Pulse transformer

Introduction:-

A pulse transformer is a transformer that is optimised for transmitting rectangular electrical

Small versions called signal types are used in digital logic and telecommunications circuits, often
for matching logic drivers to transmission lines.

Medium-sized power versions are used in power-control circuits such as camera

Larger power versions are used in the electrical power distribution industry to interface low-
voltage control circuitry to the high-voltage gates of power semiconductors.

Special high voltage pulse transformers are also used to generate high power pulses
for radar, particle accelerators, or other high energy pulsed power applications.

To minimize distortion of the pulse shape, a pulse transformer needs to have low values
of leakage inductance and distributed capacitance, and a high open-circuit inductance. In power-
type pulse transformers, a low coupling capacitance (between the primary and secondary) is
important to protect the circuitry on the primary side from high-powered transients created by the
load. For the same reason, high insulation resistance and high breakdown voltage are required. A
good transient response is necessary to maintain the rectangular pulse shape at the secondary,
because a pulse with slow edges would create switching losses in the power semiconductors.

The product of the peak pulse voltage and the duration of the pulse (or more accurately, the
voltage-time integral) is often used to characterise pulse transformers. Generally speaking, the
larger this product, the larger and more expensive the transformer.

Pulse transformers by definition have a duty cycle of less than 0.5; whatever energy stored in the
coil during the pulse must be "dumped" out before the pulse is fired again.

Technical requirements:-

Technical requirements are always specific to a given application hence it is not possible to have
a universal configuration. However, there are features which are favourable for most
implementations, and some of them are given as examples below.

Galvanic isolation

A pulse transformer usually has galvanic isolation between its windings. This allows for the
primary driving circuit to operate at a different electric potential from the secondary driven
circuit. The isolation can be very high, e.g. 4 kV for small electronic transformers.16) This is
especially true for very high-power applications in which the output voltage can reach 200
kV.17)

The galvanic isolation also allows meeting safety requirements if one part of the circuit is unsafe
to touch, due to the danger of higher voltage, even if for a brief period of time (e.g. if current
path is broken in series with inductance).

Pulse transformation

For a gate driving applications usually a rectangular voltage pulse with fast rising and falling
edges is required. The frequency bandwidth must be high enough for a given application, so that
the delay in signal transmission is acceptably small and there are no severe distortions of the
signal.

The frequency bandwidth and signal fidelity are dictated mostly by the non-ideal and parasitic
parameters of the transformer: inter-winding capacitance, self-capacitance of each winding,
equivalent resistance, etc.

Combination of these parameters can cause a number of effects on the transformed

A good quality pulse transformer should have low leakage inductance and distributed
capacitance as well as high open-circuit inductance.

The transformed pulse will be only a poorer copy of the input pulse. So the if the driving circuit
produces a non-ideal pulse then the pulse shape will suffer from additional distortions.19)

Typical pulse transformer waveforms suffering from overshoot, droop and

Typical pulse transformer waveforms suffering

Windings and turns ratio:-

In most low-power or applications the turns ratio is around unity 1:1 (or similar like 1:2). Only
when the level of signal must be changed to a different voltage then a significantly different turns
ratio will be used, as it is the case for most transformers in forward converters (low or high
power).
Pulse transformer can have more than two windings, which can be used for instance to drive
several transistors simultaneously, so that any phase shifts or delays between signals are
minimised.

Typical configurations of low-power pulse transformers

Simplified example with a two-winding 1:1 pulse transformer driving a gate of

a MOSFET (T)

Simplified example with a three-winding 1:1:1 pulse transformer driving gates of thyristors (T1

and T2)

Multi-winding pulse transformer wound on a toroidal core, for a specialised application

A pulse transformer can operate correctly only when the magnetic saturation is avoided. For this
reason most electronic pulse transformers have a rating (volt-second product) given in their data
sheets.20)21). This value indicates what amount of energy can be safely applied to the primary
winding before the saturation occurs.

For small transformers these values can be specified as e.g. “200 µVs”, so a 10 V pulse could be
applied for 20 µs. After the pulse is applied the circuit must provide the transformer with a
means of resetting the flux, otherwise saturation might occur after repeated pulsing due to DC
offset or “flux walking”. This can be achieved for example by AC coupling through a series
capacitor or limiting the duty cycle to less than 50%.

In some applications presence of strong magnetic field might cause problems for operation of
pulse transformers with high-permeability cores. The core could saturate which might lead to
partial or full loss of signal fidelity. In order to avoid such problems some magnetic
shielding might be required.

Leakage inductance and parasitic capacitance:-

High-power pulse transformer with conically shaped windings for minimising parasitic
capacitance

Leakage inductance is an unwanted parameter and its value should be as low as possible. This is
achieved firstly by using high-permeability magnetic core. As it is for other transformers, the
type of material depends on the required frequency bandwidth and other operating parametres.
Some applications use soft ferrite, mumetal, nanocrystalline, amorphous or thin gauge electrical
steel.

Reduction of leakage inductance is also achieved by tightly wound coils, e.g. as in bifilar
winding. Leakage inductance of typical electronic pulse transformers is less than 1% of the total
primary inductance.

The leakage inductance stores energy which must be removed after which driving pulse. This
can worsen the energy efficiency but also increase time delay in the gate driving applications.33)

As in any transformer, minimizing leakage inductance by winding primary and secondary

On the other hand, higher insulation between the windings might require larger distance between
them and this lowers the parasitic capacitance, but increases the leakage inductance.

Although not always specifically referred to as “pulse transformers” there are devices used for
the purpose of pulse transmission. Such devices might not have a magnetic core at all, so that the
leakage inductance will be proportionally much greater. However, their capability is sufficient
for achieving the pulse transformation as required in a given application.34) Therefore, because
of the very function they are used for they can also be referred to as “pulse transformers”.

Working principle of pulse transformer :-

The traditional transformers deals with sinusoidal waveforms, but pulse transformers deals with
square pulse waveforms.

Signal processing is the vital part of this transformers. Initially, input signal waves are provided
in the primary side of pulse transformer, it may be distorted sinusoidal or square pulse signal.

But, this distorted signal usually randomize the flux distribution in primary coil.

Then the high reluctance path(core) is confine those fluxes into it and reduces the leakage fluxes.

The distortion of pulses are are also reduced as the core is made by high permeability material.

Then the flux linkages in secondary winding leads to develop another pulse series, which is
nothing but the dV / dt of the input signal.

Amplitude of the pulses are depended upon the turns ratio. So, it gives a distortionless and
modified pulse series as the output.

Construction of Pulse Transformer:-

The general construction of pulse transformer are quite similar to that of the power transformers.

But some special improvement or modification is provided.

As they are used in sophisticated electronics applications, therefore the design of that
transformers should carried out in such a way, that they can minimize the effects of signal
distortion.

The pulse transformers are designed on shell type core construction.

The main reason is, shell type core construction provides reduce susceptibility for eddy current
as well it can withstand with high voltage level ( specially in case of power pulse transformer ).

As those transformers are based on shell type core construction, therefore the capacitance effect
in between the primary and secondary winding is reduced.

Types of Pulse Transformers:-

In general, pulse transformers are classified in two categories, namely signal type pulse
transformer and power type pulse transformer.
The product of those is termed as voltage time integral. Large voltage time integral means the
pulse peak voltages are high.

The classification of pulse transformers are done with the help of a determining factor ‘Voltage
Time Integral’. Each pulse has its peak voltage ( that is the maximum amplitude ) and a certain
time period (duration of the pulse).

Pulse

Application of pulse transformers:-

Small sized pulse transformers, that is signal transformers are used in low voltage electronics
applications like camera flasher, and they are also used in controlling of digital logic circuits.

These generated pulse from this type of transformers are used for gate turn on process.

They are also used in telecommunication system.

High voltage pulse transformers that is power pulse transformers are used in radars, particle
acceleration purposes.