Sinusoidal Pulse-Width Modulation

• In multiple-pulse modulation, all pulses are

the same width
• Vary the pulse width according to the
amplitude of a sine wave evaluated at the
center of the same pulse

ECE 442 Power Electronics 1

Generate the gating signal

2 Reference Signals, vr, -vr

ECE 442 Power Electronics 2
Comparing the carrier and reference signals
• Generate g1 signal by comparison with vr
• Generate g4 signal by comparison with -vr

ECE 442 Power Electronics 3

Comparing the carrier and reference signals

ECE 442 Power Electronics 4

Potential problem if Q1 and Q4 try to turn ON
at the same time!

ECE 442 Power Electronics 5

 If we prevent the problem

Output voltage is low when g1 and g4 are

both high
ECE 442 Power Electronics 6
This composite signal is difficult to generate

ECE 442 Power Electronics 7

Generate the same gate pulses with one
sine wave

ECE 442 Power Electronics 8

Alternate scheme

ECE 442 Power Electronics 9

 rms output voltage

• Depends on the modulation index, M

p 
V V V
2p

 m
o S
 S

m 1

Where δm is the width of the mth pulse

ECE 442 Power Electronics 10

 Fourier coefficients of the output voltage

B 
n
2p4V
n
m 1
S
sin
n 
m

4  
sin n  
m
3
4
m

 
 sin n    
m
 
m


4  
n  1, 3, 5,..

ECE 442 Power Electronics 11

Harmonic Profile

ECE 442 Power Electronics 12

Compare with multiple-pulse case for p=5

Distortion Factor is considerably less

ECE 442 Power Electronics 13