Apr 14,2023
What is forward converter in SMPS?
A forward converter is a type of switched-mode power supply (SMPS) topology used to convert a DC input voltage into a regulated DC output voltage. It belongs to the family of "non-isolated" topologies, which means that the input and output are not electrically isolated from each other.
In a forward converter, the input voltage is first transformed using a transformer, and then rectified to produce a pulsed DC voltage. This pulsed voltage is then chopped by a switch (usually a MOSFET) at a high frequency, typically between 50 kHz to several hundred kHz, to produce a high-frequency AC signal. The AC signal is fed back to the transformer and is further transformed and rectified to produce the output voltage.
The regulation of the output voltage is achieved by controlling the duty cycle of the switch using a feedback control loop that compares the output voltage to a reference voltage. By varying the duty cycle, the amount of energy transferred from the input to the output can be adjusted, allowing the output voltage to be regulated.
The forward converter has some advantages over other SMPS topologies, such as simplicity, low cost, and high efficiency, which make it popular for low- to medium-power applications. However, it has some drawbacks, such as high output ripple, limited voltage regulation range, and complexity in designing the transformer.
