264   Chapter 5    DC–DC Converters

If Vc is the average capacitor voltage, at the critical condition for continuous conduc-
tion the capacitor ripple voltage ∆Vc = 2Va. Using Eq. (5.79), we get

Iak
= 2Va = 2IaR
Cf

which gives the critical value of the capacitor Cc as

k
Cc = C = (5.81)
2fR

A boost regulator can step up the output voltage without a transformer. Due to
a single transistor, it has a high efficiency. The input current is continuous. However, a
high-peak current has to flow through the power transistor. The output voltage is very
sensitive to changes in duty cycle k and it might be difficult to stabilize the regulator.
The average output current is less than the average inductor current by a factor of
11 - k 2 , and a much higher rms current would flow through the filter capacitor, re-
sulting in the use of a larger filter capacitor and a larger inductor than those of a buck
regulator.

Example 5.6 Finding the Currents and Voltage in the Boost Regulator

A boost regulator in Figure 5.18a has an input voltage of Vs = 5 V. The average output volt-
age Va = 15 V and the average load current Ia = 0.5 A. The switching frequency is 25 kHz. If
L = 150 μH and C = 220 μF, determine (a) the duty cycle k, (b) the ripple current of inductor
∆I, (c) the peak current of inductor I2, (d) the ripple voltage of filter capacitor ∆Vc, and (e) the
critical values of L and C.

Solution
Vs = 5 V, Va = 15 V, f = 25 kHz, L = 150 μH, and C = 220 μF.

a. From Eq. (5.70), 15 = 5/11 - k2 or k = 2/3 = 0.6667 = 66.67,.

b. From Eq. (5.75),

5 * 115 - 52
∆I = = 0.89 A
25,000 * 150 * 10-6 * 15

c. From Eq. (5.73), Is = 0.5/11 - 0.6672 = 1.5 A and peak inductor current,

∆I 0.89
I2 = Is + = 1.5 + = 1.945 A
2 2

d. From Eq. (5.79),

0.5 * 0.6667
∆Vc = = 60.61 mV
25,000 * 220 * 10-6

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 5.9  Switching-Mode Regulators   265

Va 15
e. R = = = 30 Ω
Ia 0.5

11 - k2kR 11 - 0.66672 * 0.6667 * 30

From Eq. (5.80), we get Lc = = = 133 μH
2f 2 * 25 * 103
k 0.6667
From Eq. (5.81), we get Cc = = = 0.44 μF
2fR 2 * 25 * 103 * 30

5.9.3 Buck–Boost Regulators

A buck–boost regulator provides an output voltage that may be less than or greater
than the input voltage—hence the name “buck–boost”; the output voltage polarity
is opposite to that of the input voltage. This regulator is also known as an inverting
regulator. The circuit arrangement of a buck–boost regulator is shown in Figure 5.19a.
Transistor Q1 acts as a controlled switch and diode Dm is an uncontrolled switch. They
operate as two SPST current-bidirectional switches. The circuit in Figure 5.19a is often
represented by two switches as shown in Figure 5.19b.
The circuit operation can be divided into two modes. During mode 1, transistor
Q1 is turned on and diode Dm is reversed biased. The input current, which rises, flows
through inductor L and transistor Q1. During mode 2, transistor Q1 is switched off and
the current, which was flowing through inductor L, would flow through L, C, Dm, and
the load. The energy stored in inductor L would be transferred to the load and the
­inductor current would fall until transistor Q1 is switched on again in the next cycle. The
equivalent circuits for the modes are shown in Figure 5.19c. The waveforms for steady-
state voltages and currents of the buck–boost regulator are shown in Figure 5.19d for a
continuous load current.
Assuming that the inductor current rises linearly from I1 to I2 in time t1,
I2 - I1 ∆I
Vs = L = L (5.82)
t1 t1
or
∆IL
t1 = (5.83)
Vs

and the inductor current falls linearly from I2 to I1 in time t2,

∆I
Va = -L (5.84)
t2
or
- ∆IL
t2 = (5.85)
Va

where ∆I = I2 - I1 is the peak-to-peak ripple current of inductor L. From Eqs. (5.82)

and (5.84),

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 266   Chapter 5    DC–DC Converters

is Q1 vD Dm

 i1  
vc  vo
C
Vs L Load vo, Va
G
iL, IL ic
  
io, Ia
(a) Circuit diagram

vD

Vs
t1 t2
S1
1 2 0 t
kT T
Vs C vc R Vs
iL
L
I2
I
I1
(b) Switch representation
0 t
i1 kT T
I2

I1
 is iL 0 t
kT T
ic
Vs L C Load
I2  Ia
ic io  ia

0 t
kT T
Mode 1  Ia
vc
Dm
Va Vc
iL i1

C 0 t
L Load
io
ic
io  ia Ia
0 t
Mode 2
(c) Equivalent circuits (d) Waveforms

Figure 5.19
Buck–boost regulator with continuous iL.

Vst 1 -Vat 2
= ∆I =
L L
Substituting t 1 = kT and t 2 = 11 - k 2T, the average output voltage is
Vsk
Va = - (5.86)
1 - k

M05_RASH9088_04_PIE_C05.indd 266 25/07/13 3:42 PM