An active clamp circuit for voltage regulation module (VRM) applications

Author

Wu, Albert M. ; Sanders, Seth R.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Comput. Sci., California Univ., Berkeley, CA, USA

Volume

16

Issue

5

fYear

2001

fDate

9/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

623

Lastpage

634

Abstract

This paper discusses the design, fabrication, and testing of a CMOS active clamp circuit, The active clamp is a linear voltage regulator, with a voltage deadband to allow for voltage ripple, that is designed to operate in parallel with a switchmode voltage regulator. Its specific function is to sink or source large transient currents to microprocessor loads, thus allowing operation with very small output capacitance. Laboratory tests on a prototype IC exhibit stable behavior with negligible overshoot with only 47 microfarads of output capacitance with loads of about nine amperes. Output impedances of 2-3 mΩ are achieved

Keywords

CMOS integrated circuits; computer power supplies; load (electric); microprocessor chips; power integrated circuits; stability; switched mode power supplies; voltage regulators; 2 to 3 mohm; 47 muF; CMOS active clamp circuit; design; fabrication; large transient currents; microprocessor loads; negligible overshoot; small output capacitance; stable behavior; switchmode voltage regulator; testing; voltage deadband; voltage regulation module; voltage ripple; Capacitance; Circuit testing; Clamps; Fabrication; Integrated circuit testing; Laboratories; Microprocessors; Regulators; Switching circuits; Voltage control;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8993

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/63.949495

Filename

949495