Have you tried digital power control?

HI Alistair,

I've played with some of the reference implementations the Microchip has produced for their DSPIC33FJ16GS504-I/MLDSPIC33FJ16GS504-I/ML and 502 products. The algorithms used in the implementations is a digital PID loop and in my experience they work very well. Out of the box they aren't optimized for transient response but they are functional.

I very much like the idea of digital control, because it offers the programmer a great deal of flexibility. For example at light loads switching power supplies cross the boundary from continous conduction to discontinous conduction modes. One could program a different set of compensation variables depending on the load so that the power supply is always optimally compensated.

The greatest advantage in my opinion is the ability easily adjust the compensator parameters through software, instead of having to swap resistors and capacitors in the compensation loop.You can adjust for various voltage and current output combinations all in software, which makes prototyping a snap.

I presume your experience will also be positive and with some tweaking you can ring alot of performance out of power supply designs.

hth,

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

Cadsoft Computer

HI Alistair,

I've played with some of the reference implementations the Microchip has produced for their DSPIC33FJ16GS504-I/MLDSPIC33FJ16GS504-I/ML and 502 products. The algorithms used in the implementations is a digital PID loop and in my experience they work very well. Out of the box they aren't optimized for transient response but they are functional.

I very much like the idea of digital control, because it offers the programmer a great deal of flexibility. For example at light loads switching power supplies cross the boundary from continous conduction to discontinous conduction modes. One could program a different set of compensation variables depending on the load so that the power supply is always optimally compensated.

The greatest advantage in my opinion is the ability easily adjust the compensator parameters through software, instead of having to swap resistors and capacitors in the compensation loop.You can adjust for various voltage and current output combinations all in software, which makes prototyping a snap.

I presume your experience will also be positive and with some tweaking you can ring alot of performance out of power supply designs.

hth,

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

Cadsoft Computer