voltagemode

Voltagemode is a term used in electronics and control theory to describe an operation or control strategy in which the output is regulated primarily through a voltage-based control signal rather than a current-based signal or other sensing modality. In practice, voltagemode commonly appears in discussions of voltage-mode control, where a voltage feedback signal governs the duty cycle or gain of a system.

In switched-mode power supplies and motor controllers, voltagemode control uses feedback from the output voltage to generate a control voltage. This control voltage is then processed by a compensation network and compared against a ramp or carrier signal to produce a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal that drives switching elements. The result is regulation of the output voltage to a desired setpoint. This approach contrasts with current-mode control, where the sensed current informs the regulation loop and can influence transient response and current limiting differently.

Applications of voltagemode include buck, boost, and buck-boost converters, as well as some linear regulators that employ voltage-based regulation schemes. It is also encountered in instrumentation and audio electronics where voltage signals serve as control or bias inputs. Advantages of voltagemode typically include straightforward interfacing with digital-to-analog conversion and simple feedback architectures, especially when the available control signal is a voltage. Limitations can include slower transient response relative to some current-based schemes and more stringent requirements for compensation to maintain stability over operating ranges.

See also: current-mode control, voltage-controlled regulation, PWM, switched-mode power supply.