ML4800

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION

8

REV. 1.0.5 9/25/01

The output of the gain modulator is a current signal, in the

form of a full wave rectified sinusoid at twice the line fre-

quency. This current is applied to the virtual-ground (nega-

tive) input of the current error amplifier. In this way the gain

modulator forms the reference for the current error loop, and

ultimately controls the instantaneous current draw of the

PFC from the power line. The general form for the output of

the gain modulator is:

More exactly, the output current of the gain modulator is

given by:

where K is in units of V-1.

Note that the output current of the gain modulator is limited

to 500µA.

Current Error Amplier

The current error amplifier’s output controls the PFC duty

cycle to keep the average current through the boost inductor

a linear function of the line voltage. At the inverting input to

the current error amplifier, the output current of the gain

modulator is summed with a current which results from a

negative voltage being impressed upon the ISENSE pin. The

negative voltage on ISENSE represents the sum of all currents

flowing in the PFC circuit, and is typically derived from a

current sense resistor in series with the negative terminal of

the input bridge rectifier. In higher power applications, two

current transformers are sometimes used, one to monitor the

ID of the boost MOSFET(s) and one to monitor the IF of the

boost diode. As stated above, the inverting input of the cur-

rent error amplifier is a virtual ground. Given this fact, and

the arrangement of the duty cycle modulator polarities inter-

nal to the PFC, an increase in positive current from the gain

modulator will cause the output stage to increase its duty

cycle until the voltage on ISENSE is adequately negative to

cancel this increased current. Similarly, if the gain modula-

tor’s output decreases, the output duty cycle will decrease, to

achieve a less negative voltage on the ISENSE pin.

Cycle-By-Cycle Current Limiter

The ISENSE pin, as well as being a part of the current feed-

back loop, is a direct input to the cycle-by-cycle current

limiter for the PFC section. Should the input voltage at this

pin ever be more negative than -1V, the output of the PFC

will be disabled until the protection flip-flop is reset by the

clock pulse at the start of the next PFC power cycle.

TriFault DetectTM

To improve power supply reliability, reduce system compo-

nent count, and simplify compliance to UL 1950 safety

standards, the ML4800 includes TriFault Detect. This feature

monitors VFB (Pin 15) for certain PFC fault conditions.

In the case of a feedback path failure, the output of the PFC

could go out of safe operating limits. With such a failure,

VFB will go outside of its normal operating area. Should

VFB go too low, too high, or open, TriFault Detect senses the

error and terminates the PFC output drive.

TriFault detect is an entirely internal circuit. It requires no

external components to serve its protective function.

Overvoltage Protection

The OVP comparator serves to protect the power circuit

from being subjected to excessive voltages if the load should

suddenly change. A resistor divider from the high voltage

DC output of the PFC is fed to VFB. When the voltage on

VFB exceeds 2.75V, the PFC output driver is shut down.

The PWM section will continue to operate. The OVP

comparator has 250mV of hysteresis, and the PFC will not

restart until the voltage at VFB drops below 2.50V. The VFB

should be set at a level where the active and passive external

power components and the ML4800 are within their safe

operating voltages, but not so low as to interfere with the

boost voltage regulation loop.

I

GAINMOD

I

AC

VEAO

×

V

RMS

2

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− 1V

×

=

(1)

I

GAINMOD

K

VEAO

0.625V

–

()

×

I

AC

×

=

Figure 1. PFC Section Block Diagram

15

VEAO

IEAO

VFB

IAC

VRMS

ISENSE

RAMP 1

OSCILLATOR

OVP

PFC ILIMIT

TRI-FAULT

2.5V

+

–

–

+

16

2

4

3

VEA

7

+

–

IEA

1

+

–

+

–

PFC OUT

12

S

R

Q

Q

S

R

Q

Q

2.75V

–1V

+

–

0.5V

1.6k

Ω

1.6k

Ω

GAIN

MODULATOR