NCP1254
Figure 42 shows the voltage evolution from almost 0 V to
the open−loop level, around 4.5 V. At low power levels or in
no−load operation, the feedback voltage stays in the vicinity
of 400 mV and ensures skip−cycle operation. In this mode,
the peak current is frozen to 31% of its maximum value. This
freeze lasts as long as VFB stays below 1 V. Beyond 1 V, the
peak current is authorized to follow VFB through a ratio of
4. When the power demand goes up, the switching frequency
linearly increases from 26 kHz up to 65 kHz, a value reached
when the feedback voltage exceeds 1.5 V. Beyond 1.9 V, the
frequency no longer changes. As VFB still increases, we are
in a fixed−frequency variable peak current mode control
type of operation until the feedback voltage hits 3.2 V. At this
point, the maximum current is limited to 0.8 V/Rsense. If VFB
further increases, it means the converter undergoes an
overload and requires more power from the source. As the
peak current excursion is stopped, the only way to deliver
more power is to increase the switching frequency. From
3.2 V up to 4 V, the frequency linearly increases from
65 kHz to 130 kHz. The maximum power delivered by the
converter depends whether it operates in Discontinuous
Conduction Mode (DCM) or in Continuous Conduction
Mode (CCM):
Pmax,DCM
+
1
2
LpFsw,maxIpeak,max 2
h
(eq. 23)
ǒ Ǔ Pmax,CCM
+
1
2
LpFsw,max
Ipeak,max 2 * Ivalley 2
h
(eq. 24)
VFB (V)
Where Ipeak,max is the maximum peak current authorized by
the controller and Ivalley the valley current reached just
before a new switching cycle begins. This current is
expressed by the following formula:
Ivalley
+
Ipeak
*
Vout )
NLp
Vf
toff
(eq. 25)
In DCM, the valley current is equal to 0.
Two Levels of Protection
Once the feedback voltage asks for the maximum peak
current, the controller knows that an overload condition has
started. An internal timer is operated as soon as the
maximum peak current setpoint is reached. Its duration is
internally set to 200 ms. If the feedback voltage continues its
rise, it means that the converter output voltage is going down
further, close to a short−circuit situation. When the feedback
voltage approaches the open−loop level (above 4.0 V
typically), the original timer duration is divided by 4. For
instance, at start−up, even if the overload timer is
programmed to 200 ms, when the feedback voltage jumps
above 4.0 V, the controller will wait 50 ms before fault
detection occurs. Of course, if the feedback does not stay
that long in the region of concern, the timer is reset when
returning to a normal level. Figure 43 shows the timer values
versus the feedback voltage.
max
4.5
Open loop voltage
4.0
25% timer − short−circuit
3.2
1.9
1.5
Frozen current
1
0.4
100% timer − overload
Fixed−frequency variable peak current
Frequency foldback variable peak current
Fixed frequency variable peak current
Frozen peak current
Skip cycle
Max Ipeak
31% max Ipeak
Figure 43. Depending on the feedback level, the timer will take two different values:
it will authorize a transient overload, but will reduce a short−circuit duration.
130 kHz
65 kHz
65 kHz
26 kHz
t
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