#203 'i·tl'

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tech &lps
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Understanding Switch Mode Power Supplies
Switch mode po wer supplies (SMPS) Conventional "linear" power supplies are automobiles. The vi brator "chopped " the
have been used for man y years in inefficient becau se the y regulate by 6 volt battery voltage into an AC signal
industrial and aerospace applications dumping the excess power in to heat. The that could be stepped up and down to
where good efficiency, light weight and AC power transformer, operating at 60 Hz, deliver the plate and bias voltages needed
small size were of prime concern. Today also con tr ibutes to the inefficiency of to power the tube radio.
SMPS (o ften called "choppers " or some po wer supplies. When all the
"switchers " are used extens ivel y in AC ineffic iencies are added , conventio nal , A more modern SMPS that you may be
po wered electroni c devices such as linear po wer suppl ies are typicall y 40- fam iliar with is the horizontal output stage
computers, monitors, television receivers, 50 % efficient , while switchers hav e of a tele vision rece iver or comp uter
and VCRs . efficiencies from 60 to 90%. Th is is very mon itor that deve lops the high voltage.
important when the designer wants to Although this "fl yback " circuit is not
This Tech Tip explains the basic operation reduce generated heat , reduce power commonly called a switch mode supply, it
of the typical switch mode power supplies costs , or increase battery life. is a type of switcher.
used in consumer electronic equipment.
We will cover bo th the Pulse Width Anther ke y benefit of a SMPS is their Today's more sophisticated SMPS still
(PWM ) and Pulse Rate (PRM) types . ab ility to closel y regulate the output employ the same basic concept used in
Refer to Tech Tip #204 fo r information on voltage . Switchers adjust for changes in the early vibrator supply: a DC voltage is
identifyi ng SMPS problems , and to Tech input voltage or load current, with little converted to an AC signal , th e AC signal is
Tip #205 for information on change in efficiency. Switch mode stepped up by a transformer; and the
troubleshooting PWM type SMPS. suppl ies regulate continuously, and follow stepped-up AC is converted back to a DC
load changes almost immediatel y. In voltage . Today's supplies use feedback
SMPS Benefits addition , switchers have the unique ability and vari able switching to provide
to maintain the correct output under low regulation , and incorporate a solid state
A SMPS offers three main advantages input voltage conditions. In fact switchers switch . Figure 2 illustrates the bas ic
over a conventional li near power supply: can actua lly produce an output voltage functions of a SMPS.
1) high efficiency & less heat generation that is higher than the DC voltage applied
2) tighter regulation , and to the input. Basic Switcher Operation
3) smaller size and weight.
Of these, greater efficiency is the biggest A final ad vantage of switchers is their Let 's take a closer look at the basic
advantage. relatively small size and weight. Because switcher block diagram shown in Fig ure 2.
switchers operate at high frequencies , the The heart of all switch mode supplies is
parts are physically smaller th an those the switching transistor and switc hing
needed fo r a conventional , 60 Hz power transformer . Ra w (unregulated ) B+ is
supply of the same po wer rating. The supplied to the switching transistor
transformers , capacitors and coils are through the prima ry winding of the
both physically smaller and lighter. This transformer .The switching transistor
makes them ideal for use in portable (SOT) is a switch . When the switch is
equipment. closed (the trans istor is turned on) it
pro vides a path for current to flo w
Switchers Aren't New through the transformer prim ary to
ground. As we'll see a bit later, chan ging
Fig. 1: The SMPS transformer {left} and the You may think that switch mode supp lies how fast or how long the switch remains
AC power transformer both provide isolation are re latively "new" technology. But quite closed regulates the output voltages .
and various output voltages, but the SMPS the opposite is true . One of the f irst
transformer is smaller, lighter weight, and switch mode po wer supplies was the The current flo w in the primary wi nd ing of
more efficient. mechan ical vibrator circu it used in early the transformer produces an expanding

#203 'i·tJI
 DC Supply rate modulated (PRM) . Television
receivers and computer monitors may use
either type, while VCR commonly use
PRM supplies .
DC Out
Pulse Width Modulated Regulation
I PWM regulators vary the " on " or
conduc tion tim e of the switching
transistor. Figure 4 shows an example of
Control Switch
pulse rate modulation . Note that the
frequency of the signal remains constant
PWM Flyback and only the duty cycle varies .

As the width of the pulse is increased , the

Fig. 2: A basic SMPS consists of a DC voltage source, a switching device, a step up/down
transformer, (f/yback) and a switching control stage.
~40% ---.~ -60% . - ~

magnetic field which couples to the the input voltage. Switch mode power
secondary wi ndings through the core . As supplies provide fast, efficient regulation.
the transistor is switched on and off the To better understand why, let's review 20180
duty cycle
magnetic field alternately expands and conventional power supply regulation.
collapses in all of the transformer
windings. By designi ng the transformer Conventional power supplies regulate by ~ ..... ~ - -80% - - ..
with different secondary turns ratios , using a series-pass regulator operating in ? n o;,.

various amplitude pulses are produced at its linear mode, as shown in Figure 3. The Fig. 4: The PWM regulates by varying the
the output of each secondary winding. series pass regulator maintains a fairly "on" time of the switching transistor
The output of each wi nding is applied to constant output voltage with changes in
high speed switching diodes and filters input vol tage and load current. But , in switching transistor stays on longer, and
which produce the DC output voltages of order to maintain regulation for all load more energy is applied to the switching
the SMPS. conditions , more power is applied to transformer. This produces an increase in
regulator than is needed by the load. This the DC output voltage (Unless the load is
It is important to remember that all of the unused power is dissipated as heat. shorted, or draws excessive current).
windings are mutually coupled by the Likewise , as the pulse width is made
mag netic field. If more power is applied to The key to making the regulator more narrower, the transistor is on for a shorter
the primary wi nding , more power is efficient is to produce only as much amount of time, and less energy is applied
delivered to the secondary windings; if the power as the load consumes. Then there to the transformer.
vo ltage at one secondary windi ng will be no extra power to dissipate. This
increases (or decreases) the voltages at would be easy if the load current never Pulse Rate Modulated Regulation
the other windings change by an amount increased or decreased , or if the source Figure 5 shows an example of pulse rate
equal to the turns ratio. voltage remained constant. Of course this modulation . The PRM regulator varies the
never happens. rate (frequency) at which the switching
Achieving Efficient Regulation transistor is turned off and on . Notice,
Switchers are very efficient regulators however, that as the pulse rate increases,
Regulation is important in most power because they only produce as much Frequency = 50 kHz
supplies. Good regulat ion is needed to power as is needed by the load. Voltage

~J
maintain a constant ou tput voltage for regulation is achieved by sampling the DC
output voltage and comparing it to a
changes in load current and changes in
reference. (If the SMPS has several
_J.-4---4______..4==4
8 us 12 us
Series-Pass Regulator
outputs the main supply is sampled). The
resulting correction voltage is used to
Frequency= 90 kHz
control the frequency or "on" time of the
+ Regulated switching transistor , which in turn
DC Out
delivers more or less power to the load.
Control ....... 4 •
Circuit The regulators used in consumer 4.4 us 6.6 us
equipment fall into two types ; 1) pulse Fig . 5: The PRM regulates by varying the
Fig. 3: A conventional, series-pass regulator frequency of the pulses, which varies the
dissipates the unused power as heat. width modulated (PWM), and 2) pulse
switching transistor's conduction time.
the "on time " decreases . Thus , if the MIC 1 - Unregulated B+ trans istor (FET) is usually used for the
output voltage is too high , the switching The SMPS needs a source of power. The switch. FETs offer several advantages
transistor is turned on and off at a faster gray shaded blocks in Figure 6 provide over bipolar transistors for SMPS
rate . This results in less energy being the unregulated B+ to power the switcher. applications . (A horizontal output
applied to the switch ing transformer. A In an AC operated device the AC line transistor is a bipolar trans istor). Fi rst,
typical PRM supply may operate at voltage is rectified by a conventional full FETs are voltage operated and can be
frequencies as high as 90 kHz under a "no wave po wer supply. (This is why driven directly without a driver stage .
load " condition, but slow to 40 kHz under everything on the primary side of the Secondly, FETs are bi-directional (conduct
full load . switching transformer is at "Hot ground " with voltage of either polarity applied to
potential) . Often an RF filter network is the source and drain) which eliminates
Putting It All Together used to prevent the high frequenc ies the need for a damper diode . Thirdly ,
produced by the switcher from getting on FETs operate efficiently at high switching
Figure 6 shows a block diagram of a the AC power line. frequencies .
typical SMPS . While specific switchers
many vary somewhat from this diagram , Most microprocessor controlled chassis Lastly, FETs have a low "on " resistance
all SMPS have these basic functional include a standby power supply to keep which contributes to the efficiency of the
blocks. Some switchers, for example, may the micro running when the main power SMPS , and reduces heat build up. (The
connect the System Control line to a to the unit is turned off. This allows the reason that FETs aren 't used as
different point in the control loop. micro to respond to the "on " command horizontal output transistors is that they
from the remote control , or front panel can not handle the large reverse voltage
The blocks can be grouped in to four switch . The standby supply may be a spikes , 900-1100 VPP, produced in
sections or "most important circuits " small , conventional supply, or it may be a horizontal output stages) .
(MIGS): 1) Unregulated B+, 2) Startup & small SMPS.
Drive , 3) Secondary circuits , and 4) MIC 2 - Startup & Drive
Feedback & Control. The primary of the switching transformer The pink shaded blocks in Figure 6 are
and the switching transistor are also part responsible for the signal that drives the
of the unregulated B+ stages. A field effect switching transistor. The driver block is
Linear Power
Supply
Switch
MIC 1 Xformer

Standby
Power Load
Supply

MIC2
LV DC

Driver MIC3
p
w ..+~~-I--~~~~

Switch
M Load
Xsistor

Control Circuits
Opto
MIC4
Isolator

Hot Cold ON/OFF from

Fig.6: The four most important circuits in a switch mode power supply are: Unregulated B+ (MIC 1), Startup and Drive (MIC 2), Secondary Loads
(MIC 3), and Feedback and control (MIC 4).
'i'f1fl#203 J
either a PWM or PRM, and the necessary have five or more DC outputs, depending Figure 6 (red) couple a sample of the
oscillator and control. This block may be a on its application . There are several things output voltage back to the driver stage .
single IC , or may include discrete you need to keep in mind about the Two major parts of this functional area are
components. secondary circuits. the feedback divider network and the opto
isolator.
This stage receives its initial DC voltage First, a prob lem in one of the secondary
from a resistor divider on the B+ supply. loads (such as the hor izontal output The feedback divider network usually
After the SMPS is running , the " run stage) may cause what appears to be a consists of two precision resistors which
voltage" for the driver stage may come SMPS problem . Before you troubleshoot a di vide the output voltage. The divided
from one of the secondary windings on " dead " SMPS symptom , be sure to down voltage is coupled to the Driver
the switching transformer. determine if the problem is the load or the block through an opto isolator. The Driver
SMPS. uses this feedback voltage to regulate the
One important signal that is applied to the switching transistor . Some SMPS may
driver comes from the output of the opto Secondly , most SMPS will not run use a separate winding of the switching
isolator. This feedbac k signal is a sample properly without the main load connected. transformer to produce the feedback
of the output voltage of the SM PS . It is The main load is the output that is voltage .
compared to a reference level in the driver monitored by the Feedback & Control
control block . (The reference may be a circu it for voltage regulation control . An opto isolator is needed to maintain
discrete zener diode, or may be internal to Usually this is the highest voltage output, isolation bet ween the cold ground
the driver IC). A correction or error or the output that has the most current (secondary side of the switching
voltage is produced which changes the drain . (In television receiver and computer transformer, and the hot ground (primary
pulse width or pulse rate to regulate the monitors the main load po wers the side) , while coupling the DC feedback
SMPS . horizontal output stage) . Refer to Tech Tip voltage . An opto isolator consists of a
#204 , "Identifying SMPS Problems" for photo transistor and an LED. As the
Several other control signals may be more information on iso lating a SMPS feedback voltage changes the brightness
associated with the driver, depending on problem from a load problem. of the LED changes. The changes in light
the specific SMPS: over current cause the condu ction of the photo
shutdown, over voltage shutdown, and/or Lastl y, keep in mind that SMPS typically transistor to change. (The voltage at TP10
under voltage (low B+) shutdown. These op erate at frequencies from 40 to 150 is supplied by the Driver, and is pulled to
control signals may be applied to the kHz. This means that you can not replace ground by the conduction of the opto
driver block via separate opto isolators; the rectifier diodes with conventional , AC isolator).
they may be combined in to a common power supply diodes. The diodes used in
control line and then applied via an opto the outputs of a SMPS are special high Refer to the Tech Tip #204 for information
isolator; they may be applied to the frequency , quick recovery types. The on identifying SMPS problems, Tech Tip
Feedback & Control blocks; or they may electrolytic capacitors should have lo w #205 for information on troubleshooting
not be used at all. equivalent series resistance (ESR) and PWM type SMPS , or Tech Tip #206 for
leakage. information on troubleshooting PRM type
MIC 3 - Secondary circuits SMPS.
The secondary circuits are indicated by MIC 4 - Feedback & Control
the black blocks in Figure 6. A SMPS may The Feedback & Control blocks shown in
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