This work was carried out in cooperation between Infineon and the University of Milan Bicocca, the aim being to develop the core of a DC-DC Buck Converter with a high switching frequency. Switching converters offer a simple and efficient way to power electronic loads. In addition, DC-DC power supplies make it possible to effectively meet many safety requirements of modern automobiles. For example, it is absolutely necessary that emergency lights, headlights and brake lights maintain their functionality under all conditions, especially during cold starting, when the battery voltage reaches very low values (even 4V). But under certain conditions they experience voltages even above 30V. DC-DC power supplies are well suited to large and sudden variations in supply voltage, and in addition to their relative simplicity they combine high efficiency, values of over 90%. Increasing the switching frequency reduces the size of reactive components linearly, allowing smaller PCBs and consequently lower costs. BCD technologies allow power transistors, control logic and diagnostics to be integrated on a single chip (SOC - System On Chip). In this research, three Buck converters were developed that operate at three different frequencies 1MHz, 4MHz and 10MHz with an output current of 3A. Of the buck converters available on the market, only the best performing ones have switching frequencies of 2.0-2.5MHz and load currents of 2-2.5A. Since the target of 10MHz with a load current of 3A is very aggressive, a Buck converter architecture was adopted that minimises the transition time of electrical signals, and a new driver topology had to be developed that is much faster and more powerful than the solutions adopted so far (patent pending). At the time of writing, 1 MHz and 4 MHz devices are being deployed. The wafers are scheduled for release in February 2023. The third Buck converter (10 MHz) is pending deployment. Four patent proposals were submitted during this doctoral work.

Il presente lavoro e’ stato svolto in cooperation tra l’infineon e l’Universita’ Milano Bicocca, l’obbiettivo e’ sviluppare il cuore di un convertitore DC-DC Buck Converter ad alta frequenza di commutazione. I convertitori a commutazione offrono un modo semplice ed efficiente per alimentare carichi elettronici. Inoltre, gli alimentatori DC-DC consentono di soddisfare efficacemente molti requisiti di sicurezza delle automobili moderne. Ad esempio è assolutamente necessario che le luci di emergenza, i fari e le luci dei freni mantengano la loro funzionalità in tutte le condizioni, soprattutto durante l'avviamento a freddo, quando la tensione della batteria raggiunge valori molto bassi (anche 4V). Ma in certe condizioni esperimentano tensioni anche superiori ai 30V. Gli alimentatori DC-DC ben si adattano ad ampie e repentine variazioni della tensione di alimentazione, inoltre alla loro relativa semplicità uniscono un’alta efficienza, valori superiori al 90%. Aumentando la frequenza di commutazione si riducono linearmente le dimensioni dei componenti reattivi, permettendo schede PCB più piccole e conseguentemente costi ridotti. Le tecnologie BCD consentono di integrare su un singolo chip (SOC - System On Chip) transistor di potenza, logica di controllo e diagnostica. In questa ricerca sono stati sviluppati tre convertitori Buck che lavorano a tre diverse frequenze 1MHz, 4MHz e 10MHz con una corrente di uscita di 3A. Tra i Buck converter disponibili sul mercato solo quelli più performanti hanno frequenze di commutazione di 2,0-2,5 MHz e correnti nel carico di 2-2,5 A. Poiché l'obiettivo di 10MHz con una corrente di carico di 3A è molto aggressivo, è stata adottata un'architettura del convertitore Buck che minimizza il tempo di transizione dei segnali elettrici ed è stato necessario sviluppare una nuova topologia di driver molto più veloce e potente delle soluzioni adottate finora (patent pending). Al momento in cui scriviamo, i dispositivi da 1 MHz e 4 MHz sono in fase di diffusione. L'uscita dei wafer è prevista per febbraio 2023. Il terzo convertitore Buck (10 MHz) e’ in attesa di diffusione. Durante questo lavoro di dottorato sono state presentate quattro proposte di brevetto.

(2023). High Frequency Buck Converter for Automotive Current Source Applications. (Tesi di dottorato, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2023).

High Frequency Buck Converter for Automotive Current Source Applications

PIDUTTI, ALBINO
2023

Abstract

This work was carried out in cooperation between Infineon and the University of Milan Bicocca, the aim being to develop the core of a DC-DC Buck Converter with a high switching frequency. Switching converters offer a simple and efficient way to power electronic loads. In addition, DC-DC power supplies make it possible to effectively meet many safety requirements of modern automobiles. For example, it is absolutely necessary that emergency lights, headlights and brake lights maintain their functionality under all conditions, especially during cold starting, when the battery voltage reaches very low values (even 4V). But under certain conditions they experience voltages even above 30V. DC-DC power supplies are well suited to large and sudden variations in supply voltage, and in addition to their relative simplicity they combine high efficiency, values of over 90%. Increasing the switching frequency reduces the size of reactive components linearly, allowing smaller PCBs and consequently lower costs. BCD technologies allow power transistors, control logic and diagnostics to be integrated on a single chip (SOC - System On Chip). In this research, three Buck converters were developed that operate at three different frequencies 1MHz, 4MHz and 10MHz with an output current of 3A. Of the buck converters available on the market, only the best performing ones have switching frequencies of 2.0-2.5MHz and load currents of 2-2.5A. Since the target of 10MHz with a load current of 3A is very aggressive, a Buck converter architecture was adopted that minimises the transition time of electrical signals, and a new driver topology had to be developed that is much faster and more powerful than the solutions adopted so far (patent pending). At the time of writing, 1 MHz and 4 MHz devices are being deployed. The wafers are scheduled for release in February 2023. The third Buck converter (10 MHz) is pending deployment. Four patent proposals were submitted during this doctoral work.
BASCHIROTTO, ANDREA
DEL CROCE, PAOLO
Convertitore Buck; Alta frequenza; DCDC; Sorgente di corrente; Tecnologia BCD
Buck Converter; High Frequency; DCDC; Current Source; BCD technology
ING-INF/01 - ELETTRONICA
English
28-feb-2023
FISICA E ASTRONOMIA
35
2021/2022
open
(2023). High Frequency Buck Converter for Automotive Current Source Applications. (Tesi di dottorato, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2023).
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
phd_unimib_854432.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Tesi_finale_Pidutti
Tipologia di allegato: Doctoral thesis
Dimensione 9.81 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
9.81 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/404716
Citazioni
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
Social impact