UCC38050EVM

The UCC38050EVM is an evaluation module (EVM) designed to quickly and easily evaluate the performance of the Texas Instruments UCC38050 Multi-Mode Buck controller. This device is a digital, or switching, voltage regulator. The UCC38050 is optimized for multi-mode buck converters by having a fixed frequency current mode architecture that supports continuous conduction mode (CCM), discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) and a third mode of operation known as frequency jump discontinuous mode (FJDM). The UCC38050EVM also offers two different output options for single output or dual output voltage supplies.

The UCC38050EVM evaluation board provides a quick and easy solution for the evaluation and testing of the UCC38050 device for its intended purpose. The EVM consists of the UCC38050 device, feedback resistors, coupling capacitors, PWM input resistors, and several external components used to configure the board for either single output or dual output. The user manual provides diagrams and test connection settings for different modes of operation (CCM, DCM, and FJDM). Also user may connect various types of load (resistive, capacitive, inductive) and also measure directly the output voltage.

The UCC38050EVM is suitable for wide applications such as energy saving lamps, LED lighting, power factor correction (PFC), DC/DC converters, and off-line power supplies. In addition, the UCC38050EVM has certain advantages such as low cost, simple architecture, wide input voltage range, and high efficiency.

The working principle of the UCC38050EVM is based on a buck converter, which ramps the inductor current (IL) when conducting and dumps the stored energy in the inductor into the output of the converter through a diode (D1). The output is controlled by a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal, determined by the control loop. The control loop consists of a pair of voltage feedback resistors (R1 and R2) connected to the output, and a voltage comparator (U3). The error amplifier (U2) compares the reference voltage (VREF) to the divided output voltage (VOUT) and the output voltage set point. If the voltage on the non-inverting input of the op-amp U2 is higher than the voltage on the inverting input, U2 will cause the output transistor (Q1) to turn off. If the voltage on the non-inverting input of U2 is lower than the voltage on inverting input, U2 will cause the output transistor to turn on. This process is repeated at a frequency of typically 50KHz.

In conclusion, UCC38050EVM is an evaluation module which is designed for the evaluation and testing of a Texas Instruments UCC38050 Multi-Mode Buck controller. UCC38050EVM is suitable for wide applications such as energy saving lamps, LED lighting, power factor correction (PFC), DC/DC converters, and off-line power supplies. The working principle of the UCC38050EVM is based on the buck converter. UCC38050EVM offers advantages such as low cost, simple architecture, wide input voltage range, and high efficiency. As a result, the UCC38050EVM is a versatile and powerful evaluation module to help engineers in quickly and easily evaluating the performance of the UCC38050 Multi-Mode Buck controller.