FPGA-based variable modulation-indexed-SPWM generator architecture for constant-output-voltage inverter applications

Abstract

Modulation Index (MI) variant sinusoidal-pulse-width-modulation (SPWM) is desirable for converter applications in maintaining output voltage under variable input and load environments. Enabling a high-speed switching and resolution, field-programmable gate-arrays (FPGAs) have been dominating in digital control of power electronics. This paper proposes an FPGA-based high-frequency high-resolution digital variable-modulation-indexed sinusoidal-pulse-width-modulation (DVMI-SPWM) generator architecture which can support the requirements of modern high-frequency switching and the MI adjustment ability in voltage-source-inverter (VSI) applications. A mathematically formulated optimized finite-state-machine (FSM) architecture is introduced, which adopts MI of SPWM by adjusting the duty-cycle values of SPWM pulses based on the measured feedback signal. The design employs a minor segment of medium-sized FPGA and, thereby, provides a good trade-off for multi-functional and larger schemes. The post-design simulation and experimental results validate that compared to the earlier-reported architectures, the proposed DVMI-SPWM architecture is the most appropriate one for variable MI applications with improved performance such as lower power consumption, lower harmonic distortion, and higher resolution.