Chandler, Ariz., Power Electronics Technology, Aug 01 2004

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