Accurate prediction of conducted emissions in switch-mode power supplies for space applications

By the procedure described in this paper, the conducted emissions (CE) of a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) were simulated with a good degree of accuracy in the frequency range up to tens of MHz. This paper illustrates the modeling approach and provides assessment of the model accuracy by comparing predictions versus measurements obtained in a real application involving a DC-DC converter. In the modeling process, all the parasitic parameters dominating the emission phenomenon have been identified and characterized. What makes this procedure efficient and effective is the possibility to investigate the conducted emission phenomenon while the board is designed, when most of the viable solutions can be implemented, thus saving time and resources.