AC-DC|Basic
Prototyping and Evaluation
2015.11.26
After making drawings, completing a parts list, and preparing a board layout, you can move on to the creation of a prototype and the evaluation of its performance. The first step in the prototyping process is the verification of the basic operation. That said, it is not unusual that what operation is the correct one is not known in advance. In such a case, an evaluation board supplied by the IC manufacturer could be of value. Although the board may differ from your own design specifications in detail, it provides a template for performing comparative evaluations.

Figure 34.
For measuring efficiency as one of the evaluation items, a power meter capable of measuring AC may be used. Of course, efficiency can be assessed by combining a voltmeter, an ammeter, or a clamp-type ammeter; however, newer power meters can display the efficiency itself.
Furthermore, be sure to use an oscilloscope to observe the waveform at each point, since abnormal waveforms, noise, and spikes can be discovered only through the observation of waveforms. If the circuit, operating properly on the surface, behaves erratically, waveforms can often reveal the cause of the problem.
In the evaluation process, it is also important to check tolerance with respect to input/output voltages, load current, and temperature. A design that fails to provide for an adequate margin of safety can result in increased numbers of rejects during the mass production process, and highly variable production yields in some lots. Each component that constitutes a circuit is always subject to variability. The design must be able to achieve target specifications in a manner that glides over such variabilities.
【Download Documents】 Basics of AC-DC Converter and Design Procedures
A hand book for beginners to AC-DC converter design, covering the basics of AC-DC conversion and various conversion methods, as well as the procedures and issues involved in designing an AC-DC converter.
AC-DC
Basic
- AC-DC Basics
- DC-DC Conversion (Regulated) System after Smoothing
- Design Procedure for AC-DC Conversion Circuits (Overview)
- Issues and considerations in AC-DC Conversion Circuit Design
- Summary
- Extra Plus Basic Knowledge
Design
-
Overview of Design Method of PWM AC-DC Flyback Converters
- Isolated Flyback Converter Basics: Flyback Converter Operation and Snubber
- Isolated Flyback Converter Basics: What are Discontinuous Mode and Continuous Mode?
- Want are Isolated Flyhback Convertors?
- Design Procedure
- Isolated Flyback Converter Basics: What is Switching AC-DC Conversion?
- Determining Power Supply Specifications
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits
- Isolated Flyback Converter Basics: What are Characteristics of Flyback Converter?
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Transformer Design (Calculating numerical values)
- Choosing an IC for Design
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Transformer Design (Structural Design) – 1
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Transformer Design (Structural Design) – 2
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Selecting Critical Components ? MOSFET related – 1
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Selecting Critical Components ? MOSFET related – 2
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Selecting Critical Components ? CIN and Snubber
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Selecting Critical Components ? Output Rectifier and Cout
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Selecting Critical Components ? VCC of IC
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Selecting Critical Components – IC Settings Etc.
- Designing Isolated Flyback Converter Circuits: Addressing EMI and Output Noise
- Example Board Layout
- Summary
-
Overview of Design Examples of AC-DC Non-isolated Buck Converters
- What are Buck Converters? – Basic Operation and Discontinuous Mode vs. Continuous Mode
- Selection of Power Supply ICs and Design Examples
- Selecting Critical Components: Input Capacitor C1 and VCC Capacitor C2
- Selecting Critical Components: Inductor L1
- Selecting Critical Components: Current Sense Resistor R1
- Selecting Critical Components: Output Capacitor C5
- Selecting Critical Components: Output Rectifying Diode D4
- EMI Countermeasures
- Board Layout and Summary
-
Introduction
- Design Procedure
- IC Used in Design
- Power Supply Specifications and Replacement Circuit
- Synchronous Rectifying Circuit Section: Selection of Synchronous Rectifying MOSFET
- Synchronous Rectification Circuit Section: Power Supply IC Selection
- Troubleshooting ①: Case When Secondary-Side MOSFET Suddenly Turns OFF
- Synchronous Rectification Circuit Section: Selection of Peripheral Circuit Components-C1, R3 at MAX_TON Pin, and VCC Pin
- Troubleshooting ②: Case When Secondary-Side MOSFET Turns On Due to Resonance Under Light Loading
- Troubleshooting ③: Case When, Due to Surge, VDS2 Rises to Above Secondary-Side MOSFET VDS Voltage
- Comparison of Efficiency of Diode Rectification and Synchronous Rectification
- Points to Note Relating to PCB Layout
- Summary
- Synchronous Rectification Circuit Section: Selection of Peripheral Circuit Components-D1, R1, R2 at DRAIN Pin
- Shunt Regulator Circuit Section: Selection of Peripheral Circuit Components
-
Introduction
- Power Supply ICs Used in Design: Optimized for SiC MOSFETs
- Design Example Circuit
- Transformer T1 Design – 1
- Transformer T1 Design – 2
- Selecting Critical Components: MOSFET Q1
- Selecting Critical Components: Input Capacitor and Balancing Resistor
- Selecting Critical Components: Switch Setting Resistors for Overload Protection Points
- Selecting Critical Components: VCC-Related Components of Power Supply ICs
- Selecting Critical Components: Components Related to Power Supply IC BO (Brownout) Pins
- Selecting Critical Components: Components Related to Snubber Circuits
- Selecting Critical Components: MOSFET Gate Drive Adjustment Circuit
- Selecting Critical Components: Output Rectifying Diode
- Selecting Critical Components: Output Capacitors, Output Setting and Control Components
- Selecting Critical Components: Current Sense Resistors and Components Related to Detection Pins
- Selecting Critical Components: Components for Dealing with EMI and Output Noise
- PCB Layout Example
- Example Circuit and Component List
- Evaluation Results: Efficiency and Switching Waveform
- Summary
Evaluation
-
What are Isolated Flyback Converters Performance Evaluation and Checkpoints?
- Overview and important features of a power supply IC used in example performance evaluation
- Design goals and circuits in performance evaluation
- Performance evaluation using an evaluation board: Measurement method and results
- Critical checkpoint: Output transient response and rising output voltage waveform
- Critical checkpoint: Measuring temperature and loss
- Critical checkpoint: Aluminum electrolytic capacitors
- Summary
- Critical checkpoint: Transformer saturation
- Critical checkpoint: MOSFET VDS and IDS, and rated voltage of output rectifier diode
- Critical checkpoint: Vcc voltage
Product Information
FAQ