What are the key factors for digital power to replace analog power?

Digital control can solve problems because it has better performance than analog control, is more flexible, and is easier to use in complex designs. However, the six aspects summarized below are the main factors that determine the replacement of analog power by digital power.

    (1) Transient response: The control mechanism greatly affects the transient response of the system. For example, the hysteretic controller's transient response will be very different compared to current mode. Each control mode has both advantages and disadvantages. Digital solutions allow you to seamlessly switch from one mode to another to provide optimal transient response. Although the simulation solution can provide a good point solution, but rarely enough static working conditions, so that you can achieve the point solution.

    (2) Adjustment accuracy: Generally speaking, adjustment accuracy is defined according to line voltage, load, and temperature, because each of these conditions will affect the adjustment accuracy. The digital controller can monitor these conditions and take control measures to optimize within the entire range of working conditions.

    (3) Stability: Digital control can provide better compensation than analog solutions (better call poles and zeros), so the stability control is much better. In addition, compensation can change with changing conditions, enabling the system to achieve optimal stability under a wide range of conditions. The compensation of the analog controller is fixed, while the digital control can provide adjustable or even adaptive compensation.

    (4) Failure response: The digital power controller provides a large number of failure response options. Each fault has a unique response characteristic, which can be adjusted according to user needs. Analog controllers generally only have a fixed fault response (such as power failure / intermittent / overload), and users can only choose to use it or not. Digital control can also provide a filter function to reduce the possibility of false faults.

    (5) Efficiency: Many control results will affect efficiency, including dead time, switching frequency, gate drive level, diode simulation, phase addition and phase loss. In response to these factors, the digital control algorithm provided by the current digital control is optimized over the entire range of working conditions. Therefore, at a certain operating point, you may be able to adjust the analog controller to a very high efficiency, but the digital controller can optimize all operating points.

    (6) Reliability: Reducing the number of components and reducing the operating temperature (through efficiency optimization) are two ways for digital power to improve system reliability. In addition, flexible fault response and the ability to detect small changes in component parameters can significantly reduce downtime.

    In general, for most simple designs and basic requirements, digital control may be a bit overkill. Of course, the digital power control is flexible enough to handle these simple applications, and its functions may exceed actual needs. Therefore, the digital controller is obviously a popular solution.

    In addition, digital power control generally has a higher degree of integration than analog controllers. However, the degree of integration is not enough to meet the requirements of design reuse and flexibility; however, the digital power controller is suitable for a variety of applications without the need for additional circuits. In this sense, the flexibility of this technology is much better than traditional analog technology.

If you want to know more, our website has product specifications for controller, you can go to ALLICDATA ELECTRONICS LIMITED to get more information