Lighting: Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications Philips Semiconductors
Lighting: Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications Philips Semiconductors
Lighting: Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications Philips Semiconductors
Philips Semiconductors
CHAPTER 8
Lighting
575
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
577
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
The switchstart circuit has been widely adopted because Why electronic ballasts?
of its simplicity, low cost and improved efficiency when
compared with the alternative options mentioned above. Electronic ballasts have been available for well over a
Another reason is that the 230V mains voltage is sufficiently decade. Recent leaps in performance, coupled with ever
higher than the tube running voltage to allow the use of the increasing energy costs, the increased awareness of the
simple series impedance ballast in almost all cases. Where advantages they offer, the increasing environmental
this is not possible, for example in most 120V supplied awareness of the consumer, and the increased
circuits, the lamp is controlled by a quickstart circuit acceptability of the new fluorescent light sources in existing
incorporating voltage step-up. and new applications, have seen an upsurge in electronic
ballast use since the beginning of the 1990’s.
CHOKE
Replacing the most efficient low loss mains frequency
L switchstart ballast with an electronic ballast leads to
230V reduced energy consumption and improved performance.
PFC The reasons for this are detailed below.
50Hz
N
Increased light output.
If the operating frequency is increased from 50Hz to above
the audible limit of 20kHz, fluorescent lamps can produce
around 10% more light for the same input power (see
STARTER
Fig. 3). Alternatively, the input power can be reduced for
Fig. 2. Conventional switchstart "magnetic" ballast the same light output.
circuit.
580
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
The output waveform of an electronic ballast will usually be output to maintain a constant level of illumination. Lights
slightly modulated by 100/120Hz "ripple". Provided this is may also be programmed to dim during intervals when
kept to a reasonable level by filtering within the ballast, the areas are not in use, for example during lunch breaks.
drawbacks associated with 100/120Hz flicker are
Electronic ballasts can incorporate feedback to detect the
eliminated.
operating conditions of the lamp(s) so that failed lamps can
be switched off to avoid annoying flicker and possible
Audible noise eliminated. ballast damage. They can also incorporate regulation,
Since electronic ballasts operate above the audible range, whereby a constant light output is maintained over a range
they do not suffer from the audible noise problems that can of input voltages. Operation can be either from AC or DC
occur with mains frequency magnetic ballasts. The familiar supplies for emergency lighting applications.
buzzing noise is caused by vibrations in the laminations
and coil of the choke. This can then excite vibrations in the Compact and light weight.
steel body of the fitting which effectively amplifies the Owing to the high frequency of operation, the magnetic
original noise. components in an electronic ballast are compact and
lightweight with cores of ferrite material, whereas at mains
Lower ballast power. frequency the ballast choke must be larger and heavier with
bulkier copper windings and a core of laminated steel.
An electronic ballast will consume less power and therefore
dissipate less heat than a mains frequency magnetic The shape and geometry of a mains frequency choke is
ballast. For example, for two 1500mm 58W energy-saving determined by magnetic efficiency requirements, whereas
lamps, the typical ballast power dissipations might be 13W the circuitry within an electronic ballast can be arranged to
per ballast for two 50Hz magnetic ballasts compared with produce a very slim final package. This permits new levels
9W for a single electronic ballast driving two lamps. of slimness and compactness for the final ballast.
581
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
EMI BOOST DC DC - AC
SUPPLY RECTIFIER BALLAST TO LAMP
FILTER PFC FILTER INVERTER
OPTIONAL
POWER FACTOR
CIRCUIT
OPTIONAL
DIMMING
CONTROL
+
RECTIFIER BOOST CONVERTER DC FILTER
582
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
The push pull inverter. The transistor base drives are derived from auxiliary
windings on the transformer which provide the necessary
A push pull circuit can appear as a voltage fed inverter with
positive feedback. An advantage with this
series resonant load or a current fed inverter with parallel
transformer-based arrangement is the isolation it provides
resonant load. In both cases a centre tapped transformer
between the lamp and the mains supply.
is required.
Voltage fed push pull inverter. Current fed parallel resonant push pull
Figure 7 shows a simplified circuit. This example provides inverter.
isolation of the output from the mains supply with a separate The main difference with this circuit over the previous one
secondary winding. is that the D.C. rail voltage is fed to the transformer centre
In the voltage fed arrangement, the D.C. rail voltage is fed tap via an inductor which acts as a current source. A
straight to the centre tap. Both ends of the winding are capacitor C across the transformer primary forms a parallel
connected to zero volts via transistors, which are alternately resonant load in combination with the primary winding
switched on during operation. The alternate passage of inductance (see Fig. 8). Instead of a square wave as in the
current in opposite directions through each half of the voltage fed circuit, a full wave rectified sinewave appears
primary winding induces a square wave voltage across the at the centre tap whose theoretical peak amplitude is π/2 x
secondary. VDC. Twice this amplitude appears across the whole winding
for the same reason as in the voltage fed push pull circuit.
Since the full D.C. rail voltage appears across half the
Therefore the maximum theoretical VCE = π x VDC.
primary winding at a time, twice this voltage will appear
across the whole primary winding. This means that during
each transistor’s "off" period, it will experience a maximum L
TO
DRIVE
L
+ T1 CIRCUIT
Vdc
T1
DRIVE
-
CIRCUIT C
T1
T1 DRIVE
- C CIRCUIT
T1
DRIVE
Fig. 7. Voltage fed push pull ballast with isolated Since each successive half sine produces current flow in
output. opposite directions through the two half windings, a
sinewave is produced across the whole winding whose
When power is first applied, the secondary voltage should peak to peak amplitude is 2π x VDC.
not be high enough to cold start the lamp, which should
remain in the high impedance state. The only current The additional cost of the inductor might be regarded as a
flowing will be through the series resonant combination of disadvantage. However, the beauty of current fed parallel
L & C, and both lamp cathodes. This preheat current will resonant circuits, of which this is one example, is that they
be enough to initiate electron emission from the cathodes naturally produce a sinusoidal output, so selection of the
which will in turn lower the lamp striking voltage to a point ballast components for their harmonic filtering properties is
where the voltage across the capacitor can then start the no longer so important. This allows the use of a series
lamp (usually within a second). ballast capacitor instead of the series L normally required.
After starting, the lamp voltage will drop and the current will Another benefit with this type of circuit is its ability to
be limited and filtered by L. C will help to filter out residual continue normal operation with varying or open circuit
harmonic frequencies and its current will fall to negligible loads. This permits independent operation of
proportions at the fundamental operating frequency. The parallel-connected lamps across the secondary, each with
resulting lamp current will closely resemble a sinewave. its own ballast capacitor, where failure of one or more lamps
583
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
will not affect the operation of the remaining lamps. This is As each transistor conducts in turn, the current fed resonant
unlike series-connected lamps, where the failure of one load causes alternate polarity half sinewaves with peak
tube will disable all the tubes on that ballast. voltages of π/2 x VDC to appear at one end of the transformer
primary. Each half sine appears across the non-conducting
Sinusoidal output topologies are very popular in the self transistor. Therefore the maximum theoretical VCE = π/2 x
oscillating low cost ballast market because of these VDC.
advantages and the circuit simplicity.
The sum of these half sines produces a full sinewave with
a peak to peak amplitude of π x VDC. However, as the return
The half bridge inverter. current flows to the A.C. half rail created by the half bridge
capacitors, only half this voltage appears across the
The half bridge topology contains two npn transistors primary, resulting in a peak to peak primary voltage of π/2
connected in series across the D.C. rail with the load x VDC.
connected to their mid point. The half bridge is so called
because the return path for the load current is provided by Voltage fed half bridge inverter.
two series-connected capacitors across the D.C. rail. (A full
bridge circuit would have transistors in these positions also, See Fig. 10. This circuit does not employ a transformer so
but this arrangement is rarely used in electronic ballasts for output isolation is not provided. Feedback to drive the
fluorescent lamps. Although the required voltage rating of transistors is now supplied from two auxiliary windings on
the transistors would be halved, this would not compensate the current transformer CT1 in the lamp current path.
for the increased cost of four power transistors instead of As this is a voltage fed circuit whose output is not naturally
two, and the extra complication of controlling the timing of sinusoidal, lamp starting, ballasting and waveform shaping
the switching of all four transistors.) are provided by the series L and parallel C as for the voltage
fed push pull circuit.
The two capacitors, which have a very low reactance and
are essentially a short circuit at the ballast operating In the voltage fed half bridge circuit, since the transistors
frequency, create a mid-point A.C. reference between the are "firmly anchored" to the supply rails without any current
D.C. rails. This blocks the D.C. offset equal to half the rail source series inductance, they will experience a maximum
voltage that would be applied to the lamp if the return path theoretical VCE equal to the D.C. rail voltage.
were merely taken to one of the rails.
+
Vdc
Current fed parallel resonant half bridge
CT1
inverter.
Figure 9 shows the simplified circuit. Transformer isolation CT1
L
is provided, and the sinusoidal output permits the use of
ballast capacitors as for the current fed push pull topology.
The series inductance L in each power supply line acts as
the current source.
CT1 C
-
+ Fig. 10. Voltage fed half bridge ballast.
Vdc L C
DRIVE
CIRCUIT
Variation on the voltage fed half bridge
T1
T1 circuit.
A variation on this circuit is shown in Fig. 11, where the two
half bridge capacitors are replaced by the single D.C.
DRIVE
CIRCUIT blocking capacitor C2. This enables the load to be returned
to the positive D.C. rail.
TO
L ADDITIONAL
T1 LAMPS The circuit operates as follows:
- On initial power-up, before the lamp has struck, C1, L and
C2 form a series resonant circuit. C2 is larger than C1 so
Fig. 9. Current fed parallel resonant half bridge ballast it looks like a short circuit compared to C1. C1 therefore
with isolated output. dominates and dictates the resonant frequency in
584
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
combination with L. A high voltage is developed across C1 especially where high voltage devices up to 1000V rating
at resonance which starts the tube. At this point the tube and above are required. Ballast manufacturers have
voltage across C1 collapses and C2 then takes over in perfected many good, reliable designs using such devices
dictating a lower running frequency in combination with L. in circuits based on the simplified topologies shown.
L
CT1 The current fed topologies require higher voltage
- transistors than the voltage fed topologies. For example,
Fig. 11. Variation on voltage fed series resonant half for the current fed half bridge topology, allowing for safety
bridge circuit. margins of around 400V for voltage spikes at start-up and
110% mains voltage, a 120V ballast would require
This circuit is the one most commonly used in the transistors with typical voltage ratings of at least 700V. The
electronically ballasted compact fluorescent lamps and it ratings for 230V mains would typically be at least 950V, and
lends itself to driven as well as self oscillating circuits. for 277V mains typical voltage ratings of at least 1100V
would be required.
Summary.
The circuit examples presented in this Publication all use The ratings for a current fed push pull topology would be
bipolar transistors, mainly for cost advantage reasons, 1000V, 1500V and 1700V respectively.
585
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
Section 8.1.1 provides an introduction to fluorescent lamps The transformer centre tap is no longer connected directly
and the circuits required to operate them for maximum life to the D.C. rail. The voltage developed across the series
and efficiency. Several simplified electronic ballast inductor L as each transistor conducts results in a positive
topologies are introduced. half sinewave at the centre tap whose average voltage is
equal to the D.C. rail voltage. A half sine instead of a
This section lists those topologies with the theoretical
rectangular pulse is produced because of the resonant
voltage demands they place on the transistors, together
nature of the load.
with a selection table of suitable Philips transistors.
Therefore Vc.t.(ave) = VDC.
a) Voltage fed push pull inverter.
The peak value of this waveform can be shown by
L
integration to be π/2 x its average value.
+ T1
Vdc Therefore Vc.t.(pk) = π/2 x Vc.t.(ave) = π/2 x VDC.
DRIVE Each successive half sine is conducted through alternate
CIRCUIT halves of the primary, so twice this amplitude appears
across the full primary. This gives a peak voltage of twice
T1
the peak centre tap voltage appearing across the
- C
non-conducting transistor (as for the voltage fed push pull
T1
circuit), so:
VCE(pk) = π x VDC.
DRIVE
CIRCUIT
587
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
This voltage appears across the non-conducting transistor, As the transistors are now connected directly to the D.C.
so: rails, their alternate switching will switch the transformer
primary between the D.C. rails only.
VCE(pk) = π/2 x VDC.
Therefore V(max) = VDC.
d) Voltage fed half bridge inverter.
As this voltage appears across the non-conducting
transistor:
+
Vdc
VCE(max) = VDC.
CT1
Transistor selection guide.
CT1
L
This guide lists suitable transistors with maximum
recommended output powers for the different topologies. It
assumes that the ballast’s D.C. rail is obtained from rectified
and smoothed A.C. mains. If boost power factor correction
is included which boosts the D.C. rail voltage to around
CT1 C
400V irrespective of mains voltage, the suggested
-
transistors for 277V mains should be selected.
588
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
This section investigates the transistor base drive circuit in voltage would need to be such that the transistor ’sees’ a
a current fed half bridge ballast. (Fig. 1 shows the simplified turn-off voltage of around minus 5V. An approximation to
circuit.) The effect on switching waveforms of progressing this drive voltage could be arrived at empirically by
from a simple base drive circuit to the optimised solution increasing the number of auxiliary turns one by one. Any
will be shown. final voltage adjustment, if necessary, can be achieved by
varying the base drive components.
TO
L ADDITIONAL
T1 LAMPS
- R
589
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
Ic (0.2 A/div) D2
Vce (50V/div)
c
R1 R2 b
T1 e
D1
0 0
0.5 us/div 0.5 us/div
Simple base drive. Improved base drive.
Fig. 4. High hFE. IC fall with VCE. Fig. 6. Low hFE. IC fall with VCE.
Ic (0.2 A/div)
Improved circuit. Vce (50V/div)
What is required is a means of providing enough base drive
under worst case conditions of maximum load current,
minimum supply voltage, minimum transistor gain and
minimum base drive voltage, while avoiding excessive
saturation in the opposite condition. This can be achieved
by diverting excess positive base drive current into the
collector path when the transistor is fully turned on. This
0
requirement is partly met by a Baker Clamp arrangement
as shown in Fig. 5. 0.5 us/div
When the transistor is fully conducting, VCE will be at a Improved base drive.
minimum. This will bring VC close to VB so that any excess Fig. 7. High hFE. IC fall with VCE.
base drive will then flow through anti saturation diode D2
to the collector. As a first approximation, the single resistor
R is divided equally into two and D2 taps its voltage from With regard to the base waveforms, where the simple circuit
the mid point. Figs. 6 and 7 show the resulting IC fall produces more base drive current than is necessary, as
waveforms. Considerably reduced transistor saturation is shown in Fig. 8, the improved circuit reduces this to that
evident. shown in Fig. 9.
590
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
10 us/div
Ic (0.2 A/div)
Vce (50V/div)
0
10 us/div
Ic (0.2 A/div)
0
0.5 us/div
0 Optimised base drive.
10 us/div Fig. 12. High hFE. IC fall with VCE.
Ib (0.1 A/div)
Startup circuit.
0
The half bridge circuit as described so far cannot start of
its own accord. Both transistors are off and will remain off
when power is applied until one of them is artificially turned
on to draw current through the transformer primary. This
10 us/div will then induce a voltage in the auxiliary windings which
will provide the necessary base drive to maintain self
Optimised base drive. oscillation. Startup is usually achieved using a diac such
Fig. 10. High hFE. VCE, IC and IB. as the BR100/03. The circuit is shown in Fig. 13.
591
Lighting Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
When power is first applied, oscillator start-up is achieved D4 and D5 provide reverse current protection for Q1 and
as follows: Q2.
Transistors Q1 and Q2 are initially non conducting. Resistor
R4, whose value will be several hundred kilohms, provides
a high impedance path between Q2’s collector and the + L D3
positive rail to ensure that Q2 has the full D.C. rail voltage
across it prior to start-up. D4
R1 Q1
R4
Capacitor C charges up via R1 until the breakover voltage R2 R3
of the diac D8 is reached. The diac breaks over and dumps
T1
the capacitor’s charge into the base of Q2 to turn it on. Q2 D1
D2
draws current through the transformer primary. From now D6
TO T1
on, oscillation is maintained by the voltages induced on the D8
PRIMARY
auxiliary base drive windings.
D5
Diode D1 discharges C every time Q2 turns on, thereby Q2
592
Preface Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
Acknowledgments
We are grateful for all the contributions from our colleagues within Philips and to the Application Laboratories in Eindhoven
and Hamburg.
We would also like to thank Dr.P.H.Mellor of the University of Sheffield for contributing the application note of section 3.1.5.
The authors thank Mrs.R.Hayes for her considerable help in the preparation of this book.
The authors also thank Mr.D.F.Haslam for his assistance in the formatting and printing of the manuscripts.
Contributing Authors
This book was originally prepared by the Power Semiconductor Applications Laboratory, of the Philips Semiconductors
product division, Hazel Grove:
Preface
This book was prepared by the Power Semiconductor Applications Laboratory of the Philips Semiconductors product
division, Hazel Grove. The book is intended as a guide to using power semiconductors both efficiently and reliably in power
conversion applications. It is made up of eight main chapters each of which contains a number of application notes aimed
at making it easier to select and use power semiconductors.
CHAPTER 1 forms an introduction to power semiconductors concentrating particularly on the two major power transistor
technologies, Power MOSFETs and High Voltage Bipolar Transistors.
CHAPTER 2 is devoted to Switched Mode Power Supplies. It begins with a basic description of the most commonly used
topologies and discusses the major issues surrounding the use of power semiconductors including rectifiers. Specific
design examples are given as well as a look at designing the magnetic components. The end of this chapter describes
resonant power supply technology.
CHAPTER 3 describes motion control in terms of ac, dc and stepper motor operation and control. This chapter looks only
at transistor controls, phase control using thyristors and triacs is discussed separately in chapter 6.
CHAPTER 4 looks at television and monitor applications. A description of the operation of horizontal deflection circuits is
given followed by transistor selection guides for both deflection and power supply applications. Deflection and power supply
circuit examples are also given based on circuits designed by the Product Concept and Application Laboratories (Eindhoven).
CHAPTER 5 concentrates on automotive electronics looking in detail at the requirements for the electronic switches taking
into consideration the harsh environment in which they must operate.
CHAPTER 6 reviews thyristor and triac applications from the basics of device technology and operation to the simple design
rules which should be followed to achieve maximum reliability. Specific examples are given in this chapter for a number
of the common applications.
CHAPTER 7 looks at the thermal considerations for power semiconductors in terms of power dissipation and junction
temperature limits. Part of this chapter is devoted to worked examples showing how junction temperatures can be calculated
to ensure the limits are not exceeded. Heatsink requirements and designs are also discussed in the second half of this
chapter.
CHAPTER 8 is an introduction to the use of high voltage bipolar transistors in electronic lighting ballasts. Many of the
possible topologies are described.
Contents Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
Table of Contents
General 3
Power MOSFET 17
2.2.1 Fast Recovery Epitaxial Diodes for use in High Frequency Rectification 161
2.2.2 Schottky Diodes from Philips Semiconductors .......................................... 173
2.2.3 An Introduction to Synchronous Rectifier Circuits using PowerMOS
Transistors ........................................................................................................... 179
i
Contents Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
2.3.1 Mains Input 100 W Forward Converter SMPS: MOSFET and Bipolar
Transistor Solutions featuring ETD Cores ........................................................... 187
2.3.2 Flexible, Low Cost, Self-Oscillating Power Supply using an ETD34
Two-Part Coil Former and 3C85 Ferrite .............................................................. 199
2.4.1 Improved Ferrite Materials and Core Outlines for High Frequency Power
Supplies ............................................................................................................... 207
3.1.1 Noiseless A.C. Motor Control: Introduction to a 20 kHz System ............... 245
3.1.2 The Effect of a MOSFET’s Peak to Average Current Rating on Invertor
Efficiency ............................................................................................................. 251
3.1.3 MOSFETs and FREDFETs for Motor Drive Equipment ............................. 253
3.1.4 A Designers Guide to PowerMOS Devices for Motor Control ................... 259
3.1.5 A 300V, 40A High Frequency Inverter Pole Using Paralleled FREDFET
Modules ............................................................................................................... 273
4.2.1 Application Information for the 16 kHz Black Line Picture Tubes .............. 351
4.2.2 32 kHz / 100 Hz Deflection Circuits for the 66FS Black Line Picture Tube 361
4.3.1 A 70W Full Performance TV SMPS Using The TDA8380 ......................... 379
4.3.2 A Synchronous 200W SMPS for 16 and 32 kHz TV .................................. 389
iv
Index Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
Index
Airgap, transformer core, 111, 113 Bridge circuits
Anti saturation diode, 590 see Motor Control - AC
Asynchronous, 497 Brushless motor, 301, 303
Automotive Buck-boost converter, 110
fans Buck converter, 108 - 109
see motor control Burst firing, 537
IGBT, 481, 483 Burst pulses, 564
ignition, 479, 481, 483
lamps, 435, 455 Capacitance
motor control, 425, 457, 459, 471, 475 junction, 29
resistive loads, 442 Capacitor
reverse battery, 452, 473, 479 mains dropper, 544
screen heater, 442 CENELEC, 537
seat heater, 442 Charge carriers, 133
solenoids, 469 triac commutation, 549
TOPFET, 473 Choke
Avalanche, 61 fluorescent lamp, 580
Avalanche breakdown Choppers, 285
thyristor, 490 Clamp diode, 117
Avalanche multiplication, 134 Clamp winding, 113
Commutation
Baker clamp, 138, 187, 190 diode, 164
Ballast Hi-Com triac, 551
electronic, 580 thyristor, 492
fluorescent lamp, 579 triac, 494, 523, 529
switchstart, 579 Compact fluorescent lamp, 585
Base drive, 136 Continuous mode
base inductor, 147 see Switched Mode Power Supplies
base inductor, diode assisted, 148 Continuous operation, 557
base resistor, 146 Converter (dc-dc)
drive transformer, 145 switched mode power supply, 107
drive transformer leakage inductance, 149 Cookers, 537
electronic ballast, 589 Cooling
forward converter, 187 forced, 572
power converters, 141 natural, 570
speed-up capacitor, 143 Crest factor, 529
Base inductor, 144, 147 Critical electric field, 134
Base inductor, diode assisted, 148 Cross regulation, 114, 117
Boost converter, 109 Current fed resonant inverter, 589
continuous mode, 109 Current Mode Control, 120
discontinuous mode, 109 Current tail, 138, 143
output ripple, 109
Bootstrap, 303 Damper Diodes, 345, 367
Breakback voltage forward recovery, 328, 348
diac, 492 losses, 347
Breakdown voltage, 70 outlines, 345
Breakover current picture distortion, 328, 348
diac, 492 selection guide, 345
Breakover voltage Darlington, 13
diac, 492, 592 Data Sheets
thyristor, 490 High Voltage Bipolar Transistor, 92,97,331
MOSFET, 69
i
Index Power Semiconductor Applications
Philips Semiconductors
starting, 528
Vacuum cleaner, 527
Varistor, 503
Vertical Deflection, 358, 364, 402
Voltage doubling, 122
Water heaters, 537