Simple Small Signal Model for Peak Current Mode Control
VO
RESR
COUT
RL
VC
gmps
fp
fz
Adc
f
Z
O
C
P
s
1
2
v
Adc
v
s
1
2
+
÷
p
è
=
+
÷
p
è
(14)
ps
L
Adc = gm
R
(15)
P
OUT
L
1
f
C
R
2
=
p
(16)
Z
OUT
ESR
1
C
R
2
=
p
f
(17)
Small Signal Model for Frequency Compensation
www.ti.com .............................................................................................................................................................................................. SLVS889 – OCTOBER 2008
DETAILED DESCRIPTION (continued)
Figure 47 describes a simple small signal model that can be used to understand how to design the frequency
compensation. The TPS54140 power stage can be approximated to a voltage-controlled current source (duty
cycle modulator) supplying current to the output capacitor and load resistor. The control to output transfer
function is shown in
Equation 14 and consists of a dc gain, one dominant pole, and one ESR zero. The quotient
of the change in switch current and the change in COMP pin voltage (node c in
Figure 46) is the power stage
transconductance. The gmPS for the TPS54140 is 6A/V. The low-frequency gain of the power stage frequency
response is the product of the transconductance and the load resistance as shown in
Equation 15.As the load current increases and decreases, the low-frequency gain decreases and increases, respectively. This
variation with the load may seem problematic at first glance, but fortunately the dominant pole moves with the
load current (see
Equation 16). The combined effect is highlighted by the dashed line in the right half of
Figure 47. As the load current decreases, the gain increases and the pole frequency lowers, keeping the 0-dB
crossover frequency the same for the varying load conditions which makes it easier to design the frequency
compensation. The type of output capacitor chosen determines whether the ESR zero has a profound effect on
the frequency compensation design. Using high ESR aluminum electrolytic capacitors may reduce the number
frequency compensation components needed to stabilize the overall loop because the phase margin increases
Figure 47. Simple Small Signal Model and Frequency
Response for Peak Current Mode Control
The TPS54140 uses a transconductance amplifier for the error amplifier and readily supports three of the
commonly-used frequency compensation circuits. Compensation circuits Type 2A, Type 2B, and Type 1 are
shown in
Figure 48. Type 2 circuits most likely implemented in high bandwidth power-supply designs using low
ESR output capacitors. The Type 1 circuit is used with power-supply designs with high-ESR aluminum
electrolytic or tantalum capacitors..
Equation 18 and
Equation 19 show how to relate the frequency response of
the amplifier to the small signal model in Figure 48. The open-loop gain and bandwidth are modeled using the RO and CO shown in Figure 48. See the application section for a design example using a Type 2A network with a low ESR output capacitor.
Copyright 2008, Texas Instruments Incorporated
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