Due to undesirable interference via unintended coupling paths, switching converters may exhibit complex intermittency, which appears as a form of bifurcation un-dergoing regular operation, subharmonics, and chaos orderly and repeatedly for a long period of time. Such intermittent operation, being an unwanted operating state, should normally be avoided in power converters. This paper expounds the mechanism and conditions for the emergence of intermittency in a common current-mode controlled Boost converter. It is found that interference at frequencies near the switching frequency or its rational multiples may induce intermittent operation. The strengths and frequencies of the interfering signals determine the type and period of intermittency. The problem is analyzed by transforming the time-bifurcation analysis to a conventional parameter-bifurcation analysis. Based on this transformation, intermittency can be investigated from the bifurcation control viewpoint. Furthermore, the critical circuit parameter conditions for the emergence of inter-mittency can be predicted and compared with those from circuit simulation.
