Circuit remotely adjusts PSU voltage

This Design Idea demonstrates a way to adjust the output voltage of a power supply, for OVP/UVP testing, margin-testing the load, voltage programmability, or any other reason.

The circuit in Figure 1 is capable of bidirectional trimming of a power supply’s output voltage by sourcing or sinking current into the feedback node. It can operate either manually with switches or digitally via three inputs: S1 (STEP), S2 (RESET), and S3 (U/D).

Every S1 rising edge increases or decreases V_O by one step (about 95 mV in this design). S3 controls the adjustment direction (up/down), and S2 resets V_O to nominal.

One shot U4B ensures:

1. One incremental step per press (debounces S1).
2. Sufficient waiting period for the UUT’s protection circuit to react.

The trim section comprising U5 & U6 features a voltage controlled current sink/source (VCCS). U3B & U3C shift up the VCCS’s reference point so that:

1. It’s centered at the same level as V_{REF_PS}. Thus, in neutral condition (e.g., upon reset), V_W = ½V_REF1 ≈ V_REF2, I_TRIM ≈ 0 & V_O ≈ V_O(NOMINAL).
2. The circuit can use a single supply while still capable of sinking and sourcing current.

Difference amplifier U5 generates I_TRIM to adjust V_O’s magnitude, sourcing current into the V_TRIM node to lower V_O, or sinking current to raise V_O. U6 is a G=1 instrumentation amp that feeds the sensed current back to U5.

The U1/U3C circuit generates two reference voltages, V_REF1 and V_REF2. V_REF1 is a reference voltage for control signal V_W. V_REF2 matches the UUT’s 1.25 V reference voltage.

Equations (1), (2), and (3) can be used to configure this circuit for different V_O settings:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The following example plugs Figure 1’s parameters into the equations:

Figure 1.	Circuit for bidirectional trimming of PSU output voltage.

From (1) we have:

(4)

So for V_O variations of ±25% (i.e., 30 V to 18 V), I_TRIM is in the range of –26 µA to +25 µA.

V_W is within 0 V-2.5 V. Putting this number into (2) gives R8 ≈ 48 kΩ.

From (3):

(3a)

(3b)

If R7 = 100 Ω then V_A(V_W = 0) ≈ 0 V and V_A(V_W = 2.5 V) ≈ 2.5 V.

Given the 128 steps of U2, resolutions for V_W, I_TRIM, and V_O are 20 mV, 406 nA, and 95 mV respectively.

Figure 2 shows waveforms at a few key points. In the first phase, V_O (Ch3) is decreasing linearly from nominal with every clock pulse until it saturates around 18 V. About half-way through, S2 is pressed to reset V_O to nominal and S3 is closed. V_O increases with each clock pulse to its upper limit of 29.5 V.

Figure 2.	Ch1:CLK; Ch2:VW; Ch3:VO; Ch4:V(R7+R8).

Any mismatch between V_REF2 and V_{REF_PS} introduces an offset on I_TRIM when U2’s wiper is centered which shifts V_O from its nominal. This can be trimmed out if desired.

The circuit is powered by a 5 V source, with current consumption under 2 mA. In some applications, V_O could be regulated and used for this.

Materials on the topic