Microsemi
Colorado Division
800 Hoyt Street, Broomfield, CO. 80020, 303-469-2161, Fax: 303-466-3775
Page 5
Copyright 2000
2003-02-05 Rev. IR
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SRM4010
40A Synchronous Rectifier Module
COLOR ADO DIVISION
T H E O R Y O F O P E R A T I O N
General Description
The SRM4010 contains two power MOSFETs that act as low
loss rectifiers. The proprietary control Ics operate these
MOSFETs as synchronous rectifiers in circuit that maximizes
efficiency and eliminates cross conduction.
The SRM4010 has an internal 5 volt linear regulator that powers
the internal control circuitry and can also provide a power source
that can be used for external control circuitry. This is especially
useful in low voltage outputs where the output is not high
enough to power the secondary-side control directly for the
output
Continuous/Heavy Load Operation
Continuous conduction is the mode of operation where there is
always current flowing in the output inductor. This is the normal
mode of operation in most forward converters in medium to high
power applications.
During the conduction period (on-time) of the primary-side
Switch (usually a MOSFET), the Catch MOSFET in the module
is off and the current is flowing from the transformer to the
output inductor, output capacitor and the load. The load current
returns though the forward MOSFET in the module to the
negative secondary terminal of the power transformer. The
transformer voltage applied to the Catch MOSFET in the
module must be below the 20V maximum rating in this mode of
operation.
Figure 6
As the primary-side switch turns off, the transformer current goes
to zero and the voltage on Pin 1 of the module falls to zero driven
by the current stored in the output inductor. In this mode, the
current is carried through the Catch MOSFET body diode
momentarily, then the MOSFET is turned on allowing reduced
forward voltage drop. The time of body diode conduction is very
short, typically less than 50 nS. The transformer voltage on Pin 2
goes positive, driven by the transformer magnetizing current.
This allows the transformer to reset, keeping volt-second balance
on the core. The exact shape of this waveform is dependent on
the details of the primary side of the power converter and whether
there is a turn-off snubber on the primary-side switch.
Since a transformer cannot support dc voltage, the area of the ON
time and the OFF time are equal. This occurs automatically. After
reset, the transformer voltage actually changes sign causing a
slight forward bias of the body diode in the forward MOSFET.
This voltage is typically –0.5 volts, however, since there is
almost no current flowing during this time, there is no significant
power loss. When the primary-side switch turns on, the internal
control circuitry turns off the Catch MOSFET slightly before the
rise of the voltage and also turns on the forward MOSFET.
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