A dc-dc buck converter controlled by naturallysampled, constant-frequency pulsewidth modulation in continuous conduction mode gives rise to a great variety of behavior, depending on the values of the parameters of the circuit. We analyze the one-periodic and two-periodic orbits which cross the voltage ramp once per cycle, and we study their stability by computing the characteristic multipliers associated with each one. Subharmonics, bifurcations, and the presence of a strange attractor are also studied. A plot of the number of crossings in the ramp is drawn. This becomes a helpful tool for investigating the evolution of the trajectories when they are close to the attractor. When analytic computations are impossible, we resort to numerical algorithms to simulate the orbits.

Peer Reviewed