Datasheet
SLUS419C − AUGUST 1999 − REVISED NOVEMBER 2001
12
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TYPICAL APPLICATION
The UCC3850x is optimized to control a boost PFC stage operating in continuous conduction mode, followed
by a dc-to-dc converter (typically a forward topology). The dc-to-dc converter is transformer isolated and
therefore its error amplifier is located on the secondary side. For this reason the UCC3850x is configured without
an internal error amplifier for the second power stage. The externally generated error signal is fed into the VERR
pin typically through an opto coupler.
The UCC3850x can be configured for voltage-mode control or current-mode control of the second stage. The
application figure shows a typical current-mode configuration. For voltage-mode control, the ramp generated
by CT can be fed back into the ISENSE2 pin through a voltage divider.
One of the main system challenges in designing systems with a PFC front end is coordinating the turn-on and
turn-off on the dc-to-dc converter. If the dc-to-dc converter is allowed to turn on before the boost converter is
operational, it must operate at a much-reduced voltage and therefore represents a large current draw to the
boost converter. This start-up sequencing is handled internally by the UCC3850x. The UCC3850x monitors the
output voltage of the PFC converter and holds the dc-to-dc converter off until the output is within 10% of its
regulation point. Once the trip point is reached the dc-to-dc section goes through a soft start sequence for a
controlled, low stress start-up. Similarly, if the output voltage drops too low (two voltage options are available)
the dc-to-dc converter shuts down thereby preventing overstress of the converter. For the UCC38500 and
UCC38501, the dc-to-dc converter shuts down when the PFC output falls below 74% of its nominal value, while
for the UCC38502 and UCC38503, the threshold is lowered to 50%.
design example: an off-line, 100-W, power converter
The following design example shows how to implement the UCC38500 in an off-line 100-W power converter.
The system requires the converter to operate from a universal input of 85 V
RMS
to 265 V
RMS
with a 12-V, 100-W,
dc output. This design example is divided into two parts. The first part is the PFC stage design and the second
section is the dc-to-dc power stage design. The design goal of the system is to achieve an efficiency of
approximately 80%. This is accomplished by requiring the boost regulator to be designed for an efficiency of
95% and the dc-to-dc power stage to be designed for 85% efficiency. The efficiency of the boost converter is
designated by variable η1 and the efficiency of the dc-to-dc converter is designated by variable η2. Figure 9
shows the schematic of the typical application upon which this design example is based. The UCC38500 control
device is chosen for this design because of it’s self-biasing scheme and minimum input voltage requirements
of the dc-to-dc power stage.