PCMC DC-DC Converter Development Methodology by Means of dSPACE

Abstract

This work describes the development methodology of an electronic device. All the phases, starting from the definition of the specifications up to the fabrication of the device, will be explained using the evolution of a project aimed at developing a high-performance DC-DC converter for LED driver application as a use case. The project involves teams and experts from the technology department, the product development and the fabrication. It is therefore important to have an efficient process flow, ensuring the optimal communications and information transmission between the teams. In addition, the project here presented introduces a novelty regarding the concept phase. The use of a rapid control prototyping tool, called dSPACE, guarantees the feasibility of a concept circuit before proceeding directly with the design phase, avoiding time-wasting. In fact, the mentioned emulator allows the preliminary evaluation of the circuit in ideal conditions and, subsequently, a more real study on hardware.