Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An All-Digital Low-Noise Switching DC–DC Buck Converter Based on a Multi-sampling Frequency Delta-Sigma Modulation with Enhanced Light-Load Efficiency

  • Research Article - Electrical Engineering
  • Published:
Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents an all-digital technique to control DC–DC switching buck converters for noise-sensitive low-power applications. The controller is designed based on a multi-sampling frequency digital delta-sigma modulator, whose sampling frequency is adjusted according to the load current. The proposed controller demonstrates the efficiency performance of the digital pulse-width modulation controller counterpart at heavy load while reducing output spikes by 37 dB without any additional processing. At light load, the controller scales down the switching frequency by scaling down delta-sigma modulator sampling frequency. Consequently, light-load efficiency is improved by more than 40% compared to its fixed frequency counterpart. In particular, the proposed solution adopts a unity-gain signal-transfer function delta-sigma modulator that avoids excess phase in the control loop. The proposed technique is compact, scalable and compatible with the standard digital CMOS implementation. Experimental and simulation results characterizing the proposed solution are provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alghamdi, M.; Hamoui, A.: A spurious-free switching buck converter achieving enhanced light-load efficiency by using a ΔΣ–modulator controller with a scalable sampling frequency. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 47(4), 841–851 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cho, Y.; Kim, M.; Kim, C.: A low switching-noise and high efficiency buck converter using a continuous-time reconfigurable Delta-sigma modulator. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 33, 10501–10511 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Lukic, Z.; Rahman, N.; Prodic, A.: Multibit ΣΔ PWM digital controller IC for DC–DC converters operating at switching frequencies beyond 10 MHz. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 22(5), 1693–1707 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Xiao, J.; Peterchev, A.; Zhang, J.; Sanders, S.: A 4-mA quiescent-current dual-mode digitally controlled buck converter IC for cellular phone applications. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 39(12), 2342–2348 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Liou, W.; Yeh, M.; Kuo, Y.: A high efficiency dual-mode buck converter IC for portable applications. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 23(2), 667–677 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wang, K.; Rahman, N.; Lukic, Z.; Prodic, A.: All-digital DPWM/DPFM controller for low-power DC–DC converters. In: 21st Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), pp. 719–723 (2006)

  7. Man, T.; Mok, P.; Chan, M.: An auto-selectable frequency pulse-width modulator for buck converters with improved light load efficiency. In: International Solid State Circuits Conference, pp. 440–441 (2008)

  8. Dunlap, S.; Fiez, T.: A noise-shaped switching power supply using a delta–sigma modulator. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I 51(6), 1051–1061 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Tao, C.; Fayed, A.: A GSM power amplifier directly-powered from a DC–DC power converter. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett. 22(1), 38–40 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Trescases, O.; Wei, G.; Ng, W.: A low-power DC–DC converter with digital spread spectrum for reduced EMI. In: IEEE Power Electronics Specialist Conference, pp. 1–7 (2006)

  11. Tao, C.; Fayed, A.: PWM control architecture with constant cycle frequency hopping and phase chopping for spur-free operation in buck regulators. In: IEEE Transactions on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) Systems, pp. 1596–1697 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tao, C.; Fayed, A.: A low-noise PFM-controlled buck converter for low-power applications. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I 59(12), 3071–3080 (2012)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  13. Tao, C.; Fayed, A.: A buck converter with reduced output spurs using asynchronous frequency hopping. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II 58(11), 709–713 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Nashed, M.; Fayed, A.: Current-Mode hysteretic buck converter with spur-free control for variable switching noise mitigation. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 33(1), 650–664 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Salem, L.; Warchall, J.; Mercier, P.: A successive approximation recursive digital low-dropout voltage regulator with pd compensation and sub-LSB duty control. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 53(1), 35–49 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kim, S.; Park, Y.; et al.: Design of a high efficiency DC–DC buck converter with two-step digital PWM and low power self-tracking zero current detector for IoT applications. IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 33(2), 1428–1439 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Chung, K.; Hong, S.; Kwon, O.: A fully integrated switched-capacitor DC–DC converter with hybrid output regulation. Analog Int. Circ. Signal Process. 98, 117–126 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wong, M.; Bakkaloglu, B.; Kiaei, S.: A low noise buck converter with a fully integrated continuous time SD modulated feedback controller. In: IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, pp. 377–380 (2007)

  19. Prodic, A.; Maksimovic, D.; Erickson, R.: Design and implementation of a digital PWM controller for a high-frequency switching DC–DC power converter. In: Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, pp. 893–898 (2001)

  20. Schreier, R.; Temes, G.: Understanding delta-sigma data converter. Wiley, New York (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Syed, A.; Ahmed, E.; Maksimovic, D.; Alarcon, E.: Digital pulse width modulator architectures. In: IEEE Power Electronics Specialist Conference, pp. 4689–4695 (2004)

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) for the financial support (Project No. AT-32-94). Also, the authors would like to acknowledge the technical consultation of Prof. Mohamad Sawan, École Polytechnique, University of Montreal. In addition, the authors would like to thank Mr. Umair Ahmad Shaikh for his help with the experimental tests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Hussain A. Alzaher & Mohammad K. Alghamdi

Authors
  1. Hussain A. Alzaher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammad K. Alghamdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hussain A. Alzaher.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Alzaher, H.A., Alghamdi, M.K. An All-Digital Low-Noise Switching DC–DC Buck Converter Based on a Multi-sampling Frequency Delta-Sigma Modulation with Enhanced Light-Load Efficiency. Arab J Sci Eng 45, 1411–1419 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-03955-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-03955-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation