
AN-19
A
6/96
16
PI-1841-042996
IP
ID
ID
II
IP
II
IP
II
IP
II
tON
tON
(a)
Discontinuous
Continuous
(b)
Figure 19. Comparison of Primary Current Waveforms for (a)
 Discontinuous, and (b) Continuous Mode Operation.
Continuous-mode Operation
Operating Parameters:
 K
RP
 = 0.4
 V
MIN
= Minimum  DC bus voltage  = 90 VDC
 D
MAX
 = Duty cycle at V
MIN
 =  0.6
 P
O
 η
 = efficiency = 80%
The initial conditions are the same as before, only the K
 is now
0.4, denoting highly continuous operation. With K
RP
 = 0.4, the
new value for I
P
 is:
I
A
P
=
×
×
×
=
30
2
2
.
0.
0 8
90
0 6
0 87
.
.
The new value of I
RMS
 is:
I
A
RMS
=
×
×
=
0 87
.
0 6
.
0 4
3
0 4 1
.
0 54
.
2
.
The peak current for the continuous mode of operation is 63%
of the peak current for the discontinuous mode. The RMS
current  for continuous operation is  87% of the RMS current for
the discontinuous case,  resulting in  24% less switch dissipation
for a given 
TOPSwitch
.  Continuous mode operation could
allow the use of a smaller 
TOPSwitch
 for the same output
power, or allow the 
TOPSwitch
 to run with lower losses. For a
continuous design, the AC component of the primary current is
lower than for a discontinuous design, reducing skin effect and
core losses in the transformer.
References
1 Jack V. Stegenga, “There’s More to Measuring Power Than
Calculating an E x I Product”, EDN, October 5, 1979, pp.
129-132
2 Earle Dilatush, “Electronic Wattmeters Fit All Needs,
Measurement Spans, and Pocketbooks”, EDN, May 5, 1979,
pp. 59-68
3 Power Integrations, Power Integrated Circuit Data Book
4 Technical Information 042, Using very fast recovery diodes
on SMPS, Philips Components ,1978  (Ordering Code 9399
450 34201)
5 Application Information 472, C. van Velthooven, Properties
of DC-to-DC converters for switched-mode power supplies,
Philips Components, 1975  (Ordering Code 9399 324 47201)
6 Col. William McLyman, Transformer and Inductor Design
Handbook, New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1978
7 Col. William McLyman, Magnetic Core Selection for
Transformers and Inductors, New York, Marcel Dekker,
Inc., 1982
8 Abraham I. Pressman, Switching Power Supply Design (2nd
ed.), New York, McGraw-Hill, Inc.,1991
9 Philips Semiconductors, Power Semiconductor Applications,
1991, (Ordering Code 9398 651 40011)
10 Philips Components, Ferroxcube Magnetic Design Manual,
Bulletin 550, 1971
11 Ferdinand C. Geerlings, “SMPS Power Inductor and
Transformer Design, Part 1’, Powerconversion International,
November/December 1979, pp. 45-52
12 Ferdinand C. Geerlings, “SMPS Power Inductor Design and
Transformer Design, Part 2”, “International, January/
February 1980, pp. 33-40
13 Brian Huffman, “Build Reliable Power Supplies by Limiting
Capacitor Dissipation”, EDN, March 31, 1993, pp. 93-98