A buck-derived topology with improved step-down transient performance

Abstract

The slew rate of the inductor current is limited by the inductance value and the voltage across the inductor. In a buck converter, when the controller is saturated, the voltage across the inductor during a step-up load transient is Vin - Vout, while during a step-down load transient, it is -Vout. Thus, a buck converter with a large conversion ratio offers asymmetrical step-up and step-down transients. Since the rate of fall of the inductor current is much slower than the rate of rise of the inductor current, the step-down transient lasts longer than the step-up transient for the same change in the load current. The step-down slew rate can be increased by reducing the inductance, but it results in higher inductor current ripple, and hence, higher losses in the power converters. In this paper, we present a novel topology for improving the step-down load transients without reducing the inductance value. The scheme operates only during load transients and restores to the normal operating conditions during steady-state operation. It provides reduced voltage overshoots and faster settling times in output voltage during such transients. The proposed scheme is tested on a 1-V/12-A buck converter switching at 1 MHz, and the experimental results are presented. © 2008 IEEE.