Application Report

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Switching regulator fundamentals

Adam Castaldo

ABSTRACT
Switching regulators are increasing in popularity because they offer the advantages of higher power
conversion efficiency and increased design flexibility (multiple output voltages of different polarities can be
generated from a single input voltage).
This paper will detail the operating principles of the four most commonly used switching converter types:
Buck— used to reduce a DC voltage to a lower DC voltage.
Boost— provides an output voltage that is higher than the input.
Buck-Boost (invert)— an output voltage that is generated opposite in polarity to the input.
Flyback— an output voltage that is less than or greater than the input can be generated, as well as
multiple outputs.
Also, some multiple-transistor converter topologies will be presented:
Push-Pull— A two-transistor converter that is especially efficient at low input voltages.
Half-Bridge— A two-transistor converter used in many offline applications.
Full-Bridge— A four-transistor converter (usually used in offline designs) that can generate the highest
output power of all the types listed.
Application information will be provided along with circuit examples that illustrate some applications of
Buck, Boost, and Flyback regulators.

Contents
1 Switching Fundamentals .................................................................................................... 2
2 Switching Converter Topologies ........................................................................................... 4
3 Application Hints for Switching Regulators ............................................................................. 13
4 Application Circuits ......................................................................................................... 21
5 References and Related Products ....................................................................................... 27
Trademarks
SIMPLE SWITCHER is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 1

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Switching Fundamentals www.ti.com

1 Switching Fundamentals
Before beginning explanations of converter theory, some basic elements of power conversion will be
presented:

1.1 The Law of Inductance

If a voltage is forced across an inductor, a current will flow through that inductor (and this current will vary
with time).

NOTE: The current flowing in an inductor will be time-varying even if the forcing voltage is constant.

It is equally correct to say that if a time-varying current is forced to flow in an inductor, a voltage across
the inductor will result.
The fundamental law that defines the relationship between the voltage and current in an inductor is given
by Equation 1:
v = L (di/dt) (1)
Two important characteristics of an inductor that follow directly from the law of inductance are:
1. A voltage across an inductor results only from a current that changes with time. A steady (DC) current
flowing in an inductor causes no voltage across it (except for the tiny voltage drop across the copper
used in the windings).
2. A current flowing in an inductor can not change value instantly (in zero time), as this would require
infinite voltage to force it to happen. However, the faster the current is changed in an inductor, the
larger the resulting voltage will be.

NOTE: Unlike the current flowing in the inductor, the voltage across it can change instantly (in zero
time).

The principles of inductance are illustrated by the information contained in Figure 1.

+ v -

i(t)

I I i(t) I
i(t)
i(t)
T T T
di/dt = 0 di/dt > 0 di/dt < 0
v=0 v>0 v<0
Figure 1. Inductor Voltage/Current Relationship

The important parameter is the di/dt term, which is simply a measure of how the current changes with
time. When the current is plotted versus time, the value of di/dt is defined as the slope of the current plot
at any given point.
The graph on the left shows that current which is constant with time has a di/dt value of zero, and results
in no voltage across the inductor.
The center graph shows that a current which is increasing with time has a positive di/dt value, resulting in
a positive inductor voltage.

2 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Switching Fundamentals

Current that decreases with time (shown in the right-hand graph) gives a negative value for di/dt and
inductor voltage.
It is important to note that a linear current ramp in an inductor (either up or down) occurs only when it has
a constant voltage across it.

1.2 Transformer Operation

A transformer is a device that has two or more magnetically-coupled windings. The basic operation is
shown in Figure 2.

IA IB IA IB
+ + + +
VA N1 N2 VB VA N1 N2 VB
- - - -

V B = VA
N2 I B = I A N1 V B = -V A
N2 I B = -I A N1
N1 N2 N1 N2
Figure 2. Transformer Theory

The action of a transformer is such that a time-varying (AC) voltage or current is transformed to a higher
or lower value, as set by the transformer turns ratio. The transformer does not add power, so it follows that
the power (V X I) on either side must be constant. That is the reason that the winding with more turns has
higher voltage but lower current, while the winding with less turns has lower voltage but higher current.
The dot on a transformer winding identifies its polarity with respect to another winding, and reversing the
dot results in inverting the polarity.
Example of Transformer Operation:
An excellent example of how a transformer works can be found under the hood of your car, where a
transformer is used to generate the 40 kV that fires your car's spark plugs (see Figure 3).

CURRENT SPARK
LIMITING GAP VP VS
N1 N2
RESISTOR
(N2 >>> N1)

12V 12V
COIL

C POINTS CLOSED C POINTS OPEN

STORING ENERGY SPARK FIRES

Figure 3. Spark Firing Circuit

The coil used to generate the spark voltage is actually a transformer, with a very high secondary-to-
primary turns ratio.
When the points first close, current starts to flow in the primary winding and eventually reaches the final
value set by the 12-V battery and the current-limiting resistor. At this time, the current flow is a fixed DC
value, which means no voltage is generated across either winding of the transformer.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 3

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Switching Fundamentals www.ti.com

When the points open, the current in the primary winding collapses very quickly, causing a large voltage to
appear across this winding. This voltage on the primary is magnetically coupled to (and stepped up by) the
secondary winding, generating a voltage of 30 kV to 40 kV on the secondary side.
As explained previously, the law of inductance says that it is not possible to instantly break the current
flowing in an inductor (because an infinite voltage would be required to make it happen).
This principle is what causes the arcing across the contacts used in switches that are in circuits with highly
inductive loads. When the switch just begins to open, the high voltage generated allows electrons to jump
the air gap so that the current flow does not actually stop instantly. Placing a capacitor across the contacts
helps to reduce this arcing effect.
In the automobile ignition, a capacitor is placed across the points to minimize damage due to arcing when
the points break the current flowing in the low-voltage coil winding (in car manuals, this capacitor is
referred to as a condenser).

1.3 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

All of the switching converters that will be covered in this paper use a form of output voltage regulation
known as pulse width modulation (PWM). Put simply, the feedback loop adjusts (corrects) the output
voltage by changing the ON time of the switching element in the converter.
As an example of how PWM works, we will examine the result of applying a series of square wave pulses
to an L-C filter (see Figure 4).

L
TON
V PK
V PULSE TON
V OUT = X V PK
V PULSE TP
C

TP

Figure 4. Basic Principles of PWM

The series of square wave pulses is filtered and provides a DC output voltage that is equal to the peak
pulse amplitude multiplied times the duty cycle (duty cycle is defined as the switch ON time divided by the
total period). This relationship explains how the output voltage can be directly controlled by changing the
ON time of the switch.

2 Switching Converter Topologies

The most commonly used DC/DC converter circuits will now be presented along with the basic principles
of operation.

2.1 Buck Regulator

The most commonly used switching converter is the Buck, which is used to down-convert a DC voltage to
a lower DC voltage of the same polarity. This is essential in systems that use distributed power rails (like
24 V to 48 V), which must be locally converted to 15 V, 12 V or 5 V with very little power loss.
The buck converter uses a transistor as a switch that alternately connects and disconnects the input
voltage to an inductor (see Figure 5).

4 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Switching Converter Topologies

SWITCH
V OUT
+ L
+
V IN PWM C LOAD
D
CONTROL

SWITCH SWITCH
V IN ON V IN OFF

Figure 5. Buck Regulator

The lower diagrams show the current flow paths (shown as the heavy lines) when the switch is on and off.
When the switch turns on, the input voltage is connected to the inductor. The difference between the input
and output voltages is then forced across the inductor, causing current through the inductor to increase.
During the ON time, the inductor current flows into both the load and the output capacitor (the capacitor
charges during this time).
When the switch is turned off, the input voltage applied to the inductor is removed. However, because the
current in an inductor can not change instantly, the voltage across the inductor will adjust to hold the
current constant.
The input end of the inductor is forced negative in voltage by the decreasing current, eventually reaching
the point where the diode is turned on. The inductor current then flows through the load and back through
the diode.
The capacitor discharges into the load during the OFF time, contributing to the total current being supplied
to the load (the total load current during the switch OFF time is the sum of the inductor and capacitor
current).
The shape of the current flowing in the inductor is similar to Figure 6.

INDUCTOR EQUIVALENT DC
CURRENT T ON T OFF T ON T OFF LOAD CURRENT

Figure 6. Buck Regulator Inductor Current

As explained, the current through the inductor ramps up when the switch is on, and ramps down when the
switch is off. The DC load current from the regulated output is the average value of the inductor current.
The peak-to-peak difference in the inductor current waveform is referred to as the inductor ripple current,
and the inductor is typically selected large enough to keep this ripple current less than 20% to 30% of the
rated DC current.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 5

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Switching Converter Topologies www.ti.com

2.2 Continuous vs Discontinuous Operation

In most Buck regulator applications, the inductor current never drops to zero during full-load operation
(this is defined as continuous mode operation). Overall performance is usually better using continuous
mode, and it allows maximum output power to be obtained from a given input voltage and switch current
rating.
In applications where the maximum load current is fairly low, it can be advantageous to design for
discontinuous mode operation. In these cases, operating in discontinuous mode can result in a smaller
overall converter size (because a smaller inductor can be used).
Discontinuous mode operation at lower load current values is generally harmless, and even converters
designed for continuous mode operation at full load will become discontinuous as the load current is
decreased (usually causing no problems).

2.3 Boost Regulator

The Boost regulator takes a DC input voltage and produces a DC output voltage that is higher in value
than the input (but of the same polarity). The boost regulator is shown in Figure 7, along with details
showing the path of current flow during the switch ON and OFF time.

L V OUT
+ D
PWM
+
V IN SWITCH LOAD
CONTROL C

SWITCH SWITCH
V IN V IN
ON OFF

Figure 7. Boost Regulator

Whenever the switch is on, the input voltage is forced across the inductor which causes the current
through it to increase (ramp up).
When the switch is off, the decreasing inductor current forces the switch end of the inductor to swing
positive. This forward biases the diode, allowing the capacitor to charge up to a voltage that is higher than
the input voltage.
During steady-state operation, the inductor current flows into both the output capacitor and the load during
the switch OFF time. When the switch is on, the load current is supplied only by the capacitor.

2.4 Output Current and Load Power

An important design consideration in the Boost regulator is that the output load current and the switch
current are not equal, and the maximum available load current is always less than the current rating of the
switch transistor.
It should be noted that the maximum total power available for conversion in any regulator is equal to the
input voltage multiplied times the maximum average input current (which is less than the current rating of
the switch transistor).
Becuase the output voltage of the Boost is higher than the input voltage, it follows that the output current
must be lower than the input current.

6 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Switching Converter Topologies

2.5 Buck-Boost (Inverting) Regulator

The Buck-Boost or Inverting regulator takes a DC input voltage and produces a DC output voltage that is
opposite in polarity to the input. The negative output voltage can be either larger or smaller in magnitude
than the input voltage.
The Inverting regulator is shown in Figure 8.

SWITCH
+ D - V OUT
V IN -
PWM C LOAD
L +
- CONTROL

+ SWITCH
+ SWITCH - -
V IN OFF
VIN ON
+ +
- -

Figure 8. Buck-Boost (Inverting) Regulator

When the switch is on, the input voltage is forced across the inductor, causing an increasing current flow
through it. During the ON time, the discharge of the output capacitor is the only source of load current.
This requires that the charge lost from the output capacitor during the on time be replenished during the
OFF time.
When the switch turns off, the decreasing current flow in the inductor causes the voltage at the diode end
to swing negative. This action turns on the diode, allowing the current in the inductor to supply both the
output capacitor and the load.
As shown, the load current is supplied by inductor when the switch is off, and by the output capacitor
when the switch is on.

2.6 Flyback Regulator

The Flyback is the most versatile of all the topologies, allowing the designer to create one or more output
voltages, some of which may be opposite in polarity. Flyback converters have gained popularity in battery-
powered systems, where a single voltage must be converted into the required system voltages (for
example, +5 V, +12 V and –12 V) with very high power conversion efficiency. The basic single-output
flyback converter is shown in Figure 9.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 7

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Switching Converter Topologies www.ti.com

D V OUT
+
V IN
+
C LOAD
PWM
SWITCH
CONTROL

+ +
V IN + V IN +

SWITCH SWITCH
ON OFF

Figure 9. Single-Output Flyback Regulator

The most important feature of the Flyback regulator is the transformer phasing, as shown by the dots on
the primary and secondary windings.
When the switch is on, the input voltage is forced across the transformer primary which causes an
increasing flow of current through it.
Note that the polarity of the voltage on the primary is dot-negative (more negative at the dotted end),
causing a voltage with the same polarity to appear at the transformer secondary (the magnitude of the
secondary voltage is set by the transformer secondary-to-primary turns ratio).
The dot-negative voltage appearing across the secondary winding turns off the diode, preventing current
flow in the secondary winding during the switch on time. During this time, the load current must be
supplied by the output capacitor alone.
When the switch turns off, the decreasing current flow in the primary causes the voltage at the dot end to
swing positive. At the same time, the primary voltage is reflected to the secondary with the same polarity.
The dot-positive voltage occurring across the secondary winding turns on the diode, allowing current to
flow into both the load and the output capacitor. The output capacitor charge lost to the load during the
switch on time is replenished during the switch OFF time.
Flyback converters operate in either continuous mode (where the secondary current is always > 0) or
discontinuous mode (where the secondary current falls to zero on each cycle).

2.7 Generating Multiple Outputs

Another big advantage of a flyback is the capability of providing multiple outputs (see Figure 10). In such
applications, one of the outputs (usually the highest current) is selected to provide PWM feedback to the
control loop, which means this output is directly regulated.
The other secondary winding(s) are indirectly regulated, as their pulse widths will follow the regulated
winding. The load regulation on the unregulated secondaries is not great (typically 5% to 10%), but is
adequate for many applications.

8 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Switching Converter Topologies

If tighter regulation is needed on the lower current secondaries, an LDO post-regulator is an excellent
solution. The secondary voltage is set about 1 V above the desired output voltage, and the LDO provides
excellent output regulation with very little loss of efficiency.
-12V LDO
-12V
REGULATOR

12V LDO
+12V
REGULATOR

+
V IN
+5V

PWM +
CONTROL

GND
FEEDBACK

Figure 10. Typical Multiple-Output Flyback

2.8 Push-Pull Converter

The Push-Pull converter uses two to transistors perform DC/DC conversion (see Figure 11).

Np Ns V OUT
Ns C
Np
+ +
V IN
A B

GND
PWM CONTROL

Figure 11. Push-Pull Converter

The converter operates by turning on each transistor on alternate cycles (the two transistors are never on
at the same time). Transformer secondary current flows at the same time as primary current (when either
of the switches is on).
For example, when transistor A is turned on, the input voltage is forced across the upper primary winding
with dot-negative polarity. On the secondary side, a dot-negative voltage will appear across the winding
which turns on the bottom diode. This allows current to flow into the inductor to supply both the output
capacitor and the load.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 9

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Switching Converter Topologies www.ti.com

When transistor B is on, the input voltage is forced across the lower primary winding with dot-positive
polarity. The same voltage polarity on the secondary turns on the top diode, and current flows into the
output capacitor and the load.
An important characteristic of a Push-Pull converter is that the switch transistors have to be able the stand
off more than twice the input voltage: when one transistor is on (and the input voltage is forced across one
primary winding) the same magnitude voltage is induced across the other primary winding, but it is floating
on top of the input voltage. This puts the collector of the turned-off transistor at twice the input voltage with
respect to ground.
The double input voltage rating requirement of the switch transistors means the Push-Pull converter is
best suited for lower input voltage applications. It has been widely used in converters operating in 12-V
and 24-V battery-powered systems.

V PK
C

TON TPER

Figure 12. Timing Diagram for Push-Pull Converter

Figure 12 shows a timing diagram which details the relationship of the input and output pulses.
It is important to note that frequency of the secondary side voltage pulses is twice the frequency of
operation of the PWM controller driving the two transistors. For example, if the PWM control chip was set
up to operate at 50 kHz on the primary side, the frequency of the secondary pulses would be 100 kHz.
The DC output voltage is given by Equation 2:
VOUT = VPK × (TON / TPER) (2)
The peak amplitude of the secondary pulses (VPK) is given by Equation 3:
VPK = (VIN – VSWITCH) × (NS / NP) – VRECT (3)
This highlights why the Push-Pull converter is well-suited for low voltage converters. The voltage forced
across each primary winding (which provides the power for conversion) is the full input voltage minus only
the saturation voltage of the switch.
If MOSFET power switches are used, the voltage drop across the switches can be made extremely small,
resulting in very high utilization of the available input voltage.
Another advantage of the Push-Pull converter is that it can also generate multiple output voltages (by
adding more secondary windings), some of which may be negative in polarity. This allows a power supply
operated from a single battery to provide all of the voltages necessary for system operation.
A disadvantage of Push-Pull converters is that they require very good matching of the switch transistors to
prevent unequal ON times, because this will result in saturation of the transformer core (and failure of the
converter).

10 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Switching Converter Topologies

2.9 Half-Bridge Converter

The Half-Bridge is a two-transistor converter frequently used in high-power designs. It is well-suited for
applications requiring load power in the range of 50 0W to 1500 W, and is almost always operated directly
from the AC line.
Offline operation means that no large 60-Hz power transformer is used, eliminating the heaviest and
costliest component of a typical transformer-powered supply. All of the transformers in the half-bridge
used for power conversion operate at the switching frequency (typically 50 kHz or higher) which means
they can be very small and efficient.
A very important advantage of the half-bridge is input-to-output isolation (the regulated DC output is
electrically isolated from the AC line). But, this means that all of the PWM control circuitry must be
referenced to the DC output ground.
The voltage to run the control circuits is usually generated from a DC rail that is powered by a small 60-Hz
transformer feeding a three-terminal regulator. In some designs requiring extremely high efficiency, the
switcher output takes over and provides internal power after the start-up period.
The switch transistor drive circuitry must be isolated from the transistors, requiring the use of base drive
transformers. The added complexity of the base drive circuitry is a disadvantage of using the half-bridge
design.
If a 230 VAC line voltage is rectified by a full-wave bridge and filtered by a capacitor, an unregulated DC
voltage of about 300 V will be available for DC/DC conversion. If 115 VAC is used, a voltage doubler
circuit is typically used to generate the 300-V rail.

A C

AC + V OUT
+ NS
FWB NP
V IN NS +
AC -

B
GND
PWM CONTROL

Figure 13. Half-Bridge Converter

The basic half-bridge converter is shown in Figure 13. A capacitive divider is tied directly across the
unregulated DC input voltage, providing a reference voltage of 1/2 VIN for one end of the transformer
primary winding. The other end of the primary is actively driven up and down as the transistors alternately
turn on and off.
The switch transistors force one-half of the input voltage across the primary winding during the switch on
time, reversing polarity as the transistors alternate. The switching transistors are never on at the same
time, or they would be destroyed (because they are tied directly across VIN). The timing diagram for the
half-bridge converter is shown in Figure 14 (it is the same as the push-pull).
When the A transistor is on, a dot-positive voltage is forced across the primary winding and reflected on
the secondary side (with the magnitude being set by the transformer turns ratio). The dot-positive
secondary voltage turns on the upper rectifier diode, supplying current to both the output capacitor and the
load.
When the A transistor turns off and the B transistor turns on, the polarity of the primary voltage is
reversed. The secondary voltage polarity is also reversed, turning on the lower diode (which supplies
current to the output capacitor and the load).

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 11

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Switching Converter Topologies www.ti.com

In a Half-Bridge converter, primary and secondary current flow in the transformer at the same time (when
either transistor is on), supplying the load current and charging the output capacitor. The output capacitor
discharges into the load only during the time when both transistors are off.

V PK
C

TON TPER

Figure 14. Timing Diagram for Half-Bridge Converter

It can be seen that the voltage pulses on the transformer secondary side (applied to the L-C filter) are
occurring at twice the frequency of the PWM converter which supplies the drive pulses for the switching
transistors.
The output voltage is again given by Equation 4:
VOUT = VPK × (TON / TPER) (4)
The peak amplitude of the secondary pulses (VPK) is given by Equation 5:
VPK = (1/2 VIN – VSWITCH) × (NS / NP) – VRECT (5)

2.10 Full-Bridge Converter

The Full-Bridge converter requires a total of four switching transistors to perform DC/DC conversion. The
full bridge is most often seen in applications that are powered directly from the AC line, providing load
power of 1 kW to 3 kW.
Operating offline, the full bridge converter typically uses about 300 V of unregulated DC voltage for power
conversion (the voltage that is obtained when a standard 230 VAC line is rectified and filtered).
An important feature of this design is the isolation from the AC line provided by the switching transformer.
The PWM control circuitry is referenced to the the output ground, requiring a dedicated voltage rail
(usually powered from a small 60-Hz transformer) to run the control circuits.
The base drive voltages for the switch transistors (which are provided by the PWM chip) have to be
transformer-coupled because of the required isolation.
Figure 15 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a Full-Bridge converter.

12 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Application Hints for Switching Regulators

B A C

V OUT
AC +
+ NP NS
FWB
V IN
NS +
AC -

A B

PWM CONTROL GND

Figure 15. Full-Bridge Converter

The transformer primary is driven by the full voltage VIN when either of the transistor sets (A set or B set)
turns on. The full input voltage utilization means the Full-Bridge can produce the most load power of all
the converter types. The timing diagram is identical to the Half-Bridge, as shown in Figure 14.
Primary and secondary current flows in the transformer during the switch on times, while the output
capacitor discharges into the load when both transistors are off.
Equation 6 is the equation for the output voltage (see Figure 14):
VOUT = VPK × (TON / TPER) (6)
The peak voltage of the transformer secondary pulses (VPK) is given by Equation 7:
VPK = (VIN – 2VSWITCH) × (NS / NP) – VRECT (7)

3 Application Hints for Switching Regulators

The most commonly used DC/DC converter circuits will now be presented along with the basic principles
of operation.

3.1 Capacitor Parasitics Affecting Switching Regulator Performance

All capacitors contain parasitic elements which make their performance less than ideal (see Figure 16).

ESR

R C

ESL

Figure 16. Capacitor Parasitics

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 13

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Application Hints for Switching Regulators www.ti.com

Summary of Effects of Parasitics:

• ESR: The equivalent series resistance (ESR) causes internal heating due to power dissipation as the
ripple current flows into and out of the capacitor. The capacitor can fail if ripple current exceeds
maximum ratings.
Excessive output voltage ripple will result from high ESR, and regulator loop instability is also possible.
ESR is highly dependent on temperature, increasing very quickly at temperatures below about 10°C.
• ESL: The effective series inductance (ESL) limits the high frequency effectiveness of the capacitor.
High ESL is the reason electrolytic capacitors need to be bypassed by film or ceramic capacitors to
provide good high-frequency performance.
The ESR, ESL, and C within the capacitor form a resonant circuit, whose frequency of resonance
should be as high as possible. Switching regulators generate ripple voltages on their outputs with very
high frequency (>10 MHz) components, which can cause ringing on the output voltage if the capacitor
resonant frequency is low enough to be near these frequencies.

3.1.1 Input Capacitors

All of the switching converters in this paper (and the vast majority in use) operate as DC/DC converters
that chop a DC input voltage at a very high frequency. As the converter switches, it has to draw current
pulses from the input source. The source impedance is extremely important, as even a small amount of
inductance can cause significant ringing and spiking on the voltage at the input of the converter.
The best practice is to always provide adequate capacitive bypass as near as possible to the switching
converter input. For best results, an electrolytic is used with a film capacitor (and possibly a ceramic
capacitor) in parallel for optimum high frequency bypassing.

3.1.2 Output Capacitor ESR Effects

The primary function of the output capacitor in a switching regulator is filtering. As the converter operates,
current must flow into and out of the output filter capacitor.
The ESR of the output capacitor directly affects the performance of the switching regulator. ESR is
specified by the manufacturer on good quality capacitors, but be certain that it is specified at the frequency
of intended operation.
General-purpose electrolytics usually only specify ESR at 120 Hz, but capacitors intended for high-
frequency switching applications will have the ESR guaranteed at high frequency (like 20 kHz to 100 kHz).
Some ESR dependent parameters are:
• Ripple Voltage: In most cases, the majority of the output ripple voltage results from the ESR of the
output capacitor. If the ESR increases (as it will at low operating temperatures) the output ripple
voltage will increase accordingly.
• Efficiency: As the switching current flows into and out of the capacitor (through the ESR), power is
dissipated internally. This wasted power reduces overall regulator efficiency, and can also cause the
capacitor to fail if the ripple current exceeds the maximum allowable specification for the capacitor.
• Loop Stability: The ESR of the output capacitor can affect regulator loop stability. Products such as
the LM2575 and LM2577 are compensated for stability assuming the ESR of the output capacitor will
stay within a specified range.
Keeping the ESR within the stable range is not always simple in designs that must operate over a wide
temperature range. The ESR of a typical aluminum electrolytic may increase by 40X as the temperature
drops from 25°C to –40°C.
In these cases, an aluminum electrolytic must be paralleled by another type of capacitor with a flatter ESR
curve (like Tantalum or Film) so that the effective ESR (which is the parallel value of the two ESR's) stays
within the allowable range.

NOTE: If operation below –40°C is necessary, aluminum electrolytics are probably not feasible for
use.

14 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Application Hints for Switching Regulators

3.1.3 Bypass Capacitors

High-frequency bypass capacitors are always recommended on the supply pins of IC devices, but if the
devices are used in assemblies near switching converters bypass capacitors are absolutely required.
The components which perform the high-speed switching (transistors and rectifiers) generate significant
EMI that easily radiates into PCB traces and wire leads.
To assure proper circuit operation, all IC supply pins must be bypassed to a clean, low-inductance ground
(for details on grounding, see Section 3.2).

3.2 Proper Grounding

The ground in a circuit is supposed to be at one potential, but in real life it is not. When ground currents
flow through traces which have non-zero resistance, voltage differences will result at different points along
the ground path.
In DC or low-frequency circuits, ground management is comparatively simple: the only parameter of
critical importance is the DC resistance of a conductor, because that defines the voltage drop across it for
a given current. In high-frequency circuits, it is the inductance of a trace or conductor that is much more
important.
In switching converters, peak currents flow in high-frequency (> 50 kHz) pulses, which can cause severe
problems if trace inductance is high. Much of the ringing and spiking seen on voltage waveforms in
switching converters is the result of high current being switched through parasitic trace (or wire)
inductance.
Current switching at high frequencies tends to flow near the surface of a conductor (this is called skin
effect), which means that ground traces must be very wide on a PCB to avoid problems. It is usually best
(when possible) to use one side of the PCB as a ground plane. Figure 17 illustrates an example of a
terrible layout:

LOGIC PWM POWER

VIN CONTROL
CIRCUITS SWITCH
CHIP
I SW
L TRACE L TRACE L TRACE

Figure 17. Example of Poor Grounding

The layout shown has the high-power switch return current passing through a trace that also provides the
return for the PWM chip and the logic circuits. The switching current pulses flowing through the trace will
cause a voltage spike (positive and negative) to occur as a result of the rising and falling edge of the
switch current. This voltage spike follows directly from the v = L (di/dt) law of inductance.
It is important to note that the magnitude of the spike will be different at all points along the trace, being
largest near the power switch. Taking the ground symbol as a point of reference, this shows how all three
circuits would be bouncing up and down with respect to ground. More important, they would also be
moving with respect to each other.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 15

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Application Hints for Switching Regulators www.ti.com

Misoperation often occurs when sensitive parts of the circuit rattle up and down due to ground switching
currents. This can induce noise into the reference used to set the output voltage, resulting in excessive
output ripple. Very often, regulators that suffer from ground noise problems appear to be unstable, and
break into oscillations as the load current is increased (which increases ground currents). A much better
layout is shown in Figure 18.

VIN PWM
+ POWER LOGIC
CONTROL
SWITCH CIRCUITS
CHIP

Figure 18. Example of Good Grounding

A big improvement is made by using single-point grounding. A good high-frequency electrolytic capacitor
(like solid Tantalum) is used near the input voltage source to provide a good ground point.
All of the individual circuit elements are returned to this point using separate ground traces. This prevents
high current ground pulses from bouncing the logic circuits up and down.
Another important improvement is that the power switch (which has the highest ground pin current) is
placed as close as possible to the input capacitor. This minimizes the trace inductance along its ground
path.
It should also be pointed out that all of the individual circuit blocks have local bypass capacitors tied
directly across them. The purpose of this capacitor is RF bypass, so it must be a ceramic or film capacitor
(or both).
A good value for bypassing logic devices would be 0.01-μF ceramic capacitor(s), distributed as required.
If the circuit to be bypassed generates large current pulses (like the power switch), more capacitance is
required. A good choice would be an aluminum electrolytic bypassed with a film and ceramic capacitor.
Exact size depends on peak current, but the more capacitance used, the better the result.

3.3 Transformer/Inductor Cores and Radiated Noise

The type of core used in an inductor or transformer directly affects its cost, size, and radiated noise
characteristics. Electrical noise radiated by a transformer is extremely important, as it may require
shielding to prevent erratic operation of sensitive circuits located near the switching regulator.
The most commonly used core types will be presented, listing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
The important consideration in evaluating the electrical noise that an inductor or transformer is likely to
generate is the magnetic flux path. In Figure 19, the slug core and toroidal core types are compared.

16 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Application Hints for Switching Regulators

TOROID CORE

SLUG CORE
Figure 19. Flux Paths in Slug and Toroid Cores

The flux in the slug core leaves one end, travels through the air, and returns to the other end. The slug
core is the highest (worst) for radiated flux noise. In most cases, the slug core device will give the
smallest, cheapest component for a given inductor size (it is very cheap to manufacture).
The magnetic flux path in the toroid is completely contained within the core. For this reason it has the
lowest (best) radiated flux noise. Toroid core components are typically larger and more expensive
compared to other core types. Winding a toroid is fairly difficult (and requires special equipment), driving
up the finished cost of the manufactured transformer.
There is another class of cores commonly used in magnetic design which have radiated flux properties
that are much better than the slug core, but not as good as the toroid.
These cores are two-piece assemblies, and are assembled by gluing the core pieces together around the
bobbin that holds the winding(s). The cores shown are frequently gapped to prevent saturation of the
Ferrite core material. The air gap is installed by grinding away a small amount of the core (the gap may be
only a few thousandths of an inch).
Figure 20 shows the popular E-I, E-E and Pot cores often used in switching regulator transformers. The
cores show the locations where an air gap is placed (if required), but the bobbins and windings are
omitted for clarity.

GAP
GAP
GAP

E-I CORE
E-E CORE POT CORE
Figure 20. Flux Paths in E-I, E-E and Pot Cores

The air gap can emit flux noise because there is a high flux density in the vicinity of the gap, as the flux
passing through the core has to jump the air gap to reach the other core piece.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 17

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Application Hints for Switching Regulators www.ti.com

The E-E and E-I cores are fairly cheap and easy to manufacture, and are very common in switching
applications up to about 1 kW. There is a wide variety of sizes and shapes available, made from different
Ferrite blends optimized for excellent switching performance. The radiated flux from this type of core is still
reasonably low, and can usually be managed by good board layout.
The Pot core (which is difficult to accurately show in a single view drawing), benefits from the shielding
effect of the core sides (which are not gapped). This tends to keep the radiated flux contained better than
an E-E or E-I core, making the Pot core second best only to the toroid core in minimizing flux noise.
Pot cores are typically more expensive than E-E or E-I cores of comparable power rating, but they have
the advantage of being less noisy. Pot core transformers are much easier to manufacture than toroid
transformers because the windings are placed on a standard bobbin and then the core is assembled
around it.

3.4 Measuring Output Ripple Voltage

The ripple appearing on the output of the switching regulator can be important to the circuits under power.
Getting an accurate measurement of the output ripple voltage is not always simple.
If the output voltage waveform is measured using an oscilloscope, an accurate result can only be obtained
using a differential measurement method (see Figure 21).

POS OUT + CHAN A

SWITCHING
REGULATOR MATCHED PROBE SET O-SCOPE

NEG OUT - CHAN B

NOTE: INVERT CHANNEL B AND ADD TO CHANNEL A TO REMOVE COMMON-MODE SIGNAL

Figure 21. Differential Output Ripple Measurement

The differential measurement shown uses the second channel of the oscilloscope to cancel out the signal
that is common to both channels (by inverting the B channel signal and adding it to the A channel).
The reason this method must be used is because the fast-switching components in a switching regulator
generate voltage spikes that have significant energy at very high frequencies. These signals can be
picked up very easily by antennas as small as the 3-inch ground lead on the scope probe.
Assuming the probes are reasonably well matched, the B channel probe will pick up the same radiated
signal as the A channel probe, which allows this common-mode signal to be eliminated by adding the
inverted channel B signal to channel A.
It is often necessary to measure the RMS output ripple voltage, and this is usually done with some type of
digital voltmeter. If the reading obtained is to be meaningful, the following must be considered:
1. The meter must be true-RMS reading, because the waveforms to be measured are very non-
sinusoidal.
2. The 3-dB bandwidth of the meter should be at least 3X the bandwidth of the measured signal (the
output voltage ripple frequency will typically be > 100 kHz).
3. Subtract the noise floor from the measurement. Connect both meter leads to the negative regulator
output and record this value. Move the positive meter lead to positive regulator output and record this
value. The actual RMS ripple voltage is the difference between these two readings.

3.5 Measuring Regulator Efficiency of DC/DC Converters

The efficiency (η) of a switching regulator is defined as:
η = PLOAD / PTOTAL (8)
In determining converter efficiency, the first thing that must be measured is the total consumed power
(PTOTAL). Assuming a DC input voltage, PTOTAL is defined as the total power drawn from the source, which is
equal to:

18 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Application Hints for Switching Regulators

PTOTAL = VIN × IIN (AVE) (9)

It must be noted that the input current value used in the calculation must be the average value of the
waveform (the input current will not be DC or sinusoidal).
Because the total power dissipated must be constant from input to output, PTOTAL is also equal to the load
power plus the internal regulator power losses:
PTOTAL = PLOAD + PLOSSES (10)
Measuring (or calculating) the power to the load is very simple, because the output voltage and current
are both DC. The load power is found by:
PLOAD = VOUT × ILOAD (11)
Measuring the input power drawn from the source is not simple. Although the input voltage to the regulator
is DC, the current drawn at the input of a switching regulator is not. If a typical clip-on current meter is
used to measure the input current, the taken data will be essentially meaningless.
The average input current to the regulator can be measured with reasonable accuracy by using a wide-
bandwidth current probe connected to an oscilloscope.
The average value of input current can be closely estimated by drawing a horizontal line that divides the
waveform in such a way that the area of the figure above the line will equal the missing area below the
line (see Figure 22). In this way, the average current shown is equivalent to the value of DC current that
would produce the same input power.
I PK
A
I AVE
B
I IN
AREA "A" EQUALS AREA "B"
Figure 22. Average Value of Typical Input Current Waveform

If more exact measurements are needed, it is possible to force the current in the line going to the input of
the DC/DC converter to be DC by using an L-C filter between the power source and the input of the
converter (see Figure 23).
CURRENT HERE IS DC CURRENT HERE
(MEASURE HERE) IS NOT DC

+ L L + IN
DC I IN
C VIN
+ SWITCHING
C
SUPPLY C REGULATOR
IN
- - IN
C IN MUST BE LARGE VALUE
P TOTAL = V IN X IIN

Figure 23. L-C Filter Used in DC Input Current Measurement

If the L-C filter components are adequate, the current coming from the output of the DC power supply will
be DC current (with no high-frequency switching component) which means it can be accurately measured
with a cheap clip-on ammeter and digital volt meter. It is essential that a large, low-ESR capacitor be
placed at CIN to support the input of the switching converter. The L-C filter that the converter sees looking
back into the source presents a high impedance for switching current, which means CIN is necessary to
provide the switching current required at the input of the converter.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 19

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Application Hints for Switching Regulators www.ti.com

3.6 Measuring Regulator Efficiency of Offline Converters

Offline converters are powered directly from the AC line, by using a bridge rectifier and capacitive filter to
generate an unregulated DC voltage for conversion (see Figure 13 and Figure 14).
Measuring the total power drawn from the AC source is fairly difficult because of the power factor. If both
the voltage and current are sinusoidal, power factor is defined as the cosine of the phase angle between
the voltage and current waveforms.
The capacitive-input filter in an offline converter causes the input current to be very non-sinusoidal. The
current flows in narrow, high-amplitude pulses (called Haversine pulses) which requires that the power
factor be redefined in such cases.
For capacitive-input filter converters, power factor is defined as:
P.F. = PREAL / PAPPARENT (12)
The real power drawn from the source (PREAL) is the power (in Watts) which equals the sum of the load
power and regulator internal losses.
The apparent power (PAPPARENT) is equal to the RMS input current times the RMS input voltage. Rewritten,
the importance of power factor is shown
IIN (RMS) = PREAL / (VIN (RMS) × PF) (13)
The RMS input current that the AC line must supply (for a given real power in Watts) increases directly as
the power factor reduces from unity. Power factor for single-phase AC-powered converters is typically
about 0.6. If three-phase power is used, the power factor is about 0.9.
If the efficiency of an offline converter is to be measured, power analyzers are available which will
measure and display input voltage, input power, and power factor. These are fairly expensive, so they
may not be available to the designer.
Another method which will give good results is to measure the power after the rectifier bridge and input
capacitor (where the voltage and current are DC). This method is shown in Figure 24.
MEASURE CURRENT HERE
I DC

AC +
TRANSFORMER
FWB C IN + AND
V IN RECTIFIERS
AC -

P
TOTAL = V IN X I DC + P FWB
Figure 24. Measuring Input Power in Offline Converter

The current flowing from CIN to the converter should be very nearly DC, and the average value can be
readily measured or approximated (see previous section).
The total power drawn from the AC source is the sum of the power supplied by CIN (which is VIN × IDC) and
the power dissipated in the input bridge rectifier. The power in the bridge rectifier is easily estimated, and
is actually negligible in most offline designs.

20 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Application Circuits

4 Application Circuits
Application circuits will be detailed which will demonstrate some examples of switching regulator designs.

4.1 LM2577: A Complete Flyback/Boost Regulator IC

The LM2577 is an IC developed as part of the SIMPLE SWITCHER® product family. It is a current-mode
control switching regulator, with a built-in NPN switch rated for 3-A switch current and 65-V breakdown
voltage.
The most commonly used applications are for Flyback or Boost regulators (see Figure 25). In the Boost
regulator, the output is always greater than the input. In the Flyback, the output may be greater than, less
than, or equal to the input voltage.

V IN V OUT V IN V OUT
V IN SW V IN SW
COMP LM2577
+ FB + C OUT COMP LM2577
C IN + FB + C OUT
GND C IN
GND
GND GND
GND GND
V OUT > V IN

BOOST REGULATOR FLYBACK REGULATOR

Figure 25. Basic Application Circuits for the LM2577

The theory of operation of the flyback and boost converters has been previously covered, and will not be
repeated here.
The LM2577 is targeted for applications with load power requirements up to a maximum of about 25
Watts, and can be used to implement boost or flyback regulators (with multiple output voltages available if
flyback is selected).
The next sections will show the LM2577 being used in circuits which are more advanced than the typical
applications (these circuits were generated as solutions for specific customer requirements).

4.1.1 Increasing Available Load Power in an LM2577 Boost Regulator

One of the most frequently requested circuits is a method to squeeze more power out of a boost
converter. The maximum load power available at the output is directly related to the input power available
to the DC/DC converter.
When the input voltage is a low value (like 5 V), this greatly reduces the amount of power that can be
drawn from the source (because the maximum input current is limited by what the switch can handle). In
the case of the LM2577, the maximum switch current is 3-A (peak).
Increased load power can be obtained with the LM2577 by paralleling two devices (see Figure 26).
Because current-mode control is used in the LM2577, the two converters will automatically share the load
current demand.

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 21

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Application Circuits www.ti.com

V IN
5V 47 mH 47 mH
SCHOTTKY (2 PL.) V OUT

+12V
V IN SW V IN SW @ 1.5A
+
470 mF
COMP LM2577 FB LM2577
ADJ COMP 12 FB

GND GND +
1 mF 1 mF 1000 mF
0.22
mF

2.2K
GND

Figure 26. Dual LM2577 Boost Circuit

The right-hand regulator (which is a fixed 12-V version) is the master that sets the duty cycle of both
regulators (tying the Compensation pins together forces the duty cycles to track).
The master regulator has direct feedback from the output, while the other regulator has its Feedback pin
grounded. Grounding the Feedback pin makes the regulator attempt to run wide open (at maximum duty
cycle), but the master regulator controls the voltage at both Compensation pins, which adjusts the pulse
widths as required to hold the output voltage at 12 V.

4.2 LM2577 Negative Buck Regulator

The LM2577 can be used in a Buck regulator configuration that takes a negative input voltage and
produces a regulated negative output voltage (see Figure 27).

3A/50V + GND
SCHOTTKY 470 mF R1
49.9K

150 mH V OUT
V IN SW D1
Q1 -15V @ 3A
1N4148
+
LM2577 2N3906
COMP
100 mF ADJ
R3
FB GND 100K
3.3K

1.23V R2
0.22 mF 4.12K
V IN
-20 TO -40V
Figure 27. Negative Buck Regulator

22 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Application Circuits

The LM2577 is referenced to the negative input, which means the feedback signal coming from the
regulated output must be DC level shifted. R1, D1, and Q1 form a current source that sets a current
through R2 that is directly proportional to the output voltage (D1 is included to cancel out the VBE of Q1).
Neglecting the base current error of Q1, the current through R2 is equal to:
IR2 = VOUT / R1 (which is 300 μA for this example.) (14)
The voltage across R2 provides the 1.23-V feedback signal which the LM2577 requires for its feedback
loop.
The operation of the power converter is similar to what was previously described for the Buck regulator:
• When the switch is ON, current flows from ground through the load, into the regulator output, through
the inductor, and down through the switch to return to the negative input. The output capacitor also
charges during the switch ON time.
• When the switch turns OFF, the voltage at the diode end of the inductor flies positive until the Schottky
diode turns on (this allows the inductor current to continue to flow through the load during the OFF
time). The output capacitor also discharges through the load during the OFF time, providing part of the
load current.

4.3 LM2577 Three-Output, Isolated Flyback Regulator

Many applications require electrical isolation between the input and output terminals of the power supply
(for example, medical monitoring instruments require isolation to assure patient safety).
Figure 28 shows an example of a three-output flyback regulator 2 built using the LM2577 that has
electrical isolation between the input and output voltages.

5V@
R1 150mA
V IN 16T 15K
+
16 - 36V + FB
18T LM385
470mF
51V
R2 -
+ 24T
45.3K 7.5V@
V IN SW
680 100mA
mF + 220
LM2577 24T 220mF
10K ADJ -7.5V@
0.1 70mA
0.1 FB COMP GND mF
100mF
ISOLATION

mF
+
INPUT 470
GND OUTPUT
GND
4N27
100k

0.47mF
4.7V
2K
47K

Figure 28. Three-Output Isolated Flyback Regulator

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 23

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Application Circuits www.ti.com

Three output voltages are obtained from three separate transformer secondary windings, with voltage
feedback being taken from the 5-V output.
To maintain electrical isolation, the feedback path uses a 4N27 opto-coupler to transfer the feedback
signal across the isolation barrier.
The 5-V output is regulated using an LM385 adjustable reference, whose voltage is set by R1 and R2.
The LM385 operates by forcing a 1.24-V reference voltage between the positive terminal and the
feedback pin, so the set voltage across the LM385 is given by:
VREF = 1.24 × (R2/R1 + 1) (15)
For the values shown in this example, the voltage will be 5 V.
The function of the LM385 in the circuit can be described as an ideal Zener diode, because the current
flowing through the LM385 is very small until the voltage at its positive terminal reaches 5 V with respect
to ground. At that point, it tries to regulate its positive terminal to 5 V by conducting current (which flows
out of the negative terminal of the LM385 and through the 470-Ω resistor into the diode side of the opto-
coupler).
When the LM385 starts conducting current through the opto-coupler diode, the collector of the transistor in
the opto-coupler pulls down on the compensation pin of the LM2577, which reduces the duty cycle (pulse
widths) of the switching converter. In this way, a negative feedback loop is established which holds the
output at 5 V.
The feedback signal from the collector of the opto-coupler is fed into the compensation pin (not the
feedback pin) of the LM2577 in order to bypass the internal error amplifier of the LM2577. The gain of the
LM385 is so high that using the error amplifier inside the loop would make it difficult to stabilize (and is not
necessary for good performance).
Test data taken with the input voltage set to 26 V and all outputs fully loaded showed the frequency
response of the control loop had a 0-dB crossover point of 1 kHz with a phase margin of 90°.
The 7.5-V and –7.5-V outputs are not directly regulated, which means their voltages are set by the pulse
width of the regulated (5 V) winding. As a result, the load regulation of these two outputs is not quite as
good as the 5-V output.

Table 1. Summary of Test Performance Data

LINE REGULATION LOAD REGULATION OUTPUT RIPPLE VOLTAGE
OUTPUT VOLTAGES
(AT FULL LOAD) (VIN = 26 V) (25°C)
5V 0.2% 0.04% (30 mA - 150 mA) 50 mV
7.5 V 0.3% 3% (20 mA - 100 mA) 50 mV
–7.5 V 0.3% 2% (12 mA - 70 mA) 50 mV

24 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com Application Circuits

4.4 LM2575 and LM2576 Buck Regulators

The LM2575 and LM2576 products are buck regulators developed as part of the SIMPLE SWITCHER
product family.
The LM2575 is rated for 1 A of continuous load current, while the LM2576 can supply 3 A. The maximum
input voltage for the parts is 40 V (60 V for the HV versions), with both adjustable and fixed output
voltages available.
The basic buck regulator application circuit is shown in Figure 29.

LM2575-ADJ
V IN LM2576-ADJ
OUT
V IN V OUT
L
D
+ R2
C OUT
+ ON/OFF GND FB
C IN

R1

GND GND

V OUT = 1.23 X (1 + R2/R1)

Figure 29. LM2575 and LM2576 Buck Regulator Application

The LM2575 and LM2576 can also be used in an inverting (buck-boost) configuration which allows a
positive input voltage to be converted to a negative regulated output voltage (see Figure 30).

LM2575-ADJ
V IN LM2576-ADJ GND
OUT
V IN
L
D
+
C OUT
+ ON/OFF GND FB
C IN

- V OUT
Figure 30. LM2575 and LM2576 Inverting Application

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 25

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Application Circuits www.ti.com

4.5 Low Dropout, High Efficiency 5-V/3-A Buck Regulator

A circuit was developed which provides a 5-V/3-A regulated output voltage with very high efficiency and
very low dropout voltage (see Figure 31). The customer required that the circuit be able to operate with an
input voltage range of 6 V to 12 V, allowing only 1 V of dropout at the lowest input voltage.

R3
39
Q2
D1 D45H1
1N5818

R2
LM2575-5 200 Q1 68mH
V IN V OUT
2N2222 5V/3A
5.3V TO
12V
ON/ GND FB
OFF +
Z1 R4 D2
R1
100 + 1N4734 20 1000mF
330 1N5821
mF 5V

GND
GND
Figure 31. Low-Dropout 5-V/3-A regulator

An unusual feature of this circuit is that it can stay in regulation with only 300 mV across the regulator.
Also, the efficiency is highest (89%) at the lowest input voltage (buck converters are typically more
efficient at higher input voltages).
The low (< 300 mV) dropout voltage is achieved by using an external PNP power transistor (Q2) as the
main switching transistor (the other transistors in the circuit are drivers for Q2). With components values
shown, Q2 has a saturation voltage of 200 mV at 3 A, which allows the 300 mV input-output differential
requirement for the regulator to be met.
The switch inside the LM2575 drives the base of Q1 through R2. Note that the maximum collector current
of Q1 (and the maximum base drive available for Q2) is limited by Z1 and R4. When Z1 clamps at 5V, the
maximum current through Q1 is:
IQ1 (MAX) = (5 – VBE) / R4 = 215 mA (16)
The maximum Q1 current (215 mA) limits the amount of base drive available to Q2, forcing the collector
current of Q2 to beta limit as the output is overloaded (this means the maximum collector current of Q2
will be limited by the gain of the transistor and the base drive provided). Although this is not a precise
current limiter, it is adequate to protect Q2 from damage during an overload placed on the output.
If the regulator output is shorted to ground, the output short-circuit current flows from the output of the
LM2575 (through D1 and the inductor), which means the regulator short-circuit current is limited to the
value set internally to the LM2575 (which is about 2 A).
Note also that when the regulator output is shorted to ground, the cathode of D1 will also be near ground.
This allows D1 to clamp off the base drive to Q1 off, preventing current flow in the switch transistor Q2.
If the input voltage does not exceed 8 V, R2 and Z1 are not required in the circuit.

26 Switching regulator fundamentals SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
www.ti.com References and Related Products

This circuit was tested with 6-V input and was able to deliver more than 4 A of load current with 5 Vout.
Other test data taken are:

Table 2. Summary of Performance Data

MEASURED PERFORMANCE DATA
LINE REGULATION
5.3 V to 12 V at 1 A 32 mV
5.3 V to 12 V at 3 A 45 mV
LOAD REGULATION
0.3 A to 3 A at 5.3-V Input 10 mV
0.3 A to 3 A at 12-V Input 17 m
EFFICIENCY AT 3-A LOAD
VIN = 5.3 V 89%
VIN = 12 V 80%
OUTPUT RIPPLE VOLTAGE
VIN = 7.2 V, IL = 3 A 35 mV(p-p)

5 References and Related Products

• DC/DC Switching regulator ICs for any application
• Overview for step-down (buck)
• Overview for step-up (boost)
• Overview for buck/boost, inverting or split-rail
• Products for flyback controller
• Products for half-bridge
• SM72295 3A Full bridge gate driver with integrated current sense amplifier SM72295
• LM2577 SIMPLE SWITCHER® 3.5V to 40V, 3A low component count step-up regulator
• LM2575 1-A SIMPLE SWITCHER® step-down adjustable voltage switching regulator with output
enable
• LM2576 SIMPLE SWITCHER® 40V, 3A low component count step-down regulator

SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019 Switching regulator fundamentals 27

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
Revision History www.ti.com

Revision History
NOTE: Page numbers for previous revisions may differ from page numbers in the current version.

Changes from B Revision (July 2018) to C Revision ..................................................................................................... Page

• Update links; editorial updates .......................................................................................................... 1

28 Revision History SNVA559C – September 2012 – Revised February 2019

Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2012–2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated
 IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

TI PROVIDES TECHNICAL AND RELIABILITY DATA (INCLUDING DATASHEETS), DESIGN RESOURCES (INCLUDING REFERENCE
DESIGNS), APPLICATION OR OTHER DESIGN ADVICE, WEB TOOLS, SAFETY INFORMATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES “AS IS”
AND WITH ALL FAULTS, AND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD
PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
These resources are intended for skilled developers designing with TI products. You are solely responsible for (1) selecting the appropriate
TI products for your application, (2) designing, validating and testing your application, and (3) ensuring your application meets applicable
standards, and any other safety, security, or other requirements. These resources are subject to change without notice. TI grants you
permission to use these resources only for development of an application that uses the TI products described in the resource. Other
reproduction and display of these resources is prohibited. No license is granted to any other TI intellectual property right or to any third
party intellectual property right. TI disclaims responsibility for, and you will fully indemnify TI and its representatives against, any claims,
damages, costs, losses, and liabilities arising out of your use of these resources.
TI’s products are provided subject to TI’s Terms of Sale (www.ti.com/legal/termsofsale.html) or other applicable terms available either on
ti.com or provided in conjunction with such TI products. TI’s provision of these resources does not expand or otherwise alter TI’s applicable
warranties or warranty disclaimers for TI products.

Mailing Address: Texas Instruments, Post Office Box 655303, Dallas, Texas 75265
Copyright © 2019, Texas Instruments Incorporated