
A
7/96
AN-18
5
a factor of four.  This is especially important for low power
applications using TOP200 and TOP210 to prevent spurious
triggering of the 
TOPSwitch
 current limit by the initial current
spike generated when 
TOPSwitch
  turns on and discharges the
transformer winding capacitance.
Primary Bias Winding
The optimum placement of the primary bias winding will
depend on whether the power supply uses a primary referenced
or secondary referenced regulation scheme.  If the power supply
is regulated from the secondary side, the bias winding should be
placed between the primary and secondary, as shown in Figures
7A and 7 C.  When placed between the primary and secondary,
the bias winding acts as an EMI shield connected to the primary
return, reducing the conducted EMI generated by the power
supply.  In margin wound designs for secondary regulated
supplies, placing the primary bias winding between the primary
and secondary also minimizes the number of margins and
reinforced insulation layers in the transformer.
Primary Winding
In all the transformer construction styles depicted in Figure 7,
the primary winding (or a portion of it) is always the first or
innermost winding on the bobbin.  This keeps the mean length
of wire per turn as short as possible, reducing the primary
winding parasitic capacitance.  Also, if the primary winding is
the innermost winding on the transformer, it will be shielded by
the other transformer windings, helping to reduce noise coupling
from the primary winding to adjacent components.  The driven
end of the primary winding (the end connected to the 
TOPSwitch
drain) should be at the start of the winding.  This allows the half
of the primary winding with the largest voltage excursion to be
shielded by other windings or by the second half of the primary
winding, reducing EMI coupled from the primary side of the
transformer to other parts of the supply.  The primary winding
should be designed for two winding layers or less.  This
minimizes the primary winding capacitance and the leakage
inductance of the transformer.  Adding a layer of tape between
primary layers can reduce the primary winding capacitance by
PRIMARY FINISH LEAD
(WITH SLEEVING)
REINFORCED 
INSULATION
BASIC
INSULATION
PIN
MARGIN (4x)
PI-1799-030896
SECONDARY
PRIMARY BIAS
PRIMARY FINISH
PRIMARY START
Figure 7A.  Margin Wound Secondary Regulated Transformer.
PRIMARY FINISH LEAD
(WITH SLEEVING)
REINFORCED 
INSULATION
BASIC
INSULATION
PIN
PI-1800-030896
SECONDARY
PRIMARY BIAS
PRIMARY FINISH
PRIMARY START
MARGIN (6x)
Figure 7B.  Margin Wound Primary Regulated Transformer.
PRIMARY FINISH LEAD
(WITHOUT SLEEVING)
REINFORCED 
INSULATION
BASIC
I
PIN
PI-1801-030896
TRIPLE INSULATED 
SECONDARY
PRIMARY BIAS
PRIMARY FINISH
PRIMARY START
Figure 7C.  Triple Insulated Secondary Regulated Transformer.
PRIMARY FINISH LEAD
(WITHOUT SLEEVING)
REINFORCED 
INSULATION
BASIC
I
PIN
PI-1802-030896
TRIPLE INSULATED 
SECONDARY
PRIMARY FINISH
PRIMARY START
PRIMARY BIAS
Figure 7D.  Triple Insulated Primary Regulated Transformer.