PFC controllers reduce need for overdesign

The NCP1650 is a novel power-factor correction controller that can provide active PFC for power systems up to 3kW in a wide variety of industrial applications.

The NCP1650 is a novel power-factor correction (PFC) controller that can provide active PFC for power systems up to 3kW and is aimed at a wide variety of industrial applications including distributed power, datacommunications power supplies, rack-mounted power systems and server power supplies.

The NCP1650 is an average-current-mode controller featuring continuous or discontinuous mode operation for use with wide input and wide load ranges.

Programmable fixed-frequency operation and continuous conduction mode enable the reduction of electromagnetic interference (EMI) using a simple filter design.

Additionally, the part features a proprietary multiplier design that offers designers two advantages: reduction of total harmonic distortion and a more accurate measurement of delivered power.

"This improved measurement of power accuracy significantly lowers total system cost by reducing the need to over-design power stage components", said Andy Williams, ON Semiconductor Director of Analog Power Conversion Products.

"For example, to create a design that guarantees delivery of 1kW to the load, a designer using ON Semiconductor's NCP1650 needs only to overdesign by 127W.

The most accurate competitive device requires a 293W overdesign".

The NCP1650 offers a comprehensive set of protection features, including maximum power limiting, instantaneous current limiting and low line input protection.

In addition, an innovative comparator circuit provides fast limiting of output voltage transients.

An interactive design tool software - available online for the NCP1650 at from the ON Semiconductor website - will assist in drastically reducing the time required to design a PFC circuit.

The Excel-based tool calculates circuit component values based on customer-specified input parameters such as voltage and frequency range.

The behaviour of the circuit can then be analysed under specified line and load conditions.

The NCP1650 operates on 50/60Hz power systems over the universal AC input range of 85-265V.

The device is housed in a SOIC-16 package and priced at $1.15 per unit in 10,000 unit quantities.

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