Center Clamp for Wide Input Voltage Range Applications

Abstract

Forward converter is most suitable for low voltage and high current applications such as LEDs, battery chargers, EHV etc. The active clamp transformer reset technique offers many advantages over conventional single-ended reset techniques, including lower voltage stress on the main switch, the ability to switch at zero voltage and duty cycle operation above 50 percent. Several papers have compared the functional merits of the active clamp over the more extensively used RCD clamp, third winding and resonant reset techniques. This paper discusses about a center clamp technique with one common core reset circuit making it suitable for wide input voltage applications with extended duty cycle.