DVM - Design Verification Module

ShortCkt() Test Objective

The purpose of the ShortCkt() test is to examine the behavior of the converter during a short-circuit event. The input is configured as a  DC Input Source, and the output is configured as a special Short Circuit Load. The initial current is passed as an argument to the ShortCkt() function. The built-in testplans support both a continuous short circuit and a short circuit with recovery. An optional recover argument to the ShortCkt() function allows you to remove the short circuit in order to also test the recovery of circuit.

Both a POP and transient analysis are used in the ShortCkt() test.

The test report  includes source, load, and frequency graphs as well as the following scalar values which are defined in the Measured Scalar Values section below:

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Syntax

The ShortCkt() function has the following syntax with the arguments described in the table below:

ShortCkt(REF, ISTART, RECOVER)
ShortCkt(REF, ISTART, RECOVER, OPTIONAL_PARAMETER_STRING)  

Argument Range Description

REF

n/a

The actual reference designator of the DVM load or the generic syntax of OUTPUT:n where n is an integer indicating a position in the list of managed DVM loads. 

ISTART

 

The starting current for the load. This can be a numeric value or a symbolic value, such as percentage of full load.

RECOVER

Recover, or not passed.

If the recover argument is present and set to the string 'Recover', then DVM will lift the short after the Short Circuit Duration and allow the circuit to perform recovery.

OPTIONAL_PARAMETER_STRING

n/a

Parameter string with a combination of one or more timing and resistance parameters:

  • SHORTCKT_LOAD_RESISTANCE*
  • TIME_DELAY*
  • PULSE_WIDTH*
  • CYCLES_TO_RECOVER*

*    If more than one parameter is specified, join the parameter key-value pairs with a space, as shown in the example below. The order of the parameter names does not matter.

Timing

DVM sets the timing parameters for the ShortCircuit() test objective based on values that you enter on the following two tabs in the DVM  Full Power Assist control symbol:

The time delay, pulse width, and simulation stop time are determined by these calculations:

\[ \text{TIME_DELAY} = \frac{\text{CYCLES_BEFORE_EVENT}}{\text{SWITCHING_FREQUENCY}} \]

If RECOVER is equal to 'RECOVER', then

\[ \text{PULSE_WIDTH} = \frac{\text{PULSE_LOAD_DURATION}}{\text{SWITCHING_FREQUENCY}} \]

\[ \text{STOP_TIME} = \text{TIME_DELAY} + \text{PULSE_WIDTH} + \frac{\text{CYCLES_TO_RECOVER}}{\text{SWITCHING_FREQUENCY}}\]

If RECOVER is not equal to 'RECOVER', then

\[ \text{PULSE_WIDTH} = \text{ 5 seconds } \]

\[ \text{STOP_TIME} = \text{TIME_DELAY} + \frac{\text{CYCLES_TO_RECOVER}}{\text{SWITCHING_FREQUENCY}}\]

Note: The switching frequency and cycles to recover parameters are not the actual measured values from a simulation; they are constant values taken from the DVM control symbol. Also, you can override time delay, rise time, and cycles to recover on a test-by-test basis by using the optional parameter string.

Source and Load Subcircuit Configuration

The ShortCkt() test objective sets the source and load subcircuits to the following:

Source Load

DC Input Source

Short Circuit Load

Loads other than the output under test are set to the Resistive Load. All other sources are set to the DC Input Source.

Measured Scalar Values

The ShortCkt() test objective measures the following scalar values:

Scalar Name

Description

sw_freq

 A number which represents the converter switching frequency

vout{n}_recovery_time

The number {n} in the scalar name is an integer indicating a position in the list of managed DVM loads. The three possible return values are the following:

  • A number which represents the time the converter took to adjust the output voltage to within the regulation tolerance set in the Output tab of the Full Power Assist control symbol.
  • The value "never left regulation" is returned if the output under test never left the regulation window.

  • The value "left regulation and never recovered" is returned if the output under test leaves the regulation window and does not recover before the end of the simulation.

Measured Specification Values

In the following table, {load_name} is the name assigned to each load. The default value is LOAD. DVM forces each load name to be unique so that the scalar and specification values for each load are unique.

Scalar Name

PASS/FAIL Criteria

Min_V{load_name}

The minimum value of the output voltage during the simulation time is greater that the minimum specification value.

Max_V{load_name}

The maximum value of the output during the simulation time is less than the maximum specification value.

Max_V{load_name}_overshoot

The maximum value of the output during the simulation time is less than the maximum overshoot specification value.

Testplan Example

The ShortCkt() test objective is used in several built-in testplans. Shown below is a test from the Syncbuck_1in_1out testplan. This test configures the starting current to the Light value.

*?@ Analysis Objective Source Load Label
Transient ShortCkt(OUTPUT:1, Light) Source(INPUT:1, Minimum)   Transient|Short Circuit|Vin Minimum|Light Load to Short Circuit

Optional Parameter String

The following ShortCkt() test objective sest the start current to the Light symbolic value and uses the OPTIONAL_PARAMETER_STRING argument to set the Short Circuit Load Resistance to 20m, and the delay before applying the short circuit to 50u.

ShortCkt(INPUT:1, Light, SHORTCKT_LOAD_RESISTANCE=20m TIME_DELAY=50u)

Test Report

You can view the complete test report in a new browser window here: ShortCktLine() Test Report. Below is an interactive link to the same test report.

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