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Article: Diode-turn-on-time-induced failures in switching regulators: never have so many had so much trouble with so few terminals.(design feature)
- Article from:
- EDN Asia
- Article date:
- April 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Reed Business Information, Inc. (US). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Most circuit designers are familiar with diode dynamic characteristics, such as charge storage, voltage-dependent capacitance, and reverse recovery time. Manufacturers less commonly acknowledge and specify diode forward turn-on time. This parameter describes the time required for a diode to turn on and clamp at its forward-voltage drop. Historically, this extremely short time, measured in nanoseconds, has been so small that user and vendor alike have essentially ignored it. They rarely discuss and almost never specify it. Recently, switching-regulator clock rate and transition time have become faster, making diode-turn-on time a critical issue. The industry has mandated ...