Design Considerations for Small Signal Modeling of DC-DC Converters Using Inductor DCR Current Sensing Under Time Constants Mismatch Conditions

This paper compares advantages and disadvantages of several commonly used current sensing methods such as dedicated sense resistor sensing, MOSFET Rds(on) current sensing, and inductor DC resistance (DCR) current sensing. Among these current sense methods, inductor DCR current sense that shows more advantages over other current sensing methods is chosen for analysis. The time constants mismatch issue between the time constant made by the current sensing RC network and the one formed with output inductor and its DC resistance is addressed in this paper. And an unified small signal modeling of a buck converter using inductor DCR current sensing with matched and mismatched time constants is presented, and the modeling has been verified experimentally.