Sergio Lecce

Mixed-signal PI controller in current-mode DC-DC buck converter for automotive applications

This paper proposes a fully-integrated solution for the PI compensation circuits in current-mode DC-DC converters used in automotive applications. In such applications, the switching frequencies are low and hence conventional PI compensation circuits employ large capacitors. The proposed analog/mixed-signal PI comprises an analog proportional amplifier and a digital integrator. The analog proportional amplifier provides the required response time and maintains system stability. The digital integrator block is used to eliminate the output voltage steady-state error. Simulink is used to model the proposed DC-DC buck converter on the system level. The proposed system is verified by full system level simulation. The digital part is synthesized with HDL coder and laid-out using 0.35 μm CMOS technology. The estimated silicon area of the proposed solution is about 0.1 mm2. This result highlights the simplicity and the capacity for integration of the proposed control loop along with its potential for seamless implementation into pre-existing solutions with minor modifications.