Pulse-Width-Modulation (PWM)

and Filter Characteristics

Experiment No. 1

Trina Ritchell R. Aquino

ECE192P/B1

February 19, 2018

Engr. Ernesto M. Vergara Jr.

Instructor
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Lab Experiment -1

Pulse – Width – Modulation (PWM) and Filter Characteristics

Objective:

This exercise shows Vo(t)=Vo, which is equal to the average of the switching-frequency input
voltage Va(t), provided the L-C resonance frequency of the low-pass filter is significantly lower
than the switching frequency fs.

Exercises:

1) Plot the input voltage Va and the output voltage Vo for the last 10 switching cycles where Vo
waveform has reached its steady state.
2) How does Vo relate to the average of Va ?
3) From the simulation window under view, look at the output file for the Fourier components of Va
and Vo. Are the averages of the two the same? How does the fundamental frequency in the input
voltage relate to its switching frequency? In this circuit, what is the ratio of the switching
frequency to the L-C resonance frequency? What is the attenuation of the fundamental-frequency
component by the filter at the switching frequency?
4) In the original schematic, change the pulse width (PW) of the input source to 6 s μ and repeat parts
1-3.

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5) In the original schematic, change the switching frequency of the input voltage to 20 kHz (keeping
the duty-cycle the same as in the original schematic). Make sure to increase the simulation time
and change the Center Frequency in the Fourier Analysis. Repeat parts 1-3
6) In the original schematic, change the pulse width (PW) of the input source to 5 s μ (50% duty-
ratio). Calculate the amplitude of the fundamental frequency component in A v and compare with
the Fourier results in the simulation.

7) Using the schematic above for the ac, plot the transfer function Vo(s) / Va(s). Does the frequency
at which the transfer-function gain is peaking coincide with the L-C resonance frequency?
8) Calculate the attenuation of the fundamental-frequency component by the filter. How does it
compare with that obtained by the Fourier analysis in part 3.

Reference: Chapter 1

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Simulation Results

Figure 1. Input and Output Waveforms (PW=7.5us)

2. Based from the simulated result, Vo is equal to the average of Va. The output voltage is
equal to the product of duty cycle and input voltage.

𝑉𝑂 = (75%)(10 𝑉) = 7.5𝑉
In steady state, the dc (average) input to the L-C filter has no attenuation, hence the
average output voltage Vo equals the switching-cycle-average, VA, of the applied input
voltage.

3.

a. Yes, the averages of Vo and Va are the same. In the Fourier components of transient
response Vo, the dc component is 7.600000E+00 and for Va, the dc component is
7.599993E+00. Rounding off the values, Va and Vo are equal.

b. As seen on the figure below, the fundamental frequency in the input voltage (A1) is equal
to 100 Khz. The switching frequency is the reciprocal of the PER (period) which is also 100
kHz. Therefore, fundamental frequency and switching frequency are the same.

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Figure 2. FFT Waveform (PW=7.5us)

c. Switching frequency is the reciprocal of the total time of the pulse.

Switching frequency is calculated as:

1 1
𝑓𝑠 = = = 100 𝑘𝐻𝑧
𝑃𝐸𝑅 10𝑥10−6 𝑠

At Resonance,

1 1
𝑓𝑟 = = = 7117.625 𝐻𝑧
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶 2𝜋√(5𝑢𝐻 ∗ 100𝑢𝐹)

The ratio of the switching frequency to the L-C resonance frequency is

14.05.

d. There is no attenuation of the fundamental-frequency component by the filter at the

switching frequency because during steady state condition, the average output voltage
Vo equals the switching-cycle average Va of the applied input voltage.

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4. Changing the pulse width (PW) of the input source to 6μs:

Figure 3. Schematic Diagram (PW=6us)

Part 1.

Figure 4. Input and Output Waveforms (PW=6us)

As observed, when the pulse width was decreased, the average value of Va and the
output voltage Vo also decreased. They have a direct proportionality

Part 2. Based from the simulated result, Vo is equal to the average of Va. In steady state
condition, the average input (dc) to the LC filter of the provided circuit has no
attenuation, therefore the output voltage Vo equals the switching cycle average Va
of the input voltage that is applied.

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Part 3. Yes, they are the same. The Fourier components of Vo and Va has a dc component
(average) of 7.519680E+00 for Vo and 7.520010E+00 for Va. Since the difference of the
two are small, it can still be considered as equal.

a. As seen in the figure below, the fundamental frequency (A1) is 100.667 Khz and the
switching frequency is 100 kHz. Since the difference of the two are small, it can still be
considered as equal.

Figure 5. FFT Waveform (PW=76us)

b. Switching frequency is the reciprocal of the total time of the pulse.

Switching frequency is calculated as:

1 1
𝑓𝑠 = = = 100 𝑘𝐻𝑧
𝑃𝐸𝑅 10𝑥10−6 𝑠

At Resonance,

1 1
𝑓𝑟 = = = 7117.625 𝐻𝑧
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶 2𝜋√(5𝑢𝐻 ∗ 100𝑢𝐹)

The ratio of the switching frequency to the L-C resonance frequency is

14.05.

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c. There is no attenuation of the fundamental-frequency component by the filter at the

switching frequency because during steady state condition, the average output
voltage Vo equals the switching-cycle average Va of the applied input voltage.

5. Changing the switching frequency of the input voltage to 20 kHz while keeping the duty-
cycle the same as in the original schematic

Figure 6. Schematic Diagram

Part 1.

Figure 7. Input and Output Waveforms with the Input Switching Frequency equal to 20KHz
(PW=7.5us)

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Part 2. Based from the simulated result, Vo is equal to the average of Va. The output voltage
is equal to the product of duty cycle and input voltage.

𝑉𝑂 = (75%)(10 𝑉) = 7.5𝑉
In steady state, the dc (average) input to the L-C filter has no attenuation, hence the
average output voltage Vo equals the switching-cycle-average, Va, of the applied
input voltage.

Part 3.

a. Yes, they are the same. The Fourier components of Vo and Va has a dc component
(average) of 7.519680E+00 for Vo and 7.520010E+00 for Va. Since the difference of the
two are small, it can still be considered as equal.

b. The fundamental frequency and the switching frequency are equal.

c. Switching frequency is the reciprocal of the total time of the pulse.

Switching frequency is 20kHz

At Resonance,

1 1
𝑓𝑟 = = = 7117.625 𝐻𝑧
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶 2𝜋√(5𝑢𝐻 ∗ 100𝑢𝐹)

The ratio of the switching frequency to the L-C resonance frequency is

2.81.

d. There is no attenuation of the fundamental-frequency component by the filter at the

switching frequency because during steady state condition, the average output
voltage Vo equals the switching-cycle average Va of the applied input voltage.
6. Changing the pulse width (PW) of the input source to 5 s μ

Figure 8. Schematic Diagram (PW=5us)

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Figure 9. Input and Output Waveforms (PW=5us)

Figure 10. FFT Waveform (Left); Output File Result for Va (Right)

The Amplitude of the fundamental frequency component in VA (simulation) = 6.33.

Comparing it with the Fourier results in the simulation, the two showed the same values.

7.

Figure 11. Schematic Diagram (AC source)

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Figure 12. Waveform of the Transfer Function Vo (s)/VA (s) in AC analysis

Figure 13. FFT Waveform of the Transfer Function Vo (s)/VA (s) in AC analysis

Yes, it coincides with the L-C resonance frequency. The highest peak is around the
7117Hz, which is also the resonant frequency of LC filter

8. The calculated attenuation is Vin/Vout = 1/2.2 = 0.455. It has the same value with the
value obtained by the Fourier analysis in part 3.

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Conclusion

 Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is the basis for control in power electronics. It deals with

the control of the switching-cycle-averaged value of the output voltage which is

attained by adjusting or modulating the pulse width. It also exhibits the characteristics

of filters and displays the output waveform of a PWM.

 Pulse-width modulation can take different forms wherein the frequency is constant

or variable while the duty cycle is used to control the voltage.

 Varying the pulse width affects the input and the output waveform. Greater pulse

width resulted to the output voltage is quite higher than the input voltage, and

vice-versa.

 A filter circuit is used to remove the A.C components of the rectified output but

allows the D.C components to reach the load.

 A low pass filter can eliminate the ripple voltages of an input signal.

 The switching frequency in a converter is the rate at which the switching device is

turned on and off.

 The switching frequency is the reciprocal of the PER (period)

 The average of the switching frequency input voltage is almost equal to the output
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voltage, provided that the LC resonant frequency is significantly lower than the

switching frequency.

 The relationship of the duty cycle to the output and input is that the product of

the duty cycle and input is the output, hence, Vin*Duty Cycle = Vout.

 Lowering the pulse width will result to a faster steady state of the output voltage.

 In steady state, the dc (average) input to the L-C filter has no attenuation, hence

the average output voltage Vo equals the switching-cycle-average, VA, of the

applied input voltage.

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Recommendation

 Increase the number of storage elements. The number of storage elements in the

circuit identifies the number of orders in filters wherein filters with higher order would

result to a lesser ripple.

 Lowering the pulse width will have a faster steady state in the output voltage.

 An appropriate switching frequency must be selected while keeping in mind that

a higher switching frequency results in higher switching losses in the bi-positional

switch.

 The higher the switching frequency, that is the frequency of the pulses in the Va(t)

waveform, the smaller the values needed for the low-pass L-C filter.

 Increasing the frequency decreases the ripple voltage.

 The inductor and the capacitor produce a resonance effect wherein the

impedance will cancel each other’s reactance at a certain frequency minimizing

the attenuation.