Here are some considerations and best
practices to optimize AEF circuit operation:
- If the EMI measurement with AEF
enabled is not performing as expected, then probe the TPSF12C1 INJ pin voltage while
the regulator is switching. Verify that the INJ voltage is not getting clipped near
the positive or negative supply rails, as mentioned in step 4 of Section 2.4.
- If the INJ voltage is getting
clipped, then increase the regulator-side Y-capacitance and/or the inject
capacitance. Then recheck loop stability using the TPSF12C1 quickstart calculator or by simulation.
- The metallic chassis structure is a
critical part of the overall filter implementation. The filter PCB typically mounts
to the chassis structure using several screw attachments, and the chassis serves to
connect the various GND nodes on the filter PCB. These nodes are not explicitly
connected with PCB copper and instead rely on the chassis to complete the electrical
connection. As such, the chassis becomes the lowest impedance return path for CM
noise current.
- When testing a power system
that includes a chassis as illustrated in Figure 3-2, CM noise can capacitively couple to the reference ground plane of the
EMI measurement setup and thus bypass a filter circuit that is not closely
referenced to the ground plane. In this case, TI recommends bonding the GND
plane of the filter EVM directly to the reference ground plane. This also
serves to minimize parasitic inductance in the GND connection to the AEF
circuit. CM noise current emanating from the power stage then gets
recirculated by the low shunt impedance of the Y-capacitors (both active and
passive), thereby preventing noise from reaching the LISN.
- Based on the amplification of the
effective Y-capacitance, AEF enables a reduction of the CM choke inductance while
maintaining the same LC corner frequency and CM attenuation characteristic. However,
a choke with reduced CM inductance and smaller size typically has a lower leakage
inductance, which is responsible for DM attenuation along with the X-capacitors.
- If the DM inductance is
significantly reduced when using smaller CM chokes, then increase the
X-capacitance or add a small discrete inductor to obtain sufficient DM
attenuation. Otherwise, a high DM noise component (relative to the CM
component) can dominate the total noise measurement, thereby concealing the
impact of AEF on CM noise mitigation.
- Typical values for the sense and
inject capacitances are 680 pF and 4.7 nF, respectively. Depending on the final
implementation in the target application, the default damping and compensation
component values installed on the EVM can require modification by the user to
achieve acceptable loop stability. Ferrite chokes are inherently more
difficult to stabilize than nanocrystalline.
- For additional context
pertaining to component selection and circuit optimization, refer to the
TPSF12C1 product data sheet and the TPSF12C1
quickstart calculator.