Abstract:
A synchronous buck converter is applicable for using in low-voltage high-current
load. Inductor current sensing of the circuit for controlling switch in the circuit by
emitting a current sensor can be many methods. This thesis analyzes indirect inductor
current sensing methods by mean of voltage measurement. Three methods for inductor
current sensing are measuring voltage across a sensing resistor (RS Sensing), voltage
across RDS(on) of MOSFET (RDS(on) Sensing) and voltage across capacitor of a series
resistor-capacitor connected shunt to the inductor (Inductor Sensing). The synchronous
buck circuit has been design to operate at 12 V input voltage, 3.3 V output voltage,
15 A output current and switching frequency 100 kHz. Experimental results show that
the RS Sensing generate power loss which depends on load current, but the signal
is more accurate than other methods. Meanwhile the RDS(on) Sensing and Inductor
Sensing are lossless but current signals may have some error which cause inaccurate
of the circuit operation. The measurement technique of the last two methods reveal
that the RDS(on) Sensing method is not suitable in practical comparing with the Inductor
Sensing method.