NCP1207A, NCP1207B

http://onsemi.com

9

Figure 15. A patented method allows for skip level

selection via a series resistor inserted in series

with the current

+

-

RESET

DRIVER

+

DRIVER = HIGH ? I = 0

DRIVER = LOW ? I = 200

mA

2

3

The skip level selection is done through a simple resistor

inserted between the current sense input and the sense element.

Every time the NCP1207A/B output driver goes low, a 200

mA

source forces a current to flow through the sense pin

(Figure 15): when the driver is high, the current source is off

and the current sense information is normally processed. As

soon as the driver goes low, the current source delivers 200

mA

voltage is below the feedback voltage, the current sense

comparator stays in the high state and the internal latch can be

triggered by the next clock cycle. Now, if because of a low load

current sense comparator permanently resets the latch and the

next clock cycle (given by the demagnetization detection) is

ignored: we are skipping cycles as shown by Figure 16. As

soon as the feedback voltage goes up again, there can be two

situations: the recurrent period is small and a new

demagnetization detection (next wave) signal triggers the

NCP1207A/B. To the opposite, in low output power

conditions, no more ringing waves are present on the drain and

the toggling of the current sense comparator together with the

internal 5

ms timeout initiates a new cycle start. In normal

operating conditions, e.g. when the drain oscillations are

generous, the demagnetization comparator can detect the 50

mV crossing and gives the “green light”, alone, to re-active the

power switch. However, when skip cycle takes place (e.g. at

low output power demands), the re-start event slides along the

drain ringing waveforms (actually the valley locations) which

decays

more

or

less

quickly,

depending

on

the

thus quickly occur where the ringing becomes too weak to be

detected by the demagnetization comparator: it then

permanently stays locked in a given position and can no longer

deliver the “green light” to the controller. To help in this

situation, the NCP1207A/B implements a 5

ms timeout

generator: each time the 50 mV crossing occurs, the timeout is

reset. So, as long as the ringing becomes too low, the timeout

generator starts to count and after 5

ms, it delivers its “green

light”. If the skip signal is already present then the controller

re-starts; otherwise the logic waits for it to set the drive output

high. Figure 16 depicts these two different situations:

Demag Re-start

Current Sense and Timeout Re-start

5

ms

5

ms

Drain

Signal

Timeout

Signal

Drain

Signal

Timeout

Signal

Figure 16. When the primary natural ringing becomes too low, the internal timeout together with the sense

comparator initiates a new cycle when FB passes the skip level.