A Comparator-Less Buck Converter with Fast Transient Response Using a Reactive Ramp Generator

Young-Kyu Kim, Chung-Hee Jang, Dong-Hyun Shin and Kwang-Hyun Baek ()
Additional contact information
Young-Kyu Kim: Department of Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
Chung-Hee Jang: Department of Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
Dong-Hyun Shin: Department of Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
Kwang-Hyun Baek: Department of Intelligent Semiconductor Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: This paper introduces a voltage-mode DC-DC buck converter designed to address the challenges of high-frequency operation. The proposed comparator-less Reactive Ramp Generator (RRG) topology mitigates the issues associated with comparator delays, achieving a fast load transient response. By eliminating all comparators from the buck converter’s control circuit, we prevent potential delay-induced malfunctions, thereby enhancing overall operational reliability. The rapid response of the RRG, enabled by a short feedback loop, allows for swift output voltage regulation during load transients. Replacing comparators in the PWM controller with inverters effectively removes delay issues without adding complexity. Since the proposed design retains the conventional voltage-mode transfer function, standard type-3 compensation is readily applicable. Operating with a 3.3 V input, the buck converter provides an output range from 0.65 V to 3.0 V, achieving a settling time of 0.802 µs for load changes from 200 mA to 1 A, and 1.27 µs for load changes from 1 A to 200 mA. The proposed architecture achieves a peak efficiency of 92.78% at 2.4 V and 600 mA.

Keywords: buck converter; comparator delay; dc-dc converter; high frequency; inverter; pulse-width modulation (PWM); ramp generator; transient response; voltage-mode control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/307/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/307/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:2:p:307-:d:1565150

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().