Development of a laboratory course in power electronic control circuitry based on a PWM buck controller

Abstract

Due to the constraints on time and resources within the typical electrical engineering curriculum, it is difficult for students to obtain Integrated Circuit design experience prior to entering industry. This project establishes the foundation for a new laboratory course in power electronics and analog circuit design. There is an introduction to power electronics, particularly the buck converter, and several basic analog circuit building blocks are introduced. A process consisting of circuit design, simulation, construction, and evaluation is developed to provide students with an introduction to Integrated Circuit design. A peak current mode PWM controller for a buck converter is developed to illustrate the fundamental power electronic and analog circuit concepts that are presented.