U-141

APPLICATION NOTES
Resonant Fluorescent Lamp Converter
Provides Efficient and Compact Solution

Mark Jordan John A. O’Connor

Senior Design Engineer Applications Engineer

Unitrode Integrated Circuits

Merrimack, NH 03054

Abstract - This paper describes a zero voltage using discrete circuitry. The most common
switched (ZVS) resonant converter for driving cold implementation is a Royer oscillator modified to
cathode fluorescent lamps. Primarily intended for provide ZVS operation. While this at first
liquid crystal display (LCD) back-lighting, the circuit appears to be a good solution, and is commonly
features minimal component count and size. A used today, it suffers from several limitations.
specially designed integrated circuit provides all High voltage DC to AC conversion is only
control functions for a current fed push-pull ZVS
converter, and also contains an auxiliary pulse width
part of the display supply. The average output
modulated (PWM) controller to develop a current must be programmable for lamp
programmable supply voltage for the LCD. Analysis intensity control, and the LCD requires a
and simulation of the converter, and a complete programmable low voltage supply for contrast
circuit schematic are presented. The analysis and adjustment. This additional circuitry,
simulation results are validated by experimental implemented discretely or with multiple ICs
circuit waveforms and critical performance results in a large number of components,
parameters. significantly impacting size and reliability.
Synchronization is also preferred to eliminate
beat frequency effects such as lamp intensity
Introduction modulation, further complicating the design.
Minimizing circuit complexity and bulk are best
The proliferation of laptop and notebook achieved through integration.
computers places an ever increasing demand on
display technology. High resolution and contrast
are required to run today’s graphics based Cold Cathode Lamp Characteristics
programs, increasing the conflict between
display performance, size and efficiency. The The CCFL presents a highly nonlinear load
LCD with cold cathode fluorescent back lighting to the converter as illustrated in fig. 1. Initially
best satisfies this design requirement, however when the lamp is cold (inoperative for some
the lamp and its high voltage AC supply still finite time), the voltage to fire the lamp is
remain the major contributor to battery drain. typically more than three times higher than the
The cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) sustaining voltage. The lamp characterized in
requires 1-2 kV to fire. Sine wave drive is fig. 1 fires at 1600V and exhibits an average
preferred to minimize RF interference and sustaining voltage (Vn) of 300V. Notice that the
maximize lamp efficiency over time. Converter lamp initially exhibits a positive resistance and
efficiency and size are extremely critical. These then transitions to a negative resistance above
formidable requirements demand a highly 1mA. These characteristics dictate a high output
efficient conversion topology and maximum impedance (current source) drive to suppress the
circuit integration. negative load resistance’s effect and limit current
A zero voltage switched resonant topology during initial lamp firing. Since the ZVS
will maximize efficiency by eliminating losses converter has a low output impedance, an
associated with charging parasitic capacitances to additional “lossless” series impedance such as a
high voltages. This topology can be controlled coupling capacitor must be added.
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Fig. 1 Cold Cathode Lamp Current as a function of Voltage Fig. 3 Current Fed Push-Pull ZVS Resonant Converter
Vertical: 2mA/div. Horizontal: 200V/div.
Current is supplied to the push-pullstage by
To facilitate analysis, the equivalent CCFL a buck regulator (Q3). The control circuitry
circuit shown in figure 2 is used. Vn is the forces the average voltage across the current
average l a m p s u s t a i n i n g v o l t a g e o v e r t h e sense resistor (R8+R5) and rectifier (D2) to equal
operating range. The lamp impedance (Rn) is a a reference voltage. Adjusted R8 varies the
complex function but can be considered a fixed current and the lamp’s brightness. The non-
negative resistance at the sustaining voltage. linearity introduced by D2 is insignificant since
Stray lamp and interconnect capacitance are RS is adjusted for a particular brightness with no
lumped together as Cm. concern of the actual current level.
W i n d i n g i n d u c t a n c e , L,, a n d CR , t h e
combined effective capacitance of C7 and the
reflected secondary capacitances make up the
resonant tank. The secondary side of the
transformer exhibits a symmetrical sine wave
voltage varying from about 300V to 1500V peak.
Capacitor C6 provides ballasting and insures that
the converter is only subjected to positive
impedance loads.

Fig. 2 CCFL equivalent circuit

Waveform Analysis

ZVS Resonant Converter Topology Simulated converter voltage and current

waveforms are shown in fig. 4. At time &,, the
The current fed push-pull converter shown primary current (I1 & I2) has reached it’s peak
in fig. 3 is driven at it’s resonant frequency to value. The push-pull drain voltages (V1 & V2)
provide ZVS operation. The push-pull output have resonated to zero. The primary voltage (V3)
MOSFETS (Q1 & Q2) are alternately driven at has also resonated to zero, and through the
50% duty cycle. Commutation occurs as V1 and control circuitry commutated Q1 off and Q2 on.
V2 resonate through zero thereby insuring zero The energy stored in LR is also at it’s peak. This
voltage switching. This virtually eliminates energy is transferred from L, to the effective
switching losses associated with charging resonant capacitance (Cd during time b to t,,
MOSFET output and stray capacitance, and causing C,‘s voltage to sinusoidally increase.
reduces gate drive losses by minimizing gate
charge.

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APPLICATION NOTES U-141

Fig. 4 Converter Voltage and Current Waveforms Fig. 5 Simplified converter model

At time t,, all of the inductive energy in LR capacitance is also reflected by the square of the
has transferred to CR , resulting in zero current turns ratio (n). Reflected winding capacitance is
t h r o u g h LR and maximum voltage across C R . usually significant due to the high turns ratios
From time t, to tz, the energy transfers from CR typically employed. The buck stage operates in
back to LR , decreasing C R ’s voltage while L,‘s continuous current mode and is synchronized to
current increases. the push-pull stage.
The resonant current through LR at time t2 is Lamp current is proportional to lamp
equal and opposite to it’s value at t,,. T h e intensity, and is used as the feedback variable.
reflected load current flows during the MOSFET Buck current (I,) is the response variable, which
on time, and is observed as a slight current in turn regulates the average push-pull primary
amplitude asymmetry. The voltages at V1, V2, voltage. The coupling capacitor’s high impedance
and V3 have resonated back to zero, causing the transforms the secondary voltage to lamp
control circuitry to commutate Q2 off and Q1 on. current.
The cycle continues symmetrically during the t 2
through t 4 interval, producing fully sinusoidal
voltage and current waveforms. Control Equations

Variable Summary:
Simplified Converter Model
CR= Effective resonant tank capacitance
The converter model shown in fig. 5, which Gv= Secondary interwinding capacitance
is valid for one half cycle simplifies analysis by FL= Average lamp voltage
reflecting all impedances to the primary and IB= Average Buck output current
eliminating the transformer. The differential LR= Primary Winding Inductance
voltage developed across the push-pull stage = Transformer turns ratio
primary (V1-V2) exhibits twice the voltage k = Secondary impedance
excursion as the center-tap (V3). This reflects C7
to V3 through the turns ratio squared, resulting Fig. 6 shows the buck output stage and
in 4(C7) at V3. The secondary winding forced output voltage waveform. The output
voltage is a rectified sine wave, corresponding to
the synchronous, resonant push-pull stage input

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APPLICATION NOTES U-141

voltage. The inductor output configuration

exhibits high impedance at the resonant The peak primary voltage is also related to
frequency and averages the output voltage peak lamp current by:
throughout the cycle. The buck output voltage as
a function of time is: (2)

Setting (1) and (2) equal and solving for In (rvgJ

Where the angular frequency is: expresses lamp current as a function of duty-
cycle:

(3)

As expected from fig. 5, the lamp sustaining

voltage, V, introduces a nonlinearity.
Buck output current is related to lamp
current be equating input and output powers.
The input power is:

Fig. 6 Buck converter stage

The volts-second product across the inductor

must be zero during steady state. Setting the on
and off volt-second products equal and
integrating gives the buck’s transfer function:

The power to the load is:

For analytical purpose, 100% power transfer is

assumed:

This transfer function is identical to the familiar

DC output buck transfer function, with the 7r/2
term accounting for peak versus average output
voltage. As with the DC buck, primary voltage
varies linearly with duty-cycle.

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Fig. 7 UC3871 Application circuit
APPLICATION NOTES U-141

Although relatively large currents are circulated

through the resonant tank, the switches operate
(4)
at low current levels. This is a direct result of the
continuous resonant topology; the switches only
must handle the energy that is removed by the
Substituting (2) for V P in (4) gives the buck load and lost in parasitics. The peak switch
output current as a function of lamp current: current is:

Isw(peak) = la (9)
(5)

The UC3871
The resonant frequency is approximately: A Completely Integrated Solution

Fig. 7 shows a complete application circuit

using the UC3871 Synchronous Resonant
Fluorescent lamp and LCD driver. The IC
provides all drive, control and housekeeping
The nonlinearity introduced by Vn causes functions to implement CCFL and LCD
the resonant frequency to vary with load. At converters. The buck output voltage (transformer
very low lamp intensity the secondary voltage center-tap) provides the zero crossing and
barely crests above V,. The effective resonant synchronization s i g n a l . T h e L C D s u p p l y
capacitance, C R , is primarily the sum of C7 and modulator is also synchronized to the resonant
Cw reflected to the primary. As the secondary tank.
voltage increase above Vn, the reflected C6 value The buck modulator drives a P-channel
adds to the resonant capacitance, decreasing the MOSFET directly, and operates over a 0-100%
frequency. The frequency range is approximated duty-cycle range. The modulation range includes
by assuming C6 has negligible effect at loo%, allowing operation with minimal
minimum lamp intensity, and fully adds to CR at headroom. The LCD supply modulator also
maximum intensity. directly drives a P-channel MOSFET, but it’s
The peak resonant inductor current is the duty-cycle is limited to 95% to prevent flyback
sum of the reflected load current from (5) and supply foldback.
the resonant current:

(7)

The tank impedance is determined by setting the

resonant energy storage terms equal:

Fig. 8 UC3871 Oscillator Block Diagram

Solving for V,/I, gives the tank impedance:
The Oscillator and synchronization circuitry
are shown in fig. 8. The oscillator is designed to
synchronize over a 3:1 frequency range. In an
actual application however, the frequency range
is only about 1.5:1. A zero detect comparator
senses the primary center-tap voltage, generating

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APPLICATION NOTES U-141

a synchronization pulse when the resonant disables operation until sufficient supply voltage
waveform falls to zero. The actual threshold is is available, and a 1% voltage reference insures
0.5 volts, providing a small amount of accurate operation. Both inputs to the LCD
anticipation to offset propagation delay. supply error amplifier are uncommitted,
The synchronization pulse width is the time allowing positive or negative supply loop closure
that the 4mA current sink takes to discharge the without additional circuitry. The LCD supply
timing’ capacitor to 0.1 volts. This pulse width modulator also incorporates cycle-by-cycle
sets the LCD supply modulator minimum off current limiting for added protection.
time, and also limits the minimum linear control
range of the buck modulator. The 200µA current
source charges the capacitor to a maximum of Application Circuit Example
3 volts. A comparator blanks the zero detect
signal until the capacitor voltage exceeds 1 volt, The application circuit shown in fig.7
preventing multiple synchronization pulse resonates at approximately 50khz. This frequency
generation and setting the maximum frequency. allow a reasonable compromise between size and
If the capacitor voltage reaches 3 volts (a zero efficiency. This relatively low frequency by
detection has not occurred) an internal clock today’s standards. results from high voltage
pulse is generated to limit the minimum insulation and spacing requirements, and
frequency. practical limitations in reducing stray and
A unique protection feature incorporated in interwinding capacitance. The half wave current
the UC3871 is the Open Lamp Detect circuit. An sense signal is sensed by Error Amp 1 and
open lamp interrupts the current feedback loop averaged by integral compensation. The range
and causes very high secondary voltage. of current control is 500µA to l0mA.
Operation in this mode will usually breakdown A flyback converter generates the LCD
the transformer’s insulation, causing permanent supply, outputting -12V to -24V to bias
damage to the converter. The open lamp detect monochrome LCDs. Color displays normally
circuit, shown in fig. 9 senses the lamp current require a positive bias voltage. Since this voltage
feedback signal at the error amplifiers input, and typically must also be stepped up, a coupled
shuts down the outputs if insufficient signal is inductor flyback is normally used.
present. Soft-start circuitry limits initial turn-on Actual circuit waveforms agree with the
currents and blanks the open lamp detect signal. spice simulated waveforms in fig. 4. Distortion
caused by lamp nonlinearity is clearly visible at
the operating extremes. At more nominal levels,
the waveforms are more ideal, with only a small
amount of observable distortion.
All of the following waveforms were taken
at minimum and maximum lamp intensity to
indicate worst case conditions. Nominal
measured efficiency w a s 8 0 % . F u r t h e r
improvement is possible with lower resistance
magnetics and lower on resistance MOSFETs.
Fig. 10 shows secondary output voltage, fig 11
shows lamp voltage, and fig. 12 shows lamp
current. Notice that the lamp voltage is fairly
Fig. 9 Open Lamp Detect Circuit constant with widely varying current. A
frequency shift from about 48kHz to 57kHz is
Other features are included to minimize also observed over the lamp intensity range. The
external circuitry requirements. A logic level lamp current exhibits additional harmonics
enable pin shuts down the IC, allowing direct induced by it’s nonlinearity. Push-pull MOSFET
connection to the battery. During shut-down, the drain to source voltage is shown in fig. 13, and
IC typically draws less than 100nA. The UC3871, drain current is shown in fig. 14. The
operating from 4.5V to 20V, is compatible with transformer center-tap voltage (buck output) is
almost all battery voltages used in portable shown in fig. 15. All waveforms are sinusoidal,
computers. Under-voltage lockout circuitry exhibiting minimal harmonic content.

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APPLICATION NOTES U-141

Fig. 10 secondary output voltage Fig. 13 Push-Pull MOSFET drain to source voltage
vertical: 500V /div. Horizontal: S&div. vertical: 10V /div. Horizontal: S&div.

Fig. 11 lamp voltage Fig. 14 Push-pull MOSFET drain current

Vertical: 200V /div. Horizontal: S&div. Vertical: 200mA /div. Horizontal: S&div.

Fig. 12 Lamp current Fig. 15 Buck output voltage

Vertical: 1OmA /div. Horizontal: S~s/div. Vertical: 200mA /div. Horizontal: Sps/div.
SOOpA/div.

Summary equations have been derived, and

verified experimentally, simplifying
The current fed push-pull ZVS application circuit design and
converter efficiently develops high analysis. The UC3871 provides a complete
voltage, sinusoidal power for driving solution for high performance back-light and
cold cathode fluorescent lamps. Design LCD power supplies.
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