Thesingle-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC) is a type ofDC/DC converter that allows the electrical potential (voltage) at its output to be greater than, less than, or equal to that at its input. The output of the SEPIC is controlled by theduty cycle of theelectronic switch (S1).
A SEPIC is essentially aboost converter followed by an invertedbuck–boost converter. While similar to a traditional buck–boost converter, it has a few advantages. It has a non-inverted output (the output has the sameelectrical polarity as the input). Its use of a seriescapacitor to couple energy from the input to the output allows the circuit to respond more gracefully to a short-circuit output. And it is capable of true shutdown: when the switch S1 is turned off enough, the output (V0) drops to 0 V, following a fairly hefty transient dump of charge.[1]
SEPICs are useful in applications in which a battery voltage can be above and below that of the regulator's intended output. For example, a singlelithium ion battery typically discharges from 4.2 volts to 3 volts; if other components require 3.3 volts, then the SEPIC would be effective.
Theschematic diagram for a basic SEPIC is shown in Figure 1. As with otherswitched mode power supplies (specificallyDC-to-DC converters), the SEPIC exchanges energy between thecapacitors andinductors in order toconvert from one voltage to another. The amount of energy exchanged is controlled by switch S1, which is typically a transistor such as aMOSFET. MOSFETs offer much higher input impedance and lowervoltage drop thanbipolar junction transistors (BJTs), and do not require biasing resistors as MOSFET switching is controlled by differences in voltage rather than a current, as with BJTs.
A SEPIC is said to be in continuous-conduction mode ("continuous mode") if thecurrents through inductors L1 and L2 never fall to zero during an operating cycle. During a SEPIC'ssteady-state operation, the average voltage across capacitor C1 (VC1) is equal to the input voltage (Vin). Because capacitor C1 blocksdirect current (DC), the average current through it (IC1) is zero, making inductor L2 the only source of DC load current. Therefore, the average current through inductor L2 (IL2) is the same as the average load current and hence independent of the input voltage.
Looking at average voltages, the following can be written:
Because the average voltage ofVC1 equalsVIN, thereforeVL1 = −VL2. For this reason, the two inductors can be wound on thesame core, which begins to resemble aflyback converter, the most basic of the transformer-isolatedswitched-mode power supply topologies. Since the voltages are the same in magnitude, their effects on the mutual inductance will be zero, assuming the polarity of the windings is correct. Also, since the voltages are the same in magnitude, the ripple currents from the two inductors will be equal in magnitude.
The average currents can be summed as follows (average capacitor currents must be zero):
When switch S1 is turned on, currentIL1 increases and the currentIL2 goes more negative. (Mathematically, it decreases due to arrow direction.) The energy to increase the currentIL1 comes from the input source. Since S1 is a short while closed, and the instantaneous voltageVL1 is approximatelyVIN, the voltageVL2 is approximately −VC1. Therefore, D1 is opened and the capacitor C1 supplies the energy to increase the magnitude of the current inIL2 and thus increase the energy stored in L2. IL is supplied by C2. The easiest way to visualize this is to consider the bias voltages of the circuit in a DC state, then close S1.
When switch S1 is turned off, the currentIC1 becomes the same as the currentIL1, since inductors do not allow instantaneous changes in current. The currentIL2 will continue in the negative direction, in fact it never reverses direction. It can be seen from the diagram that a negativeIL2 will add to the currentIL1 to increase the current delivered to the load. UsingKirchhoff's current law, it can be shown thatID1 =IC1 -IL2. It can then be concluded, that while S1 is off, power is delivered to the load from both L2 and L1. C1, however is being charged by L1 during this off cycle (as C2 by L1 and L2), and will in turn recharge L2 during the following on cycle.
Because the potential (voltage) across capacitor C1 may reverse direction every cycle, a non-polarized capacitor should be used. However, a polarized tantalum or electrolytic capacitor may be used in some cases,[2] because the potential (voltage) across capacitor C1 will not change unless the switch is closed long enough for a half cycle of resonance with inductor L2, and by this time the current in inductor L1 could be quite large.
The capacitor CIN has no effect on the ideal circuit's analysis, but is required in actual regulator circuits to reduce the effects of parasitic inductance and internal resistance of the power supply.
The boost/buck capabilities of the SEPIC are possible because of capacitor C1 and inductor L2. Inductor L1 and switch S1 create a standardboost converter, which generates a voltage (VS1) that is higher thanVIN, whose magnitude is determined by the duty cycle of the switch S1. Since the average voltage across C1 isVIN, the output voltage (VO) isVS1 -VIN. IfVS1 is less than doubleVIN, then the output voltage will be less than the input voltage. IfVS1 is greater than doubleVIN, then the output voltage will be greater than the input voltage.
A SEPIC is said to be in discontinuous-conduction mode or discontinuous mode if thecurrent through either of inductors L1 or L2 is allowed to fall to zero during an operating cycle.
The voltage drop and switching time of diode D1 is critical to a SEPIC's reliability and efficiency. The diode's switching time needs to be extremely fast in order to not generate high voltage spikes across the inductors, which could cause damage to components. Fastconventional diodes orSchottky diodes may be used.
The resistances in the inductors and the capacitors can also have large effects on the converter efficiency and output ripple. Inductors with lower series resistance allow less energy to be dissipated as heat, resulting in greater efficiency (a larger portion of the input power being transferred to the load). Capacitors with low equivalent series resistance (ESR) should also be used for C1 and C2 to minimize ripple and prevent heat build-up, especially in C1 where the current is changing direction frequently.
