Power Electronics and Integrated Circuit Control

電力電子與積體電路控制
Lecture 1- Introduction

Ching-Jan Chen
Spring, 2021

Power Electronics Laboratory,

PowerGreen ElectricLab.,
Electronics Energy Research
GERC, NTU.Center, National Taiwan University.
Course Information

▪ Lecturer: Ching-Jan Chen

- Tel: 02-33663550
- EE2-348

▪ TA: 蔡杰儒 EE2-252, f04943123@ntu.edu.tw

▪ Course website: CEIBA, NTU COOL

- Course slide and reference material will be upload to Ceiba before
class. Please print it by yourself
- Homework will be published on Ceiba
- Record class video and upload on NTU COOL each week

2
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Power Electronics Course Map

Special Topics on
Power Power Electronics
Electronics (PE1)
(PE2)

First semester Second semester

Power Electronics
and Integrated Circuit
Control
(PEIC) (IC for PE )
Second semester

3
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Power Electronics

▪ Definition:
Using electronic components to control and convert
electric power

Power MOSFET, rectifier, passive devices…

4
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
 Power Electronics and Integrated Circuit Control

▪ Power Converter (Switching converter): High efficiency

▪ Converter control: feedback system
▪ Controller (analog control) is usually implemented in IC to
save board area and provide complex functions
5
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Why are you taking this course?

▪ 瞭解切換式電源的運作及積體電路回授控制方法
▪ 整合電力電子與積體電路控制知識
▪ 能使用模擬軟體實際設計切換式電源及其控制電路

▪ For power IC designer, system application engineer, power

supply designer
▪ Team work practice Power
Electronics

Converter
Analog IC
Control
Design
theory

6
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
 Course Information

Power Electronic and Integrated Circuit Control

DC-DC Converter DC-DC Converter

Topology Feedback Control
Week 1 - 5 Week 6 - 17

Steady State Analysis: Classic Feedback Control:

Buck, Boost <-> CCM DCM Converter Freq. Response

Power Stage Realization: Controller IC subblock:

Switch, Driver, ZCD EA,PWM, Reference…

Power stage (open-loop) + control (close-loop) Advanced Topic:

Current Mode, Ripple-based

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Contributor: Jerry Tsai

Background Knowledge

▪ Suggested to take PE1 course first

▪ 系統 (Switching converter):
- 電路學
- 基本電力電子的知識
▪ 控制:
- 電子學
- 基本類比積體電路的知識
- 基本控制系統的知識

▪ Software:
- SIMPLIS, LTSPICE, SPICE or other IC design tools
- Simulators will be used frequently in homework and project
8
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. 軟體取得
 Syllabus (1)
Week Date Subject
1 2/25 Syllabus, Introduction

2 3/4 Steady-State Analysis of Switching Converters, SIMPLIS introduction (HW1)

3 3/11 Steady-State Analysis of Switching Converters, Efficiency

4 3/18 Switch Realization and Driver (HW2)

5 3/25 Switch Realization and Driver

6 4/1 Spring vacation (No Class)

7 4/8 PWM Controls, Converter Feedback Control (HW3)

8 4/15 Voltage-Mode Control: Small-Signal Model and Loop Design

Control IC Sub-blocks of Switching Converter, Amplifier, Compensator Circuit
9 4/22
(HW4)

9
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
 Syllabus (2)
Week Date Subject
10 4/29 Modulator, Comparator, Soft-Start

11 5/6 Midterm

12 5/13 Voltage Reference

13 5/20 Current-Mode Controls (Start final project progress presentation)

14 5/27 Current-Mode Controls

15 6/3 Current-Mode Controls

16 6/10 Ripple-Based Controls

17 6/17 Ripple-Based Controls

18 6/24 Final group presentation

10
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Grading Policy

▪ 作業(小作業, 上課內容延伸或團體討論問題,使用電腦模擬軟
體): 30%
▪ 期中考 (題型: 簡答題, 計算題): 30%
▪ 期末計畫(利用上課所學完成切換式電源及其控制器的設計, 並
用電腦軟體模擬): 30%
▪ 上課參與: 10%
- You get extra credits if ask questions at class, answer questions, be
active in discussion, or present at class

11
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Final Project

▪ Team:
- ~4 persons, different background is better

▪ Software:
- SIMPLIS, SPICE or other IC design tools

▪ Topics:
- 利用上課所學完成切換式電源及其控制器的設計 (close-loop), 並用電腦
軟體模擬. 架構自選 (spec./applications, power stage, control method,
focus points)
- At least three blocks implemented in MOS level (Any fabrication
process is acceptable)
- Other blocks could be implemented by behavioral model
- Apply what you learned this semester to this design project
12
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Q?
Teaching Style

▪ Before class: Preview keywords, course note and video

▪ At class: Lecture, Q&A, group Q discussion
- Form a group of around 4 people to discuss provided questions
- Point students to answer question
▪ Final project
- Start Progress presentations after midterm for each team
- Leave time for group discussion of the project at class

Q:take rest per hour?

13
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Office hour
Progress Presentation Schedule

5/20 Project plan and topics

5/27
Design spec., Behavior model simulation
6/3
Behavior model simulation: transient + AC
simulation
6/10 IC subblock simulation
6/17 IC subblock simulation (2)
6/24 Final presentation

▪ Progress presentation per team: ~ 3 minutes + 1 minutes

Q&A

14
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Rules

▪ Homework: discussion is allowed, but you have to do it

independently
▪ Late homework or project get 80% grade
▪ Plagiarism (抄襲) or cheating: get zero grade

▪ Must during class: Respect other students

▪ 守時不遲到 (Be on time) 2.食物要收好 (No food/drink) 3.專
心不睡覺 (Pay attention)
▪ Learning and design it yourself (DIY) with fun, then you don’t
have to worry grade

15
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
References
▪ Textbook: Lecture note

▪ Books:
- Robert Erickson and Dragan Maksimovic, “Fundamentals of Power
Electronics,” 2nd Edition, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2001.

- 梁適安, “交換式電源供給器之理論與實務設計”,全華圖書, 2008.

- B. Razavi, Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits, McGRAW-Hill,
2001.
- S. Sedra, K. C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, 6th ed., Oxford Univ.
Press, 2010.

16
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Refer Lecture Notes to Reference Book Chapters

▪ Lecture note
- Steady-state analysis - ch. 2, 3, 5
- Efficiency, Switch Realization - ch. 3, 4
- Converter dynamics and control - ch. 7~9
- Current-mode control – ch. 12

▪ Reference Book:
- Robert Erickson and Dragan Maksimovic, “Fundamentals
of Power Electronics,” 2nd Edition, 2001.

17
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
References (2)

▪ Papers:
- Use IEEE Xplore or google scholar
- IEEE transactions on power electronics
- IEEE transactions on industrial electronics
- IEEE JSSC
- IEEE conferences: ISSCC, VLSI, ECCE, APEC

▪ IEEE Power Electronics Magazine

▪ Patents: Google patents

18
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
 Introduction

19
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
 Requirements of Power Processing

▪ Achieve control requirements

▪ High efficiency
▪ Small converter size and weight
▪ Low cost
20
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Requirements of Converter
AC, DC AC, DC

Li-ion

Converter requires good control performance, high

efficiency, small size
Power Electronics and Power IC
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. are Everywhere! Page 21
 Power Electronics Technology
is Everywhere!

Pokemon Go

Power electronics enables (rides on the wave of)

smart grid, electric car, cloud computing, IOT,
robot, …
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
What are These?

Power conversion within a device

Ref: CPES, “Very High Frequency IVR for Small
Portable Electronics with High-Current Multi-phase 3D
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.Integrated Magnetics” IEEE TPE, 2017
 Power Electronics Technology
is Everywhere! (1)

Pokemon Go

GaN switch
SiC switch
Wide range of applications and voltage rating
Wide bandgap devices
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Ref: http://www.yole.fr/
 Power Electronics Technology
is Everywhere! (2)

Wide range of applications and power rating

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Ref: https://www.infineon.com/

Example: Computer Power Supply System

26
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Voltage Regulators (VRs) for Computer Powers

Computer power architecture

Main I/O
LDO
power power
5V

VR VR VR
Main
bus
12 V

VR VR VR
0.5~1.5 V,
~100A

Memory CPU GPU

VRs are DC/DC converters on board for computer powers

Ref: F. C. Lee, “Power supplies trends,” 2010

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
 Stringent CPU VR Requirements

CPU Voltage and Current Trend

An Example of CPU Current

CPU VR Requirements :
▪ Tight output voltage tolerance
▪ Fast transient response
▪ High efficiency at light-load and heavy-load

28
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
 Low-Power Mobile Electronic Loads

▪1

Lower output power

▪ There are many portable devices require low output power

▪ Battery is power source and energy harvest is preferred for
unreachable applications
[1] Ramadass, “Powering the internet of things” 29
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Power Electronics: An Enabling Technology

The Worldwide Electronics Marketplace

沒有他就不行!
Power
Electronics
is an Enabling
Technology
Equipment Sales: $60B

Hardware Electronics
$1000B

Total Electronics Market $2,000B

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Ref: Microtech / IEEE, CPES Virginia Tech.
Power Electronics Value Chain

Power switch and control IC

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Ref: http://www.yole.fr/

Power Electronics Value Chain Companies

▪ System Company
- Asus, Apple, Dell, Google, Tesla, Yaskawa, Schineder, Denso

▪ Power supply Company

- Delta Electronics 台達電子, Lite-On, TDK-Larmda

▪ Component Company
- Capacitor, magnetics: Murata, TDK

- Power switch: Infineon, Fuji, Hitachi, TOSHIBA

- PMIC: Texas Instrument, Fairchild, Richtek

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.

Why Power Electronics is Important to Circuit
Society? “Power” in ISSCC
▪ Two Kinds of Meaning:
- Operating Power: Processor, Wireless TRX, ADC/DAC…
- All ckts care about “low power design”
- Figure-Of-Merit gives power a heavy weight coefficient

- Power Management: Power Converter, SoC Power

Management…
- Application specific
- High converter efficiency is key to low power consumption

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Contributor: Jerry Tsai

Why Power Electronics is Important to Circuit? (2)

Ref: ISSCC
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
A Simple DC-DC Converter Example

Input source: 100V

Output load: 50V, 10A, 500W
How can this converter be realized?
What if the converter required to regulate Vo with various load resistor?

Group discussion 35
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Types of Power Processing

▪ DC/DC – Converter : LDO, charge pump,

buck, boost…
▪ AC/DC – Rectifier : adaptor, PFC …
▪ DC/AC – Inverter
▪ AC/AC
36
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Resistive Realization

Linear regulator (LDO): transistor operates in active

region as variable resistor

Power efficiency? 37
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Device Available for Converters

Power processing: avoid lossy elements

Power semiconductor switches, power management

IC (PMIC), magnetics, capacitors

38
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Switching Power Converter

Switch output voltage

waveform

Definition of D? 39
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
The switch Changes the DC Voltage Level

Pulse Width Modulation

(PWM)
40
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Insertion of Low-Pass Filter

• Remove switching harmonics and pass only dc component

• Choose filter cutoff frequency wo much smaller than
switching frequency ws
• This circuit is known as the “buck converter”
• Ideal efficiency is 100%
41
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Three basic DC-DC Switching Converters

Pulse Width Modulation

(PWM) 42
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Periodic Steady-State Analysis
+ VDS −
L

+ − +
VI D VD C VO vGS ton toff
− + −
VI
vDS

▪ Capacitor IQP
IQV
iQ
dvc
iC = C
dt iD

Slope=? IP
<IO>
▪ Inductor iL
IV
diL
vL = L iC ICP
dt

43
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Types of Power Converter

▪ Resistive - linear regulator (LDO)

▪ Capacitive - charge pump
▪ Inductive - switching converter

44
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Comparison of DC-DC Converter Topologies:
LDO
▪1

DC equivalent model

[1] Ramadass, “Powering the internet of things” 45

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Comparison of DC-DC Converter Topologies:
Switching Capacitor (SC)
▪1

DC equivalent model
N is determined by topology

[1] Ramadass, “Powering the internet of things” 46

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. [2] J. Stauth, PwrSoC 16’
Comparison of DC-DC Converter Topologies:
Switching Converter
▪1

N is a function of duty

[1] Ramadass, “Powering the internet of things” 47

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Addition of control system for regulation of output
voltage

Control IC

Feedback system
48
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
First PWM Controller Debut at 1976

Ref: http://powerelectronics.com/ 49
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Cellphone Interior

Iphone 4

Small and powerful PMIC makes portable device possible

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Ref: 日經技術在線
PMIC to Increase Power Density

Zero

Pole

Adjustable on-chip
frequency compensation

Increase power density

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.

 PMIC for DC/DC Converter

Computer power

Power management IC (PMIC):

Controller or controller and switch

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Ref: Richtek

PMIC for Cellphone

▪ Power management IC (PMIC): Integrate one or multiple

converter controllers into one chip
▪ Smart power management: communication, monitor

PMIC

Ref: Dialog semiconductor 53

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Example: PMIC for Processor

▪ Highly Integrated, save space

PMIC Processor

Ref: Freescale, MMPF0100 roadmap 54

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Why not Integrate PMIC Function into Processor?

▪ Processor estate
is more expensive
Processor PMIC
than PMIC
Ref: Y. Huh, “Future Direction of Power 55
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Management in Mobile Devices” 2011
Power IC Development Flow

▪ Product definition
▪ System and behavior analysis
▪ IC design and implementation
▪ System verification at demo board
▪ System verification at customer’s board

56
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Top-Down Design Flow
System/algorithm/conceptual level
(Hand Analysis/SIMPLIS/Spectre)

Architecture level
(Hand Analysis/SIMPLIS/Spectre)

Circuit level: sub-ckt architecture

(Spectre/Spice/SIMPLIS)

Physical level: layout

(APR/Full-cust. Layout)

Design = let the “distortion” between concepts to real world products as small
as possible!!
= make the “GAP” between each layer (model) as small as possible!!
We choose SIMPLIS as the main system simulation tools for this course!!

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU. Contributor: Jerry Tsai

Top-Down Design for Power IC Development

Ref: Eddie Tseng, Richtek 58

Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Why Top-Down Design?

▪ Divide and conquer

▪ Clearer system view
▪ Simplify the consideration per design stage
▪ Less iterations

59
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Why behavioral modeling?

▪ Faster topology prototyping, simulation & validation

▪ Faster & more correct block spec definitions
▪ Faster circuit debugging
▪ Less iterations
▪ Design kits for customers

60
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Modeling by Behavioral Cells

▪ Controlled sources (VCVS, VCCS, CCVS, CCCS)

▪ Voltage controlled resistors
▪ Switches, Diodes
▪ Inductors
▪ Current mirrors
▪ Amplifiers (OTA, OPamp)
▪ Logic gates
▪ Driver

▪ Multi-level modeling.
▪ Ex: current mirror: CCCS -> consider channel length
modulation -> transistor model
61
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.
Recap

▪ This course focus on switching converter control

- Integrate the knowledge of power electronics, converter control theory,
and analog IC design

▪ Basic power converters, its importance and wide

applications

▪ Power IC development flow

- Top-down design
- Multi-level of models

62
Power Electronics Lab., GERC, NTU.