FPGA implementation of a digital controller for a dc-dc converter using floating point arithmetic

This paper presents the implementation of a digital controller in an FPGA for a switching power converter. The digital controller is described using a Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and uses floating point arithmetic what makes straightforward the implementation with regard to fixed-point implementations. The use of the recently approved VHDL 1076-2008 standard that includes a floating point package in this procedure shortens the design cycle. The ADVance MS mixed-signal simulation tool is used to simulate the closed loop system as a whole in order to analyze the impact of the quantization effects and loop delays in the control system performance. Finally, the digital circuit is implemented in the FPGA, and the simulations are experimentally verified.