Power conversion device and machine equipped with power conversion device

Provided is a power conversion device capable of selectively suppressing harmonic noise in a frequency band and a machine equipped with the power conversion device. The power conversion device includes a switching element (13), a switching signal generation unit (23, 24) for generating a switching control signal for controlling the turning on/off of the switching element (13), and a control unit (18), and is characterized in that the switching control signal generation unit (23, 24) generates the switching control signal including a combination of a pair of symmetrical pulse waveforms having on and off periods that are interchanged with respect to a repeated cycle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a power conversion device and a machine equipped with the power conversion device.

BACKGROUND ART

JP-A-2006-288102 (Patent Literature 1) is an example of the background art of this technical field. This patent application states that a driving pulse for operating a power switching element is generated as the repetition of a basic pattern1or basic pattern2; basic patterns1and2can be only used for respective usable duties; here, usable duties are duties in which switching frequencies formed by edges of driving pulses do not accord with each other; this leads to provision of a switching device capable of suitably reduce the peak value of noise due to switching control when controlling a control object to a desired amount of control (see abstract).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The above-described Patent Literature 1 describes the mechanism of a switching device that makes switching frequencies formed by an interval between start timings of on operation of a power switching element and an interval between start timings of off operation different from each other, then controls a control object to a desired amount of control, thereby spreads switching frequencies, and suitably reduces the peak value of noise due to switching control.

However, the switching device in Patent Literature 1 reduces the noise level of an overall radio broadcast band by spreading the switching frequencies, and its reduction effect is limited. Furthermore, it has a problem in which due to wiring and a grounding method when it is mounted on a system of an automobile or the like, a harmonic noise level at a particular order becomes higher, causing necessity to add a filter for suppressing noise over the overall radio broadcast band, making the device larger, and increasing costs.

Thus, an objective of the present invention is to provide a power conversion device capable of selectively suppressing harmonic noise in a frequency band, and a machine equipped with the power conversion device.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above-described problems, for example, a configuration described in the claims is adopted.

The present application includes a plurality of means for solving the above-described problems, but one example is a power conversion device comprising a switching element, a switching signal generation unit for generating a switching control signal for controlling turning on/off the switching element, and a control unit, wherein the switching control signal generation unit generates the switching control signal comprising a combination of a pair of symmetrical pulse waveforms having on and off periods that are interchanged with respect to a repeated cycle.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The objective is to provide a power conversion device capable of selectively suppressing harmonic noise in a frequency band and a machine equipped with the power conversion device.

Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clear from the following explanation of embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments will be described below with reference to drawings. The same reference characters in the drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts. In addition, the present invention is not limited to shown examples.

In this embodiment, as a machine equipped with a power conversion device, an embodiment in which a DC-DC converter is mounted on an electric vehicle will be described with reference toFIGS. 1-8.

FIG. 1is an example of configuration diagram of electric vehicles. An electric vehicle1inFIG. 1comprises a high-voltage battery2, an inverter3, a motor4, a driving force transmission unit5, drive wheels6, a low-voltage battery7, a DC-DC converter8, a radio receiver9, a speaker10, and a radio antenna11.

In the electric vehicle1, the high-voltage battery2stores electric energy, and outputs a high voltage of, for example, 360-420 V to supply it to the inverter3and the DC-DC converter8. The inverter3converts the supplied high voltage into a three-phase AC signal by switching, and rotates the motor4. The mechanical driving force of the motor4is transmitted to the drive wheels6by the driving force transmission unit5comprising a shaft and a differential gear.

The inverter3takes into account the driving state of the electric vehicle1and accelerator pedal operation by a driver, and adjusts electric energy supplied by the high-voltage battery2to control the output of the motor4.

On the other hand, the motor4is able to generate electric power using driving force supplied by the drive wheels6and the driving force transmission unit5when the electric vehicle1slows down or the like. AC power generated by the motor4is converted into DC power by the inverter3, and the DC power is stored in the high-voltage battery3.

The DC-DC converter8in the electric vehicle1steps down the high voltage supplied by the high-voltage battery2to supply the resulting lower voltage to the low-voltage battery7and the radio receiver9. Electric power stored in the low-voltage battery7is used as a power source for not only the radio receiver9but also electric components, such as wipers and headlights, in the electric vehicle1.

In the electric vehicle1, the radio receiver9receives a radio broadcast received by the reception antenna11mounted on the electric vehicle1, and outputs the voice of the radio from the speaker10. This radio receiver9has a function to mainly receive the AM radio broadcast and the FM radio broadcast.

Here, the AM radio broadcast modulates the amplitude of a carrier wave with radio voice. The radio receiver9detects and demodulates the modulated wave and outputs a voice signal to the speaker10. The frequency band of the AM radio broadcast is, for example, 510-1720 kHz.

On the other hand, the FM radio broadcast modulates the frequency of a carrier wave with radio voice. The radio receiver9detects and demodulates the modulated wave and outputs a voice signal to the speaker10. The frequency band of the FM radio broadcast is, for example, 76-108 MHz.

The radio receiver9supplies frequency information on a selected broadcast station to the DC-DC converter8. The present invention does not limit the format and interface of the frequency information, but gives room to assume various formats, such as a method for supplying digital data indicating the frequency of a radio broadcast during listening, and a method for sectioning the overall frequency band of the radio broadcast into a plurality of sub-bands to supply digital data indicating which sub-band a radio broadcast during listening belongs to.

Next, the DC-DC converter8mounted on the electric vehicle1will be explained in terms of its operation.FIG. 2is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the DC-DC converter8. A voltage conversion unit in the DC-DC converter8consists of a step-down chopper circuit12, and comprises a switching element13such as a transistor, an inductor14, a freewheeling diode15, and a capacitor16.

The high-voltage battery2applies a high voltage VINof 360-420 V to between HV(P) and HV(N) terminals in the step-down chopper circuit12. When the switching element13repeats turning on and off at a cycle T (=TON+TOFF) [s], during on periods TON[s] of the switching element13, the inductor14stores energy; during off periods TOFF[s] of the switching element13, freewheeling current flows through the diode15and the inductor14discharges energy. A voltage VOUToutput to between LV(P) and LV(N) terminals is TON/T×VIN. Here, the ratio of the on period TONto the cycle T of the switching element13is called a duty ratio. In addition, the capacitor16suppresses a short-term fluctuation of the output voltage VOUT.

Generally, in the DC-DC converter8, noise occurs due to the above-described switching control, and it is superposed on the output voltage VOUTof the DC-DC converter8. Main frequency components of the noise are a switching frequency, which is the inverse of the switching cycle T, and its harmonics.

Noise overlapping with the frequency band of the AM radio broadcast or the FM radio broadcast causes interference with the radio receiver, and causes discomfort to people in the electric vehicle1when they listen to the radio. Especially, noise superposed on the output voltage VOUTof the DC-DC converter8is noise transmitting on the power line of the radio receiver9, and has a large impact.

Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of a pulse width modulation (PWM) control scheme capable of selectively reducing the transmission noise made by the DC-DC converter8in terms of a radio frequency sub-band being received in the electric vehicle1.

The switching control of the step-down chopper circuit12in the DC-DC converter8inFIG. 2is performed by a microcontroller18. This switching control involves the microcontroller18comprising an internal memory25, a triangular wave signal generator19, a phase shifter20, pulse waveform generation units21,22, a switch23, and a gate driver24. Furthermore, the embodiment adopts a configuration of the microcontroller18comprising the internal memory25but the microcontroller18may use an external memory.

The microcontroller18in the DC-DC converter8generates a duty ratio command value on the basis of broadcast station selection frequency information supplied by the radio receiver9, and supplies it to the pulse waveform generation unit21and the pulse waveform generation unit22. The microcontroller18calculates the amount of phase shift for the phase shifter20on the basis of the generated duty ratio command value, and supplies it to the phase shifter20.

The triangular wave signal generator19in the DC-DC converter8generates a triangular wave signal for generating a PWM control signal for the step-down chopper circuit12, and supplies it to the pulse waveform generation unit21and the phase shifter20.

Although the present invention does not limit the frequency of the triangular wave signal, the explanation will be given as using, for example, 100 kHz. The phase shifter20adjusts the phase of the triangular wave signal supplied by the triangular wave signal generator19on the basis of the amount of phase shift supplied by the microcontroller18, and supplies the resulting signal to the pulse waveform generation unit22.

The pulse waveform generation unit21compares the duty ratio command value supplied by the microcontroller18with the triangular wave signal supplied by the triangular wave signal generator19, outputs a high level if the duty ratio command value is larger, outputs a low level if the duty ratio command value is smaller, and supplies this logical signal to the switch23.

On the other hand, the pulse waveform generation unit22compares the duty ratio command value supplied by the microcontroller18with the triangular wave signal supplied by the phase shifter20, outputs the low level if the duty ratio command value is larger, outputs the high level if the duty ratio command value is smaller, and supplies this logical signal to the switch23.

The microcontroller18in the DC-DC converter8has a function to calculate ratios for the switch23to select the logical signals from the pulse waveform generation unit21and the pulse waveform generation unit22on the basis of the predetermined output voltage value VOUTand input voltage value VINof the DC-DC converter8. In addition, the internal memory25in the microcontroller18holds in advance duty ratio switching signals corresponding to the ratios for the switch23to select the logical signals from the pulse waveform generation unit21and the pulse waveform generation unit22; the microcontroller18reads out a switching signal corresponding to the ratios calculated by the microcontroller18from the internal memory25, and supplies it to the switch23.

The switch23selects either one of the logical signals supplied by the pulse waveform generation unit21and the pulse waveform generation unit22on the basis of the duty ratio switching signal supplied by the microcontroller18, and supplies it to the gate driver24. The gate driver24converts the logical signal supplied by the switch23into a PWM control signal for controlling the switching element13, and controls switching of the switching element13.

An explanation of methods for the microcontroller18determining the following in the DC-DC converter8will be given in detail with reference to the drawings: the duty ratio command value; the amount of phase shift; and the duty ratio switching signal.

Firstly, the method for the microcontroller18determining the duty ratio command value in the DC-DC converter8will be explained in detail.

FIG. 3is a conceptual diagram for explaining the relation of symmetrical duty ratios of PWM control signals. A signal waveform (a) inFIG. 3indicates PWM control having an on period τ (off period T-τ) to the cycle T, and indicates, as an example, a case of its duty ratio=20%. On the other hand, a signal waveform (b) inFIG. 3indicates PWM control having an on period T-τ (off period T) to the cycle T, and indicates, as an example, a case of the duty ratio=80%. Like the signal waveforms (a) and (b) inFIG. 3, a pair of PWM controls having the relation of on and off periods of PWM control that are interchanged is called symmetrical duty ratios in the embodiments according to the present invention.

FIG. 4is one example of two PWM control signals having the relation of symmetrical duty ratios explained inFIG. 3. The horizontal axis inFIG. 4indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates the logical levels of the PWM control signals. A PWM control signal (a) inFIG. 4indicates a PWM control signal having the on period r to the cycle T, and indicates, as an example, a case of the duty ratio=20%. In addition, a PWM control signal (b) inFIG. 4indicates a PWM control signal having the on period T-τ to the cycle T, and indicates, as an example, a case of the duty ratio=80%.

Next, consideration is given to the frequency characteristics of the PWM control signals shown inFIG. 4.FIG. 5is the frequency characteristics of Fourier series expansion coefficients of the PWM control signals shown inFIG. 4. The horizontal axis indicates the orders of the harmonics of the fundamental repetition frequency (1/T [Hz]) of the PWM control signals, and the vertical axis indicates amplitude at each order.

The frequency characteristic (a) of a Fourier series expansion coefficient inFIG. 5indicates the frequency characteristic in the same case of the duty ratio=20% as that ofFIG. 4(a). In addition, the frequency characteristic (b) of a Fourier series expansion coefficient inFIG. 5indicates the frequency characteristic in the same case of the duty ratio=80% as that ofFIG. 4(b).

It is clear from these two frequency characteristics that PWM control signals having the relation of symmetrical duty ratios have the same frequency characteristic. In addition, at a harmonic component at an order corresponding to the inverse of a duty ratio, 1/20%=1/0.2=5th order in the case ofFIG. 5, a dip in the frequency characteristic occurs. In addition, dips in the frequency characteristic occur in the same manner at integral multiples of an order corresponding to the inverse of the duty ratio.

The noise superposed on the output voltage of the DC-DC converter8is different in absolute strength indicated inFIG. 5depending on the characteristic of an output noise filter, but has the same characteristic as that of these PWM control signals in terms of orders at which dips appear.

A PWM control scheme according to the embodiment takes advantage of the frequency characteristic of PWM control signals having the relation of symmetrical duty ratios described above. In particular, the scheme combines two basic waveforms having the relation of symmetrical duty ratios (for example, PWM control signals having a duty ratio of 20% and a duty ratio of 80%), controls the output voltage of the DC-DC converter8by an average duty ratio determined by its combination ratio, aligns a dip in a harmonic component appearing at a particular order of the fundamental repetition frequency with a frequency to which the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1is tuned in, and thereby reduces interference with the radio receiver9.

In other words, the duty ratio command value determined by the microcontroller18in the DC-DC converter8is a command value for determining the combination of symmetrical duty ratios so that the harmonic frequency of the fundamental repetition frequency where a dip in harmonic component appears in the frequency characteristic of two PWM control signals having the relation of symmetrical duty ratios shown inFIG. 5gets close to a frequency to which the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1is tuned in.

Now, an explanation will be given of relation between a frequency band to which the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1is tuned in and the combination of used symmetrical duty ratios.

FIG. 6is a list of frequency sub-bands to which the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1is tuned in, the orders of the harmonics at which a dip should be formed in the frequency characteristic, and combinations of used symmetrical duty ratios. Here, it indicates a case of the repetition frequency of the PWM control signals being 100 kHz. When the repetition frequency of the PWM control signals is 100 kHz, harmonic frequencies appear also at intervals of 100 kHz. Therefore, symmetrical duty ratios are determined by sectioning the AM radio band during listening per 100 kHz. Furthermore, the information shown inFIG. 6is assumed to be stored in the internal memory25in the microcontroller18as a reference table.

Firstly, the microcontroller18in the DC-DC converter8obtains frequency information on a radio broadcast being listened to on the radio receiver9from the radio receiver9. For example, if 480 kHz is the frequency of an AM radio broadcast being listened to on the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1, the microcontroller18refers to the table stored in the internal memory25, and selects a harmonic frequency closest to 480 kHz from numeric values in the table. Here, the microcontroller18determines a pair of symmetrical duty ratios so as to form a dip at 500 kHz, the fifth order harmonic of the fundamental repetition frequency of the PWM control signals. The duty ratios forming a dip in the fifth harmonic are the inverse of the order of the harmonic, 1/5=0.2(20%), and its symmetrical duty ratio, 1−0.2=0.8 (80%), as explained with reference toFIG. 5.

Regarding the above-described duty ratios, the duty ratio obtained from the inverse of the order of the harmonic is called a first symmetrical duty ratio, and the duty ratio obtained from “1−the first symmetrical duty ratio” is called a second symmetrical duty ratio. In other words, in the above example, 0.2 (20%) is a first symmetrical duty ratio, and 0.8 (80%) a second symmetrical duty ratio.

For example, if 1179 kHz is the frequency of an AM radio broadcast being listened to on the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1, the microcontroller18refers to the table stored in the internal memory25, and determines a pair of symmetrical duty ratios so as to form a dip at 1200 kHz, the 12th order harmonic of the fundamental repetition frequency of the PWM control signals. The duty ratios forming a dip in the 12th order harmonic are the inverse of the order of the harmonic, 1/12=8.333 . . . %, and its symmetrical duty ratio, 91.666 . . . %, as explained with reference toFIG. 5.

In the same manner, the combination of a pair of symmetrical duty ratios forming a dip at a frequency sub-band is determined according to the frequency of an AM radio broadcast being listened to on the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1.

Next, a duty ratio command value is calculated on the basis of the determined pair of symmetrical duty ratios. A calculation method is selected at will, but in the embodiment, the duty ratio command value is a product of a second symmetrical duty ratio and 1 V. For example, if symmetrical duty ratios are a first symmetrical duty ratio 20% and a second symmetrical duty ratio 80%, the duty ratio command value is 1×0.8=0.8 V.

Secondly, the method for the microcontroller18determining the amount of phase shift in the DC-DC converter8will be explained in detail. The amount of phase shift is for making rise timings the same when generating PWM control signals having a pair of symmetrical duty ratios. In the embodiments according to the present invention, the microcontroller18calculates a product of a first symmetrical duty ratio and 2π as the amount of phase shift, and notifies the phase shifter21of it.

Next, an explanation will be given of the method for generating two PWM control signals having the relation of symmetrical duty ratios on the basis of the duty ratio command value and the amount of phase shift determined as described above.

FIG. 7is a time-waveform diagram for explaining a method for generating two PWM control signals having the relation of symmetrical duty ratios. A time waveform (a) inFIG. 7indicates a first triangular wave signal71generated by the triangular wave signal generator19, a duty ratio command value73supplied by the microcontroller18, and a PWM control signal74generated by the pulse waveform generation unit21.

On the other hand, a time waveform (b) inFIG. 7indicates a second triangular wave signal72obtained by the phase shifter20adjusting the phase of the first triangular wave signal71generated by the triangular wave signal generator19, the duty ratio command value73supplied by the microcontroller18, and a PWM control signal75generated by the pulse waveform generation unit22.

As described above, the pulse waveform generation unit21compares the duty ratio command value supplied by the microcontroller18with the triangular wave signal supplied by the triangular wave signal generator19, outputs the high level if the duty ratio command value is larger, outputs the low level if the duty ratio command value is smaller, and supplies this logical signal to the switch23. For example, if the duty ratio command value supplied by the microcontroller18is 0.8 V, i.e. a pair of symmetrical duty ratios is 20% and 80%, the pulse waveform generation unit21outputs the PWM control signal74having the duty ratio 80%.

In this case, the phase shifter20is notified of an amount of phase shift 0.2×2π, and the phase shifter20delays the phase of the triangular wave signal71supplied by the triangular wave signal generator19by 0.2×2π, and supplies the resulting signal as the second triangular wave signal72to the pulse waveform generation unit22.

As described above, the pulse waveform generation unit22compares the duty ratio command value supplied by the microcontroller18with the triangular wave signal72supplied by the phase shifter20, outputs the low level if the duty ratio command value is larger, outputs the high level if the duty ratio command value is smaller, and supplies this logical signal to the switch23. For example, if the duty ratio command value supplied by the microcontroller18is 0.8 V, i.e. a pair of symmetrical duty ratios is 20% and 80%, the pulse waveform generation unit22outputs the PWM control signal75having the duty ratio 20%.

According to the above operation, the first PWM control signal74having the duty ratio 80% is supplied to the switch23by the pulse waveform generation unit21, and the second PWM control signal75having the duty ratio 20% is supplied to the switch23by the pulse waveform generation unit22.

In addition, the rise timing of the first PWM control signal74and the rise timing of the second PWM control signal75are the same, like those of the PWM control signals shown inFIG. 4.

Thirdly, an explanation will be given of the method for calculating ratios for the switch23to select the logical signals from the pulse waveform generation unit21and the pulse waveform generation unit22. The output voltage is determined according to the time averaged duty ratio of the combination of a pair of symmetrical duty ratios determined as described above.

Assuming that the duty ratio of the first PWM control signal74is X % and its occurrence rate is Y %—consequently, the duty ratio of the second PWM control signal75is (100−X) % and its occurrence rate is (100−Y) %—, the input voltage of the DC-DC converter8is Vin, and its output voltage is Vout, the microcontroller18calculates the occurrence rate Y that satisfies {X/100×Y/100+(100−X)/100×(100−Y)/100}×Vin=Vout; thereby, the microcontroller18obtains a ratio for the switch23to select the logical signal from the pulse waveform generation unit21.

Lastly, the switch23generates a selection pattern for selecting the logical signals supplied by the pulse waveform generation unit21and the pulse waveform generation unit22on the basis of the duty ratio switching signal supplied by the microcontroller18, and performs selection processing in synchronization with the rise timing.

FIG. 8shows examples of the duty ratio switching signals held by the internal memory25in the microcontroller18, and PWM control signals selected by the switch23supplied with the duty ratio switching signals. A combination (a) of a duty ratio switching signal and a PWM control signal inFIG. 8is an example of the duty ratio switching signal and the PWM control signal when 32% is the result of a ratio for the switch23to select the logical signal from the pulse waveform generation unit21, calculated by the microcontroller18. In the example, pulses having the first symmetrical duty ratio D1=20% appear eight times out often, and pulses having the second symmetrical duty ratio D2=80% appear two times out of ten. The total duty ratio at this time can be calculated by 20%×8/10+80%×2/10, and it is 32%.

A duty ratio switching signal and a PWM control signal (b) inFIG. 8are examples in which pulses having the first symmetrical duty ratio D1=20% appear five times out often, and pulses having the second symmetrical duty ratio D2=80% appear five times out of ten. The total duty ratio at this time is 50%.

A duty ratio switching signal and a PWM control signal (c) inFIG. 8are examples in which pulses having the first symmetrical duty ratio D1=20% appear three times out often, and pulses having the second symmetrical duty ratio D2=80% appear seven times out of ten. The total duty ratio at this time is 62%.

In this manner, the switch23generates a PWM control signal on the basis of the duty ratio switching signal supplied by the microcontroller18, and supplies it to the gate driver24.

The gate driver24converts the logical signal supplied by the switch23into a PWM control signal for controlling the switching element13, and controls switching of the switching element13.

As described above, the DC-DC converter in the embodiment combines two basic waveforms having the relation of symmetrical duty ratios (for example, PWM control signals having the duty ratio 20% and the duty ratio 80%), controls the output voltage of the DC-DC converter8by an average duty ratio determined by the combination ratio, aligns a dip in a harmonic component appearing at a particular order of the fundamental repetition frequency with a frequency to which the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1is tuned in, and thereby can reduce interference with the radio receiver9.

Therefore, the present invention can provide a power conversion device capable of selectively suppressing harmonic noise in a target frequency sub-band and a machine equipped with the power conversion device, without increasing their sizes or costs due to addition of a filter or the like.

The embodiment is an example of applying the harmonic noise reduction PWM control scheme and the DC-DC converter using it to an electric vehicle; with a purpose of selectively suppressing harmonic noise in a particular frequency sub-band, the present invention can be applied to a DC-DC converter mounted on a hybrid vehicle, a DC-DC converter mounted on a construction machine, a DC-DC converter mounted on a railcar, and the like.

In the embodiment, an explanation will be given of an example of DC-DC converter that has improved performance in following load fluctuation by performing feedback control on the basis of the output voltage of the DC-DC converter.

FIG. 9is an example of configuration diagram of a DC-DC converter8in the embodiment 2. In the DC-DC converter8inFIG. 9, explanations will be omitted regarding components denoted by the same reference characters and parts having the same functions as those already explained inFIG. 2.

The difference between the DC-DC converter8inFIG. 2and the DC-DC converter8inFIG. 9is a voltage sensor17for detecting the output voltage of the DC-DC converter8, and the control method in the microcontroller18.

The microcontroller18inFIG. 9automatically obtains a present output voltage value from the voltage sensor17at a regular timing. In the same manner as that of the first embodiment, the microcontroller18obtains frequency information on a broadcast station to which the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1is tuned in, and obtains candidate duty ratios from a symmetrical duty ratio list stored in the internal memory25.

For example, if 1179 kHz is the frequency of an AM radio broadcast being listened to on the radio receiver9in the electric vehicle1, the microcontroller18refers to the table stored in the internal memory25, and determines a pair of symmetrical duty ratios so as to form a dip at 1200 kHz, the 12th order harmonic of the fundamental repetition frequency of the PWM control signals.

The duty ratios forming a dip at the 12th order harmonic are the inverse of the order of the harmonic, 1/12=8.333 . . . %, and its symmetrical duty ratio, 91.666 . . . %, as explained with reference toFIG. 5.

Then, the microcontroller18compares a voltage value obtained from the voltage sensor17with a voltage value which should be output, selects the second symmetrical duty ratio from the combination of symmetrical duty ratios if the voltage value obtained from the voltage sensor17is smaller, selects the first symmetrical duty ratio if the voltage value which is being output is larger, and supplies it here as a duty ratio command value to the pulse waveform generation unit21.

The pulse waveform generation unit21compares the duty ratio command value supplied by the microcontroller18with the triangular wave signal supplied by the triangular wave signal generator19, outputs the high level if the duty ratio command value is larger, outputs the low level if the duty ratio command value is smaller, and supplies this logical signal to the gate driver24.

Controlling the switching element13in the same manner as that of the first embodiment after this enables the embodiment to provide a PWM control scheme that has improved performance in following load fluctuation, and a DC-DC converter using it.

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments are explained in detail in order to intelligibly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not always limited to those comprising all the explained configurations. In addition, it is possible to replace part of the configuration in one embodiment with the configuration in another embodiment, and also possible to add the configuration in one embodiment to the configuration in another embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, remove, or replace another configuration regarding part of the configuration in each embodiment.

The above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, and the like may be realized with hardware, for example, by designing part or all of them using integrated circuits. Also, the above described configurations, functions, and the like may be realized with software by a processor interpreting and executing programs enabling the respective functions. Information, such as programs, tables, and files, that enables the functions can be stored in a recording device, such as a memory, a hard disk, and an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium, such as an IC card, an SD card, and a DVD.

Control lines and information lines are shown only if those are considered necessary for explanation, and all the control lines and information lines of a product are not always shown. In fact, it is safe to consider that almost all components are connected with each other.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST