Simulation of a Converter!

with Synchronous Switches

1. Schematic Capture in LTspice

2. Simulation of a Synchronous Rectifier
•  Boost converter example
•  Dead time generator
•  Current spike and switching loss

3. Homework assignment: a buck converter with a synchronous

rectifier, for a 12 V to 1 V dc-dc converter to power a
microprocessor at 20 A

Converter Circuits 1 Simulation of Converter with Synchronous Rectifier

 Boost Converter with Diode

Converter Circuits 2 Simulation of Converter with Synchronous Rectifier

 Dead Time Generator Block

The dead time generator receives an input

control signal c(t) having duty cycle d and
generates two output control signals c1(t) and
c2(t) suitable for driving synchronous switching
MOSFETs.

The input is a 0-5V logic signal relative to

ground.
Output c1(t) has nearly the same duty cycle d
as the input c (t). Output c2(t) is inverted, and
has a duty cycle of approximately d’ = 1 – d.
The dead time generator introduces a
programmable dead time of length Td, so that
the synchronous switching MOSFETs exhibit
“make before break” operation. This dead time
introduces a small change in the duty cycle.

Converter Circuits 3 Simulation of Converter with Synchronous Rectifier

 LTspice Simulation!
of Synchronous Boost Converter

Converter Circuits 4 Simulation of Converter with Synchronous Rectifier

 LTspice Simulation of Boost Converter!
with Synchronous Rectifier
Switch node
Deadtime generator creates voltage
drive signals for the two
MOSFETs
Synchronous
When gate of synchronous Rectifier vgs
rectifier is turned off, its body
diode conducts. M1 vgs
When gate of main MOSFET
M1 is turned on, the switch
node voltage is pulled down.
•  10 ohm gate resistor affects
rate at which the switch
node voltage changes. If
this resistor is too small,
then the synchronous
rectifier may turn back on,
leading to oscillations and
additional switching loss

Converter Circuits 5 Simulation of Converter with Synchronous Rectifier

 Reverse Recovery of Synchronous Rectifier

Magnified view of output capacitor

current and switch node voltage, during
turn-off transient of synchronous rectifier

•  Negative current flows through

output capacitor, caused by reverse
recovery of body diode of
synchronous rectifier
•  This current also includes current
flowing through output capacitances
of MOSFETs (while the switch node
voltage changes)
Define Q = charge contained in this
current spike
This current spike represents an
average power of
Pspike = QfsVout

Converter Circuits 6 Simulation of Converter with Synchronous Rectifier

 Homework Assignment
LTspice simulation of a buck converter with synchronous rectifier
12 V to 1 V dc-dc converter to power a microprocessor at 20 A

MBR735

Conventional buck converter M1

5Ω
• 
IRFZ44N
High-side gate driver + 12 V
–
L
• 
2 mΩ
Low duty cycle Vg
+
– 4 µH
12 V
•  Substantial diode conduction loss
680 µF 50 mΩ
•  Low efficiency D1
MBRB2545CT

vc c
+ Vduty
– PWM
fs = 100 kHz
Buck converter with synchronous
MBR735
rectifier 1N5817
M1
•  High-side and low-side gate drivers, 10Ω IRFZ44N
10 µF
powered by Vg Vg
L 2 mΩ
+
•  Bootstrap power supply for high-side 12 V –
MBR735
4 µH

driver M2
680 µF 50 mΩ

•  Dead-time generator to avoid 5Ω IRFH5004

overlapping conduction of MOSFETs c1

•  Reduced conduction loss vc c
c2
•  Higher efficiency + Vduty
– PWM
fs = 100 kHz
Dead time
generator

Converter Circuits 7 Simulation of Converter with Synchronous Rectifier