
AN731
Vishay Siliconix
Document Number: 71128
28-Jan-00
www.vishay.com FaxBack 408-970-5600
1
Simple Solution for Dynamically Programming the
Output Voltage of DC-DC Converters
Figure 1 shows a typical dc-to-dc converter configuration. As in
many PWM controllers, the non-inverting input of the voltage
feedback error amplifier is internally connected to the
reference voltage, V
r
. The output voltage of the converter is set
by a resistor divider network R1 and R2. This configuration
enables a fixed output voltage that is equal to or greater than
the reference voltage. But in many power conversion designs,
it is useful to vary the output to a value lower than the reference
voltage and to dynamically adjust the output voltage. The
op-amp circuit shown in Figure 3 gives designers a simple way
to do this. Scaling the output voltage with respect to a control
voltage V
C
is totally flexible. This application note describes
how to use this simple solution and provides a step-by-step
design procedure to assist designers in calculating the specific
parameters required by their circuits.
Reference voltage, V
r
Control voltage: V
C
= V
C1
to V
C2
Output voltage: V
O
= V
O1
at V
C
= V
C1
, V
O
= V
O2
at V
C
= V
C2
,
and V
O
is linear for any value of V
C
in its range.
These design requirements are shown in Figure 2. The output
voltage is a linear function with respect to the control voltage.
The function crosses two end points A = (V
C1
, V
O1
) and B =
(V
C2
, V
O2
).
R1
Power Stage
PWM
V
OUT
R2
–
+
FB
V
r
V
IN
PWM Controller
EA
–
+
B
V
r2
LM358
V
X
R3
R4
V
C
A
Op-Amp Circuit
FIGURE 1.
Typical DC/DC Converter Configuration
R1
Power Stage
PWM
V
OUT
R2
–
+
FB
V
r
V
IN
PWM Controller
EA
FIGURE 2.
Output Voltage vs Control Voltage Requirement
V
O
(V)
B (V
C2
, V
O2
)
V
C
(V)
A (V
C1
, V
O1
)
FIGURE 3.
Op-Amp Circuit Offers Programmable Output Function