Analysis of Parameter Effects on the Small-Signal Dynamics of Buck Converters with Average Current Mode Control

In DC-DC Buck converters with average current mode control, the current loop compensator provides additional design freedom to enhance the converter current loop performance. On the other hand, the current loop circuit elements append substantial amount of complexity to not only the inner current loop but also the outer voltage loop, which makes it demanding to quantify circuit and operating parameter effects on the small-signal dynamics of such converters. Despite the difficulty, it is shown in this paper that parameter effects can be analyzed satisfactorily by using an existing small-signal model in conjunction with a newly proposed simplified alternative. As a result of the study, new insight into average current mode control is uncovered and discussed quantitatively. Measurable experimental results on a prototype averaged-current-mode-controlled Buck converter are provided to facilitate the analytical study with good correlation.