The main circuit of the switch-mode power supply is composed of an input EMI filter, rectifier filter circuit, power conversion circuit, and PWM controller circuit, output rectifier filter circuit. The auxiliary circuits include the input & output Undervoltage protection circuit, the output overcurrent protection circuit, the output short circuit protection circuit, and so on.

The block diagram of switching power supply circuit arrangement is as follows:

FIG.1 Block diagram of switching power supply circuit arrangement

II. The Principle of the Input Circuit and the Common Circuits

2.1 Principle of AC Input Rectifier Filter Circuit

2.1.1 Lightning Protection Circuit

When there is a lightning strike, the circuit composed of MOV1, MOV2, MOV3, F1, F2, F3, and FDG1 is used to provide protection against the resulting high voltage introduced into the power supply through the electrical grid.

When the voltage applied to the two ends of the piezoresistor exceeds its operating voltage, the resistance value will decrease, making the high voltage energy be consumed on the piezoresistor; if the current is too large, the F1, F2, and F3 will burn out to protect the following circuits.

2.1.2 Input Filter Circuit

The double Pi filter network composed of C1, L1, C2 and C3 is mainly used to suppress the electromagnetic noise and clutter signal of the input power supply to prevent its interference to the power supply, and also to prevent the interference of the high-frequency clutters generated by the power supply itself to the electrical grid. The C5 will start to be charged when the power is turned on, producing a large instantaneous current, which is called surge current, but with an RT1 (thermistor) it can be effectively prevented. Because the instantaneous energy is all consumed on the RT1, after a certain time the resistance of RT1 will decrease as the temperature rises (RT1 is a negative temperature coefficient device) and the energy consumed by RT1 will be very small at this time, to make sure the following circuits work normally.

2.1.3 Rectifier Filter Circuit

After the AC voltage is rectified by BRG1 and filtered by C5, a purer DC voltage can be obtained. If the C5 capacity becomes smaller, the output AC ripples increase with it.

2.2 Principle of DC Input Filter Circuit

FIG.3 The schematic of rectifier circuit

2.2.1 Input Filter Circuit

The double Pi filter network composed of C1, L1and C2 is mainly used to suppress the electromagnetic noise and clutter signal of the input power supply to prevent its interference to the power supply, and also to prevent the interference of the high-frequency clutters generated by the power supply itself to the electrical grid. C3 and C4 are Safety Capacitors and the L2, L3 are Differential Mode Inductors.

2.2.2 The Anti-surge Circuit

This anti-surge circuit is composed of R1, R2, R3, Z1, C6, Q1, Z2, R4, R5, Q2, RT1 and C7. At the instant of switch-on, Q2 does not conduct due to the presence of C6, and the current forms a loop through the RT1. Q2 turns on when the voltage on C6 is charged to Z1's steady voltage value. If C8 leaks or the following circuits are short-circuited, the voltage drop generated by the instantaneous current at the instant of switch-on on RT1 causes the Q1 conducted, so that Q2 does not have a gate voltage and does not conduct, making the RT1 burnt out in a very short time to protect the following circuits.

III. Power Conversion Circuits

3.1 The Working Principle of MOS Tube

At present, the most widely used insulated gate FET is MOSFET, which uses the electroacoustic effect that occurs on the semiconductor surface to work, making it also known as surface field effect transistor. Because its gate is in a nonconducting state, the input resistance can be greatly increased up to 105 ohms. The MOSFET uses the gate-source voltage to change the amount of charge induced on the semiconductor surface to control the drain current.

3.2 Common Schematic Diagram

FIG.4 Schematic of power conversion circuit

3.3 Working Principle

The buffer composed of R4, C3, R5, R6, C4, D1, and D2 are connected in parallel with the MOS transistor switches, so that the voltage stress of the switch transistor and EMI are reduced, without secondary breakdown occurring. When the switch Q1 is turned off, the primary coil of the transformer is prone to generate peak voltages and spike currents. These components are combined to absorb the peak voltage and current well. The peak current signal measured from R3 participates in the duty cycle control of the current operating cycle and is therefore the current limit of the current operating cycle. When the voltage on R5 reaches 1V, the UC3842 stops working and switch Q1 turns off immediately.

The junction capacitances CGS and CGD in R1 and Q1 together form an RC network. The charge and discharge of the capacitor directly affects the switching speed of the switch. If R1 is too small, it will cause oscillation and electromagnetic interference will be great. If R1 is too large, the switching speed of the switching tube will be reduced. Z1 usually limits the GS voltage of the MOS transistor to less than 18V, thus protecting the MOS transistor.

The gate-controlled voltage of Q1 is a saw wave. The larger the duty cycle is, the longer the Q1 conduction time is, the more energy the transformer stores. When Q1 is turned off, the transformer releases energy through D1, D2, R5, R4, and C3 and at the same time, it also achieves the goal of resetting the magnetic field, which prepares the transformer for the next storage and transfer of energy. According to the output voltage and current, the IC adjusts the duty cycle of 6-pin sawtooth wave, thus stabilizing the output current and voltage of the complete machine.

C4 and R6 are voltage surge absorption loops.

3.4 Push-pull Power Conversion Circuit

Fig.5 Schematic diagram of push-pull power conversion circuit

Q1 and Q2 will be turned on in turn.

3.5 Power Conversion Circuit with Transformer Driver

FIG.6 Schematic diagram of power conversion circuit with transformer driver

T2 is the transformer driver, T1 is the switch-mode transformer, TR1 is the current loop .

IV. Output Rectifier Filter Circuit

4.1 Forward Rectifier Circuit

FIG.7 Schematic diagram of forward rectifier circuit

T1 is a switch-mode transformer, its primary and secondary sides are in a same phase. D1 is a rectifier diode, D2 is a flyback diode and R1, C1, R2 and C2 form a despiker circuit. L1 is a freewheeling inductor and C4, L2, and C5 form a π filter.

4.2 Flyback Fectifier Circuit

FIG.8 Schematic diagram of flyback fectifier circuit

T1 is a switch-mode transformer, and the primary and secondary sides are opposite. D1 is a rectifier diode, and R1 and C1 form a despiker circuit. L1 is a a freewheeling inductor, R2 is adummy load and C4, L2 and C5 form a π type filter.

4.3 Synchronous Rectifier Circuit

FIG.9 Schematic diagram of synchronous rectifier circuit

Working principle:

When the upper end of the secondary winding of transformer is positive, the current through C2, R5, R6 and R7 makes Q2 turned on and form a loop. Q2 is the rectifier and the Q1 gate is turned off due tothe reverse bias. When the lower end of second wingding is positive, the current through C3, N4 and R2 makes Q1 conducted as a freewheeling diode. The Q2 gate is turned off due to the reverse bias. L2 is a freewheeling inductor, C6, L1 and C7 form a π filter and R1, C1, R9 and C4 form a despiker circuit.

V. Principles of Steady-voltage Loop

5.1 Schematic Diagram of Feedback Circuit

FIG.10 Schematic diagram of feedback circuit

5.2 Working Principles

When the output U0 is increased, the voltage of pin 3 of U1 chip is increased either after dividing voltage with these sampling resistors R7, R8, R10 and VR1, until exceeding the reference voltage of pin 2 of U1 chip, it begins to output a high level, turning the Q1 and photoelectric triode on, and lighting the optocoupler OT1 and LED. Accordingly, the potential of pin 1 of UC3842 becomes lower and therefore decreases the duty cycle of pin 6 of U1 chip and U0.

On the contrary, when the output U0 is decreased, the voltage of pin 3 of U1 chip is decreased either until it exceeds the reference voltage of pin 2 of U1 chip, it begins to output a low level, Q1 and photoelectric triode are not conducting, and optocoupler OT1 and LED do not shine. Accordingly, the potential of pin 1 of UC3842 becomes higher and therefore increases the duty cycle of pin 6 of U1 chip and U0. Repeatedly, so that the output voltage remains stable. Regulating VR1 can change the output voltage.

Feedback loop is an important circuit that affects the stability of switching power supply. If the feedback resistors and capacitors are wrong, missed or false soldered, self-excited oscillations will occur, resulting in fault phenomena, such as abnormal waveforms, oscillations within empty or full load condition and unstable output voltage.

VI. Short Circuit Protection Circuits

6.1 Current-limiting Circuit

In the case of short circuit at the output end, PWM control circuit can limit the output current within a safe range. There are many ways to realize the current limiting. When the current limiting circuit does not work in short circuit, all we can do is to add additional circuits.

6.2 Short Circuit Protection for Low-power Circuit

FIG.11 Schematic diagram of low-power short-circuit protection circuit

When the output circuit is shorted, the output voltage disappears, the optocoupler OT1 does not turn on, the voltage of pin 1 of UC3842 rises to about 5V, and the partial voltages of R1 and R2 exceed the TL431 reference, making it conductive, the VCC potential of pin 7 of UC3842 is pulled down, and the IC stops operating. After UC3842 stopped working, the potential of pin 1 disappeared, TL431 did not conduct, and the potential of UC38427 increased, making UC3842 restart, and go round and begin again, until the short-circuit phenomenon disappears, then the circuit automatically returns to normal operation.

6.3 Short Circuit Protection for Medium-power Circuit

FIG.12 Schematic diagram of medium-power short-circuit protection circuit

When the output is short-circuited, the voltage of pin of UC3842 rises. When the potential of pin 3 of U1 chip is higher than that of pin 2, the comparator inverts the output high level of pin 1 to charge C1. When the voltage across C1 exceeds the pin 5 reference voltage, the pin 7 of U1 chip outputs low level. The voltage of pin 1 of UC3842 begins to be lower than 1V and UC3842 stops working, making the output voltage be zero, and go round and begin again, until the short-circuit phenomenon disappears, and the circuit begins to work normally. R2 and C1 are charge and discharge time constants respectively, and the short circuit protection will not work if the resistance is not correct.

6.4 Common Current-limiting, Short-circuit Protection Circuit

FIG.13 Schematic diagram of protection circuit 1

When the output circuit is short-circuited or overcurrent, the primary current of the transformer increases, the voltage drop across R3 increases, the voltage at pin 3 increases, and the duty cycle of pin 6 of UC3842 increases. When the voltage at pin 3 exceeds 1V, the UC3842 turns off and without output.

6.5 Current Transformer Sampling Current Protection Circuit

The current transformer sampling current protection circuit which has low power consumption but high cost, and the circuit is often complicated.

FIG.14 Schematic diagram of protection circuit 2

The larger the output current is (the extreme case refers to short circuit), the higher the voltage sensed by the TR1 secondary coil. When the voltage of pin 3 of UC3842 exceeds 1 volt, the UC3842 stops working. Go round and begin again, until the short-circuit or overload disappears, the circuit recovers itself.

VII. Output Current Limiting Protection

FIG.15 Schematic diagram of protection circuit 3

The above is a common output current limiting protection circuit, and its working principle is as follows:

When the output current is too high, the voltage across the RS (manganese copper wire) rises, the voltage of pin 3 of the U1 chip is higher than the reference voltage of pin 2. Pin 1 of the U1 chip outputs a high voltage, which makes Q1 turned on, and the optoelectronic effect occurs on the optocoupler, the voltage of pin 1 of UC3842 is reduced, together with the output voltage, to achieve the goal of overload protection or current limiting.

VIII. Output Overvoltage Protection Circuits

The role of the output overvoltage protection circuit is to limit the output voltage to a safe value when the output voltage exceeds the design value.

When an internal voltage regulator loop of a switching power supply fails or an overvoltage occurs due to a user's improper operation, an overvoltage protection circuit is used to protect against damage to downstream electrical equipment.

The most commonly used overvoltage protection circuits are as follows:

8.1 SCR Trigger Protection Circuit

FIG.16 Schematic diagram of protection circuit 4

As shown above, when the output of Uo1 rises, the Zener diode (Z3) breaks down and it is pulled into conduction, letting the control terminal of the Silicon Controlled Rectifier reach the trigger voltage, so the SCR turns on and the Uo2 is shorted to ground. Then the overcurrent or short circuit protection circuit will work and stop the operation of the entire power supply circuit. When the overvoltage condition on the output terminals is eliminated, the trigger voltage of the control terminal of the thyristor is discharged to the ground through R, and the thyristor returns to the off state.

8.2 Optocoupler Protection Circuit

FIG.17 Schematic diagram of protection circuit 5A

FIG.18 Schematic diagram of protection circuit 5B

As shown in the above figure, when an phenomenon of overvoltage occurs in the Uo, the Zener breaks down and conducts current through the optocoupler (OT2) and R6 to the ground, lightening the light-emitting diode of the photocoupler, which causes the phototransistor of the photocoupler to conduct. The base of Q1 is turned on and the voltage of pin 3 of UC3842 is reduced, turning off the IC and the entire power supply while Uo is zero, and go round and begin again.

8.3 Output Voltage Limiting Protection Circuit

FIG.19 Schematic diagram of protection circuit 6

The output voltage limiting protection circuit is shown in the diagram. When the output voltage rises, zener and optocoupler are on, and the base of Q1 turns on either due to a driving voltage according. The voltage of pin 3 of UC3842 rises and the output drops. When the zener is not conducting, the voltage of pin 3 of UC3842 drops and the output voltage rises. As time goes by, the output voltage will be stable within a range (depending on the zener's value).

8.4 Output Overvoltage Lockout Circuit

FIG.20 Output overvoltage lockout circuit A

FIG.21 Output overvoltage lockout circuit B

The working principle is shown in Figure A is that when the output voltage Uo rises, the Zener and optocoupler turn on, and then go with the base of Q2, because of which the base of Q1 is on due to the drop of voltage.

Q2 is on all the time after the voltage of Vcc is through R1, Q1, and R2, making the pin 3 of UC3842 always be conducted with high level and therefore stop working.

In Figure B, the voltage of pin 3 of the U1 chip raises due to big rises of Uo, and pin 1 outputs a high level. Because of the presences of D1 and R1, the pin 1 of U1 chip is always on and outputs a high level, so it is always low and then it stops working. Is it positive feedback?

IX. Power Factor Correction Circuit (PFC)

9.1 Schematic Diagram of PFC Circuit

FIG.22 Schematic diagram of PFC circuit

9.2 The Working Principles

The input voltage is rectified by an EMI filter composed of L1, L2, L3, and so on and a BRG1, one part of which is then fed into the PFC inductor and another part of which is fed into the PFC controller as the sampling of the input voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal before divided by R1 and R2, that is to change them on and off time of Q1 and to stabilize the output voltage of PFC.

L4 is a PFC inductor that stores energy when Q1 is on and releases energy when Q1 is switched off. D1 is the start diode. D2 is the PFC rectifier diode, and C6, C7 are filtered. One part of the PFC voltage is sent to the downstream circuit, and another part of it is fed into the PFC controller as the sampling of the output voltage before divided by R3 and R4, to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal and to stabilize the output voltage of PFC.

X. Input Under-voltage and Overvoltage Protection

10.1 Schematic Diagram

FIG.23 Schematic diagram of input undervoltage and overvoltage protection circuit

10.2 The Working Principles

The input under-voltage and overvoltage protection principles of the switching power supply of AC input and DC input are almost the same. The sampling voltages of the protection circuits all come from the same input filtered voltage.

The sampling voltage is divided into two ways, one way is fed into pin 3 of the comparator after divided by R1, R2, R3, and R4. If the sampling voltage is higher than the reference voltage of pin 2, then pin 1 of the comparator will output a high level to control the main controller and make the main controller turned off, so there is no power output. The other way is fed into pin 6 of the comparator before it is divided by R7, R8, R9, and R10.

If the sampling voltage is lower than the reference voltage of pin 5, then pin 7 of the comparator will output a high level to control the main controller and make it turned off, so there is no power output.

How To Make a Switching Power Supply

FAQ

1. What are the 3 types of power supply?

There are three subsets of regulated power supplies: linear, switched, and battery-based. Of the three basic regulated power supply designs, linear is the least complicated system, but switched and battery power have their advantages.

2. What is meant by switch mode power supply?

A switch mode power supply is a power converter that utilises switching devices such as MOSFETs that continuously turn on and off at high frequency; and energy storage devices such as the capacitors and inductors to supply power during the non-conduction state of the switching device.

3.What are the advantages and disadvantages of switch mode power supply?

Advantages & disadvantages of switch mode power supply (SMPS)

a. The switch mode power supply has a smaller in size.

b. The SMPS has light weight.

c. It has a better power efficiency typically 60 to 70 percent.

d. It has a strong anti interference.

e. SMPS has wide output range.

f. Low heat generation in SMPS.

4. What is a DC switching power supply?

A Switching DC power supply (also known as switch mode power supply) regulates the output voltage through a process called pulse width modulation (PWM). The PWM process generates some high frequency noise, but enables the switching power supplies to be built with very high power efficiency and small form factor.

5. What is the difference between a switching power supply and a linear power supply?

Linear power supplies deliver DC by passing the primary AC voltage through a transformer and then filtering it to remove the AC component. Switching power supplies feature higher efficiencies, lighter weight, longer hold up times, and the ability to handle wider input voltage ranges.

6. Do I need a switching power supply?

The switching power supply implies higher efficiency due to the high switching frequency, enabling it to use a smaller, less-costly high-frequency transformer as well as lighter, less-costly filter components. Switching power supplies contain more overall components, therefore are usually more expensive.

7. Is a switching power supply regulated?

A switch mode power supply regulates an output voltage with pulse width modulation (PWM). This process creates high-frequency noise but it provides a high-efficiency rating in a small form factor. ... The low DC voltage is finally converted into a steady DC output with another set of diodes, capacitors, and inductors.

8. How do I know if my power supply is regulated?

You can generally stick one probe into the middle of the connector, and hold the other against the outside. With a few exceptions, the middle is positive, so use the red lead there, and use the black lead on the outside shell. Regulated supplies, without any load, should measure very close to the target voltage of 12v.

9. Can I use a switching power supply to drive a DC motor?

A simple unregulated analog power supply may be easier and be able to supply the large starting under load current more that the switching one. DC motors are not too fussy about the supply, and will usually run quite well on unfiltered DC.

10. Are switch mode power supplies any good?

Switch mode power supplies, SMPS provide improved efficiency & space saving over traditional linear supplies, but care has to be taken to ensure noise on the output is low. Switch mode power supplies are widely used because of the advantages they offer in terms of size, weight, cost, efficiency and overall performance.

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