Implementation of Burst Control based on Sigma-Delta Modulation in Low-Cost Microcontroller

Sigma-delta modulation is a well-known tool in telecommunication and digital signal processing. However, in power electronics, its use did not attract sufficient interest. This study proposes a new application for the sigma-delta modulation in burst control of power electronic converters. However, its implementation in modern digital control systems is not straightforward as software implementation is expected. This paper presents an implementation example in a low-cost ARM microcontroller based on taking full advantage of its high-resolution timer peripheral units. It shows how sigma-delta modulation patterns could be synthesized and how their length depends on the input signal. Experimental results are provided along with a practical case study of the dc-transformer convertrer.