LTC3727/LTC3727-1
High Efficiency, 2-Phase
Synchronous Step-Down Switching Regulators
FEATURES
DESCRIPTIO
U
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
Wide Output Voltage Range: 0.8V ≤ VOUT ≤ 14V
Out-of-Phase Controllers Reduce Required Input
Capacitance and Power Supply Induced Noise
OPTI-LOOP® Compensation Minimizes COUT
±1% Output Voltage Accuracy
Power Good Output Voltage Monitor
Phase-Lockable Fixed Frequency 250kHz to 550kHz
Latched Short-Circuit Shutdown (LTC3727 Only)
Dual N-Channel MOSFET Synchronous Drive
Wide VIN Range: 4V to 36V Operation
Very Low Dropout Operation: 99% Duty Cycle
Adjustable Soft-Start Current Ramping
Foldback Output Current Limiting
Output Overvoltage Protection
Low Shutdown IQ: 20μA
Selectable Constant Frequency or Burst Mode®
Operation
Small 28-Lead SSOP Package
LTC3727-1 Also Available in the 5mm × 5mm QFN
Package
The LTC®3727/LTC3727-1 are high performance dual
step-down switching regulator controllers that drive all
N-channel synchronous power MOSFET stages. A constant frequency current mode architecture allows phaselockable frequency of up to 550kHz. Power loss and noise
due to the ESR of the input capacitors are minimized by
operating the two controller output stages out of phase.
OPTI-LOOP compensation allows the transient response
to be optimized over a wide range of output capacitance and
ESR values. There is a precision 0.8V reference and a power
good output indicator. A wide 4V to 30V (36V maximum)
input supply range encompasses all battery chemistries.
A RUN/SS pin for each controller provides soft-start, and
on the LTC3727GN, optional timed, short-circuit shutdown. Current foldback limits MOSFET heat dissipation
during short-circuit conditions when overcurrent latchoff
is disabled. Output overvoltage protection circuitry latches
on the bottom MOSFET until VOUT returns to normal. The
FCB mode pin can select among Burst Mode, constant
frequency mode and continuous inductor current mode or
regulate a secondary winding.
U
APPLICATIO S
■
■
, LT, LTC and LTM are registered trademarks of Linear Technology Corporation. Burst
Mode and OPTI-LOOP are registered trademarks of Linear Technology Corporation. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Protected by U.S. Patents, including
5481178, 5929620, 6177787, 6144194, 6100678, 5408150, 6580258, 6304066, 5705919.
Telecom Systems
Automotive Systems
Battery-Operated Digital Devices
U
■
TYPICAL APPLICATIO
+
1μF
CERAMIC
4.7μF
VIN PGOOD INTVCC
M1
TG1
8μH
0.1μF
BOOST2
SW1
M2
BG1
VOUT1
5V
5A
LTC3727/
LTC3727-1
+
47μF
6V
SP
20k
1%
15k
M4
BG2
SENSE1+
SENSE2 +
SENSE1–
SENSE2 –
VOSENSE1
VOSENSE2
1000pF
ITH1
220pF
15μH
PGND
1000pF
105k
1%
0.1μF
SW2
PLLIN
0.015Ω
M3
TG2
BOOST1
VIN
18V TO 28V
22μF
50V
CERAMIC
280k
1%
ITH2
RUN/SS1 SGND RUN/SS2
0.1μF
0.015Ω
0.1μF
220pF
15k
20k
1%
M1, M2, M3, M4: FDS6680A
VOUT2
12V
4A
+ 56μF
15V
SP
3727 F01
Figure 1. High Efficiency Dual 12V/5V Step-Down Converter
3727fc
1
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
W W
W
AXI U
U
ABSOLUTE
RATI GS (Note 1)
Input Supply Voltage (VIN).........................36V to – 0.3V
Top Side Driver Voltages
(BOOST1, BOOST2) ...................................42V to – 0.3V
Switch Voltage (SW1, SW2) .........................36V to – 5V
INTVCC, EXTVCC, (BOOST1-SW1),
(BOOST2-SW2) ........................................8.5V to – 0.3V
RUN/SS1, RUN/SS2, PGOOD ..................... 7V to – 0.3V
SENSE1+, SENSE2 +, SENSE1–,
SENSE2 – Voltages .....................................14V to – 0.3V
PLLIN, PLLFLTR, FCB Voltages ........... INTVCC to – 0.3V
ITH1, ITH2, VOSENSE1, VOSENSE2 Voltages ...2.7V to – 0.3V
Peak Output Current fOSC
15
μA
3.3V Linear Regulator
V3.3OUT
3.3V Regulator Output Voltage
No Load
V3.3IL
3.3V Regulator Load Regulation
V3.3VL
3.3V Regulator Line Regulation
VPGL
IPGOOD
VPG
●
3.25
3.35
3.45
V
I3.3 = 0mA to 10mA
0.5
2.5
%
6V < VIN < 30V (LTC3727)
6V < VIN < 30V (LTC3727-1)
0.05
0.05
0.2
0.3
%
%
PGOOD Voltage Low
IPGOOD = 2mA
0.1
0.3
V
PGOOD Leakage Current
VPGOOD = 5V
±1
μA
PGOOD Trip Level, Either Controller
VOSENSE with Respect to Set Output Voltage
VOSENSE Ramping Negative
VOSENSE Ramping Positive
– 9.5
9.5
%
%
PGOOD Output
–6
6
–7.5
7.5
LTC3727EG/LTC3727EG-1/LTC3727IG-1: TJ = TA + (PD • 95 °C/W)
LTC3727EUH-1: TJ = TA + (PD • 34 °C/W)
Note 4: The LTC3727/LTC3727-1 are tested in a feedback loop that servos
VITH1, 2 to a specified voltage and measures the resultant VOSENSE1, 2.
Note 5: Dynamic supply current is higher due to the gate charge being
delivered at the switching frequency. See Applications Information.
Note 6: Rise and fall times are measured using 10% and 90% levels. Delay
times are measured using 50% levels.
Note 7: The minimum on-time condition is specified for an inductor
peak-to-peak ripple current ≥ 40% of IMAX (see minimum on-time
considerations in the Applications Information section).
Note 1: Stresses beyond those listed under Absolute Maximum Ratings
may cause permanent damage to the device. Exposure to any Absolute
Maximum Rating condition for extended periods may affect device
reliability and lifetime.
Note 2: The LTC3727E/LTC3727E-1 are guaranteed to meet performance
specifications from 0°C to 85°C. Specifications over the –40°C to 85°C
operating temperature range are assured by design, characterization and
correlation with statistical process controls. The LTC3727IG-1 is
guaranteed to meet performance specifications over the –40°C to 85°C
operating temperature range.
Note 3: TJ is calculated from the ambient temperature TA and power
dissipation PD according to the following formulas:
U W
TYPICAL PERFOR A CE CHARACTERISTICS
Efficiency vs Output Current
(Figure 13)
Efficiency vs Output Current
and Mode (Figure 13)
100
70
FORCED
CONTINUOUS
MODE
50
30
CONSTANT
FREQUENCY
(BURST DISABLE)
20
10
0
0.001
90
90
60
40
VOUT = 5V
IOUT = 3A
VIN = 7V
80
VIN = 10V
VIN = 15V
EFFICIENCY (%)
EFFICIENCY (%)
80
100
100
Burst Mode
OPERATION
EFFICIENCY (%)
90
Efficiency vs Input Voltage
(Figure 13)
VIN = 20V
70
0.1
0.01
1
OUTPUT CURRENT (A)
10
3727 G01
50
0.001
70
60
60
VIN = 15V
VOUT = 8.5V
80
VOUT = 5V
0.1
0.01
1
OUTPUT CURRENT (A)
10
3727 G02
50
5
25
15
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
35
3727 G03
3727fc
4
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U W
TYPICAL PERFOR A CE CHARACTERISTICS
Supply Current vs Input Voltage
and Mode (Figure 13)
Internal 7.5V LDO Line Regulation
EXTVCC Voltage Drop
1000
160
7.7
VEXTVCC = 8.5V
EXTVCC VOLTAGE DROP (mV)
BOTH
CONTROLLERS ON
600
400
200
7.5
120
INTVCC VOLTAGE (V)
SUPPLY CURRENT (μA)
800
ILOAD = 1mA
7.6
140
100
80
60
7.4
7.3
7.2
7.1
40
7.0
20
6.9
SHUTDOWN
0
20
10
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
0
0
30
0
10
20
30
CURRENT (mA)
40
3727 G04
6.8
50
0
5
10
15
20
25
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
30
3727 G05
3727 G06
Maximum Current Sense Threshold
vs Percent of Nominal Output
Voltage (Foldback)
Maximum Current Sense Threshold
vs Duty Factor
150
35
Maximum Current Sense Threshold
vs VRUN/SS (Soft-Start)
150
150
VSENSE(CM) = 1.6V
135
120
125
75
50
VSENSE (mV)
105
100
VSENSE (mV)
VSENSE (mV)
125
90
75
60
45
100
75
30
25
15
0
0
20
40
60
DUTY FACTOR (%)
80
0
100
50
3727 G07
25
0
5
6
VOSENSE = 0.7V
2.0
–0.1
VITH (V)
NORMALIZED VOUT (%)
50
3
4
VRUN/SS (V)
VITH vs VRUN/SS
2.5
FCB = 0V
VIN = 15V
FIGURE 1
125
75
2
3727 G09
Load Regulation
0.0
150
100
1
3727 G08
Current Sense Threshold
vs ITH Voltage
VSENSE (mV)
0
20
60
80
0
100
40
PERCENT OF NOMINAL OUTPUT VOLTAGE (%)
–0.2
1.5
1.0
–0.3
0.5
–25
–50
0
0.5
1.0
1.5
VITH (V)
2.0
2.5
3727 G10
–0.4
0
1
3
2
LOAD CURRENT (A)
0
4
5
3727 G11
0
1
2
3
4
VRUN/SS (V)
5
6
3727 G12
3727fc
5
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U W
TYPICAL PERFOR A CE CHARACTERISTICS
Dropout Voltage vs Output Current
(Figure 13)
SENSE Pins Total Source Current
100
1.4
50
RUN/SS Current vs Temperature
1.8
VOUT = 5V
1.6
1.2
ISENSE (μA)
–50
–100
–150
–200
–250
–300
RUN/SS CURRENT (μA)
DROPOUT VOLTAGE (V)
0
1.0
RSENSE = 0.015Ω
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
–350
0
10
5
VSENSE COMMON MODE VOLTAGE (V)
15
0
1
2
3
4
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
RSENSE = 0.010Ω
0
–400
1.4
1.2
5
0
–50
OUTPUT CURRENT (A)
3727 G13
0
25
50
75
TEMPERATURE (°C)
100
125
3727 G15
3727 G14
Soft-Start Up (Figure 12)
Load Step (Figure 12)
IOUT*
5A/DIV
–25
Load Step (Figure 12)
VOUT
200mV/DIV
VOUT
200mV/DIV
IOUT*
2A/DIV
IOUT*
2A/DIV
VOUT
5V/DIV
VRUN/SS
5V/DIV
VIN = 20V
VOUT = 12V
50ms/DIV
50μs/DIV
VIN = 15V
VOUT = 12V
LOAD STEP = 0A TO 3A
Burst Mode OPERATION
3727 G16
Input Source/Capacitor
Instantaneous Current (Figure 12)
IIN
1A/DIV
VIN = 15V
50μs/DIV
VOUT = 12V
LOAD STEP = 0A TO 3A
CONTINUOUS MODE
3727 G17
Constant Frequency (Burst Inhibit)
Operation (Figure 12)
Burst Mode Operation (Figure 12)
VOUT
20mV/DIV
3727 G18
VOUT
20mV/DIV
VSW1
20V/DIV
VSW2
20V/DIV
IOUT*
0.5A/DIV
IOUT*
0.5A/DIV
VIN = 15V
VOUT1 = 12V
VOUT2 = 5V
IOUT1 = IOUT2 = 2A
1μs/DIV
3727 G19
VIN = 15V
VOUT = 12V
VFCB = OPEN
IOUT = 20mA
50μs/DIV
3727 G20
VIN = 15V
VOUT = 12V
VFCB = 7.5V
IOUT = 20mA
5μs/DIV
3727 G21
*IOUT ⇒ INDUCTOR CURRENT
3727fc
6
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U W
TYPICAL PERFOR A CE CHARACTERISTICS
Current Sense Pin Input Current
vs Temperature
EXTVCC Switch Resistance
vs Temperature
10
35
700
VOUT = 5V
33
31
29
27
25
–50 –25
50
25
0
75
TEMPERATURE (°C)
100
125
600
6
4
500
VPLLFLTR = 1.2V
400
300
VPLLFLTR = 0V
200
2
100
0
–50 –25
50
25
0
75
TEMPERATURE (°C)
100
125
0
– 50 – 25
50
25
75
0
TEMPERATURE (°C)
3727 G23
3727 G22
Undervoltage Lockout
vs Temperature
100
125
3727 G24
Shutdown Latch Thresholds
vs Temperature
4.5
SHUTDOWN LATCH THRESHOLDS (V)
3.50
UNDERVOLTAGE LOCKOUT (V)
VPLLFLTR = 5V
8
FREQUENCY (kHz)
EXTVCC SWITCH RESISTANCE (Ω)
CURRENT SENSE INPUT CURRENT (μA)
Oscillator Frequency
vs Temperature
3.45
3.40
3.35
3.30
3.25
3.20
–50 –25
50
25
75
0
TEMPERATURE (°C)
100
125
3727 G25
U
U
U
PI FU CTIO S
4.0
LATCH ARMING
3.5
3.0
2.5
LATCHOFF
THRESHOLD
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
LTC3727 ONLY
0
0
25
–50 –25
50
75
TEMPERATURE (°C)
100
125
3727 G26
G Package/UH Package
RUN/SS1, RUN/SS2 (Pins 1, 15/Pins 28, 13): Combination of Soft-Start, Run Control Inputs and Short-Circuit
Detection Timers (LTC3727 only). A capacitor to ground at
each of these pins sets the ramp time to full output current.
Forcing either of these pins back below 1.0V causes the IC
to shut down the circuitry required for that particular
controller. Latchoff overcurrent protection is also invoked
via this pin as described in the Applications Information
section (LTC3727 only).
SENSE1+, SENSE2+ (Pins 2, 14/Pins 30, 12): The (+)
Input to the Differential Current Comparators. The ITH pin
voltage and controlled offsets between the SENSE– and
SENSE+ pins in conjunction with RSENSE set the current
trip threshold.
SENSE1–, SENSE2– (Pins 3, 13/Pins 31, 11): The (–)
Input to the Differential Current Comparators.
VOSENSE1, VOSENSE2 (Pins 4, 12/Pins 1, 9): Receives the
remotely-sensed feedback voltage for each controller from
an external resistive divider across the output.
3727fc
7
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
U
U
PI FU CTIO S
PLLFLTR (Pin 5/Pin 2): The phase-locked loop’s lowpass
filter is tied to this pin. Alternatively, this pin can be driven
with an AC or DC voltage source to vary the frequency of
the internal oscillator.
PLLIN (Pin 6/Pin 3): External Synchronization Input to
Phase Detector. This pin is internally terminated to SGND
with 50kΩ. The phase-locked loop will force the rising top
gate signal of controller 1 to be synchronized with the
rising edge of the PLLIN signal.
FCB (Pin 7/Pin 4): Forced Continuous Control Input. This
input acts on both controllers and is normally used to
regulate a secondary winding. Pulling this pin below 0.8V
will force continuous synchronous operation. Do not
leave this pin floating.
ITH1, ITH2 (Pins 8, 11/Pins 5, 8): Error Amplifier Outputs
and Switching Regulator Compensation Points. Each associated channels’ current comparator trip point increases
with this control voltage.
SGND (Pin 9/Pin 6): Small Signal Ground. Common
to both controllers; must be routed separately from
high current grounds to the common (–) terminals
of the COUT capacitors.
EXTVCC (Pin 22/Pin 21): External Power Input to an
Internal Switch Connected to INTVCC. This switch closes
and supplies VCC power, bypassing the internal low dropout regulator, whenever EXTVCC is higher than 7.3V. See
EXTVCC connection in Applications section. Do not exceed
8.5V on this pin.
BG1, BG2 (Pins 23, 19/Pins 22, 18): High Current Gate
Drives for Bottom (Synchronous) N-Channel MOSFETs.
Voltage swing at these pins is from ground to INTVCC.
VIN (Pin 24/Pin 23): Main Supply Pin. A bypass capacitor
should be tied between this pin and the signal ground pin.
BOOST1, BOOST2 (Pins 25, 18/Pins 24, 17): Bootstrapped
Supplies to the Top Side Floating Drivers. Capacitors are
connected between the boost and switch pins and Schottky diodes are tied between the boost and INTVCC pins.
Voltage swing at the boost pins is from INTVCC to (VIN +
INTVCC).
SW1, SW2 (Pins 26, 17/Pins 25, 15): Switch Node
Connections to Inductors. Voltage swing at these pins is
from a Schottky diode (external) voltage drop below
ground to VIN.
3.3VOUT (Pin 10/Pin 7): Linear Regulator Output. Capable
of supplying 10mA DC with peak currents as high as
50mA.
TG1, TG2 (Pins 27, 16/Pins 26, 14): High Current Gate
Drives for Top N-Channel MOSFETs. These are the outputs
of floating drivers with a voltage swing equal to INTVCC –
0.5V superimposed on the switch node voltage SW.
PGND (Pin 20/Pin 19): Driver Power Ground. Connects to the
sources of bottom (synchronous) N-channel MOSFETs, anodes of the Schottky rectifiers and the (–) terminal(s) of CIN.
PGOOD (Pin 28/Pin 27): Open-Drain Logic Output. PGOOD
is pulled to ground when the voltage on either VOSENSE pin
is not within ±7.5% of its set point.
INTVCC (Pin 21/Pin 20): Output of the Internal 7.5V Linear
Low Dropout Regulator and the EXTVCC Switch. The driver
and control circuits are powered from this voltage source.
Must be decoupled to power ground with a minimum of 4.7μF
tantalum or other low ESR capacitor.
Exposed Pad (Pin 33, UH Package): Signal Ground. Must
be soldered to the PCB ground for electrical contact and
optimum thermal performance.
3727fc
8
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
W
FU CTIO AL DIAGRA
U
U
PLLIN
FIN
VIN
INTVCC
PHASE DET
DUPLICATE FOR SECOND
CONTROLLER CHANNEL
50k
BOOST
DB
PLLFLTR
DROP
OUT
DET
CLK1
RLP
OSCILLATOR
CLK2
CLP
–
0.86V
S
Q
R
Q
BOT
VOSENSE1
TOP ON
SWITCH
LOGIC
INTVCC
0.86V
+
0.55V
COUT
PGND
B
–
+
BG
+
–
CIN
SW
BOT
0.74V
+
D1
–
+
CB
FCB
+
PGOOD
TG
TOP
SHDN
VOSENSE2
VOUT
RSENSE
–
+
1.5V
7V
0.18μA
I1
–
+
R6
0.74V
–
BINH
FCB
–
3.3VOUT
+
0.8V
–
++
FCB
SLOPE
COMP
–
+
50k SENSE
+
25k
2.4V
VREF
–
EA
+
OV
VIN
EXTVCC
–
7.5V
LDO
REG
VOSENSE
0.80V
SHDN
RST
4(VFB)
+
R2
R1
0.86V
ITH
1.2μA
6V
INTVCC
VFB
+
–
+
CSEC
25k
VIN
7.3V
DSEC
–
50k SENSE
–
7.5V
INTVCC
I2
–
3mV
0.86V
4(VFB)
+
R5
+
+
VSEC
RUN
SOFT
START
CC
CC2
RC
RUN/SS
SGND
INTERNAL
SUPPLY
CSS
3727 F02
Figure 2
U
OPERATIO (Refer to Functional Diagram)
Main Control Loop
The LTC3727/LTC3727-1 use a constant frequency, current mode step-down architecture with the two controller
channels operating 180 degrees out of phase. During
normal operation, each top MOSFET is turned on when the
clock for that channel sets the RS latch, and turned off
when the main current comparator, I1, resets the RS latch.
The peak inductor current at which I1 resets the RS latch
is controlled by the voltage on the ITH pin, which is the
output of each error amplifier EA. The VOSENSE pin receives
the voltage feedback signal, which is compared to the
internal reference voltage by the EA. When the load current
increases, it causes a slight decrease in VOSENSE relative to
the 0.8V reference, which in turn causes the ITH voltage to
increase until the average inductor current matches the
new load current. After the top MOSFET has turned off, the
bottom MOSFET is turned on until either the inductor
current starts to reverse, as indicated by current comparator I2, or the beginning of the next cycle.
3727fc
9
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
OPERATIO (Refer to Functional Diagram)
The top MOSFET drivers are biased from floating bootstrap capacitor CB, which normally is recharged during
each off cycle through an external diode when the top
MOSFET turns off. As VIN decreases to a voltage close to
VOUT, the loop may enter dropout and attempt to turn on
the top MOSFET continuously. The dropout detector detects this and forces the top MOSFET off for about 400ns
every tenth cycle to allow CB to recharge.
The main control loop is shut down by pulling the RUN/SS
pin low. Releasing RUN/SS allows an internal 1.2μA
current source to charge soft-start capacitor CSS. When
CSS reaches 1.5V, the main control loop is enabled with the
ITH voltage clamped at approximately 30% of its maximum
value. As CSS continues to charge, the ITH pin voltage is
gradually released allowing normal, full-current operation. When both RUN/SS1 and RUN/SS2 are low, all
LTC3727/LTC3727-1 controller functions are shut down,
including the 7.5V and 3.3V regulators.
Low Current Operation
The FCB pin is a multifunction pin providing two functions: 1) to provide regulation for a secondary winding by
temporarily forcing continuous PWM operation on
both controllers; and 2) to select between two modes of
low current operation. When the FCB pin voltage is below
0.8V, the controller forces continuous PWM current
mode operation. In this mode, the top and bottom
MOSFETs are alternately turned on to maintain the output
voltage independent of direction of inductor current.
When the FCB pin is below VINTVCC – 2V but greater than
0.8V, the controller enters Burst Mode operation. Burst
Mode operation sets a minimum output current level
before inhibiting the top switch and turns off the synchronous MOSFET(s) when the inductor current goes negative. This combination of requirements will, at low currents, force the ITH pin below a voltage threshold that will
temporarily inhibit turn-on of both output MOSFETs until
the output voltage drops. There is 60mV of hysteresis in
the burst comparator B tied to the ITH pin. This hysteresis
produces output signals to the MOSFETs that turn them
on for several cycles, followed by a variable “sleep”
interval depending upon the load current. The resultant
output voltage ripple is held to a very small value by
having the hysteretic comparator follow the error amplifier gain block.
Frequency Synchronization
The phase-locked loop allows the internal oscillator to be
synchronized to an external source via the PLLIN pin. The
output of the phase detector at the PLLFLTR pin is also the
DC frequency control input of the oscillator that operates
over a 250kHz to 550kHz range corresponding to a DC
voltage input from 0V to 2.4V. When locked, the PLL
aligns the turn on of the top MOSFET to the rising edge of
the synchronizing signal. When PLLIN is left open, the
PLLFLTR pin goes low, forcing the oscillator to its minimum frequency.
Continuous Current (PWM) Operation
Tying the FCB pin to ground will force continuous current
operation. This is the least efficient operating mode, but
may be desirable in certain applications. The output can
source or sink current in this mode. When sinking current
while in forced continuous operation, current will be
forced back into the main power supply potentially boosting the input supply to dangerous voltage levels—
BEWARE!
INTVCC/EXTVCC Power
Power for the top and bottom MOSFET drivers and most
other internal circuitry is derived from the INTVCC pin.
When the EXTVCC pin is left open, an internal 7.5V low
dropout linear regulator supplies INTVCC power. If EXTVCC
is taken above 7.3V, the 7.5V regulator is turned off and an
internal switch is turned on connecting EXTVCC to INTVCC.
This allows the INTVCC power to be derived from a high
efficiency external source such as the output of the regulator itself or a secondary winding, as described in the
Applications Information section.
Output Overvoltage Protection
An overvoltage comparator, OV, guards against transient
overshoots (>7.5%) as well as other more serious conditions that may overvoltage the output. In this case, the top
MOSFET is turned off and the bottom MOSFET is turned on
until the overvoltage condition is cleared.
3727fc
10
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
OPERATIO (Refer to Functional Diagram)
Power Good (PGOOD) Pin
THEORY AND BENEFITS OF 2-PHASE OPERATION
The PGOOD pin is connected to an open drain of an internal
MOSFET. The MOSFET turns on and pulls the pin low when
either output is not within ±7.5% of the nominal output
level as determined by the resistive feedback divider.
When both outputs meet the ±7.5% requirement, the
MOSFET is turned off within 10μs and the pin is allowed to
be pulled up by an external resistor to a source of up to 7V.
The LTC3727 dual high efficiency DC/DC controller brings
the considerable benefits of 2-phase operation to portable
applications. Notebook computers, PDAs, handheld terminals and automotive electronics will all benefit from the
lower input filtering requirement, reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI) and increased efficiency associated with 2-phase operation.
Foldback Current, Short-Circuit Detection
and Short-Circuit Latchoff (LTC3727 Only)
Why the need for 2-phase operation? Until recently, constant-frequency dual switching regulators operated both
channels in phase (i.e., single-phase operation). This
means that both switches turned on at the same time,
causing current pulses of up to twice the amplitude of
those for one regulator to be drawn from the input capacitor and battery. These large amplitude current pulses
increased the total RMS current flowing from the input
capacitor, requiring the use of more expensive input
capacitors and increasing both EMI and losses in the input
capacitor and battery.
The RUN/SS capacitors are used initially to limit the inrush
current of each switching regulator. After the controller
has been started and been given adequate time to charge
up the output capacitors and provide full load current, the
RUN/SS capacitor is used in a short-circuit time-out
circuit. If the output voltage falls to less than 70% of its
nominal output voltage, the RUN/SS capacitor begins
discharging on the assumption that the output is in an
overcurrent and/or short-circuit condition. If the condition lasts for a long enough period as determined by the
size of the RUN/SS capacitor, the controller will be shut
down until the RUN/SS pin(s) voltage(s) are recycled.
This built-in latchoff can be overridden by providing a
>5μA pull-up at a compliance of 5V to the RUN/SS pin(s).
This current shortens the soft start period but also prevents net discharge of the RUN/SS capacitor(s) during an
overcurrent and/or short-circuit condition. Foldback current limiting is also activated when the output voltage falls
below 70% of its nominal level whether or not the shortcircuit latchoff circuit is enabled. Even if a short is present
and the short-circuit latchoff is not enabled, a safe, low
output current is provided due to internal current foldback
and actual power wasted is low due to the efficient nature
of the current mode switching regulator.
PART NUMBER
LTC3727
LTC3727-1
FUNCTION
With Latchoff Function Available
Latchoff Always Disabled
With 2-phase operation, the two channels of the dualswitching regulator are operated 180 degrees out of
phase. This effectively interleaves the current pulses
drawn by the switches, greatly reducing the overlap time
where they add together. The result is a significant reduction in total RMS input current, which in turn allows less
expensive input capacitors to be used, reduces shielding
requirements for EMI and improves real world operating
efficiency.
Figure 3 compares the input waveforms for a representative single-phase dual switching regulator to the new
LTC3727 2-phase dual switching regulator. An actual
measurement of the RMS input current under these conditions shows that 2-phase operation dropped the input
current from 2.53ARMS to 1.55ARMS. While this is an
impressive reduction in itself, remember that the power
losses are proportional to IRMS2, meaning that the actual
power wasted is reduced by a factor of 2.66. The reduced
input ripple voltage also means less power is lost in the
3727fc
11
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
OPERATIO (Refer to Functional Diagram)
5V SWITCH
20V/DIV
3.3V SWITCH
20V/DIV
INPUT CURRENT
5A/DIV
INPUT VOLTAGE
500mV/DIV
IIN(MEAS) = 2.53ARMS
IIN(MEAS) = 1.55ARMS
3727 F03a
3727 F03b
(b)
(a)
Figure 3. Input Waveforms Comparing Single-Phase (a) and 2-Phase (b) Operation for
Dual Switching Regulators Converting 12V to 5V and 3.3V at 3A Each. The Reduced Input
Ripple with the LTC3727 2-Phase Regulator Allows Less Expensive Input Capacitors,
Reduces Shielding Requirements for EMI and Improves Efficiency
Of course, the improvement afforded by 2-phase operation is a function of the dual switching regulator’s relative
duty cycles which, in turn, are dependent upon the input
voltage VIN (Duty Cycle = VOUT/VIN). Figure 4 shows how
the RMS input current varies for single-phase and 2-phase
operation for 3.3V and 5V regulators over a wide input
voltage range.
It can readily be seen that the advantages of 2-phase
operation are not just limited to a narrow operating range,
but in fact extend over a wide region. A good rule of thumb
for most applications is that 2-phase operation will reduce
the input capacitor requirement to that for just one channel
operating at maximum current and 50% duty cycle.
require an oscillator derived “slope compensation” signal
to allow stable operation of each regulator at over 50%
duty cycle. This signal is relatively easy to derive in singlephase dual switching regulators, but required the development of a new and proprietary technique to allow 2-phase
operation. In addition, isolation between the two channels
becomes more critical with 2-phase operation because
switch transitions in one channel could potentially disrupt
the operation of the other channel.
3.0
SINGLE PHASE
DUAL CONTROLLER
2.5
INPUT RMS CURRENT (A)
input power path, which could include batteries, switches,
trace/connector resistances and protection circuitry. Improvements in both conducted and radiated EMI also
directly accrue as a result of the reduced RMS input
current and voltage.
2.0
1.5
2-PHASE
DUAL CONTROLLER
1.0
0.5
A final question: If 2-phase operation offers such an
advantage over single-phase operation for dual switching
regulators, why hasn’t it been done before? The answer is
that, while simple in concept, it is hard to implement.
Constant-frequency current mode switching regulators
0
VO1 = 5V/3A
VO2 = 3.3V/3A
0
10
20
30
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
40
3727 F04
Figure 4. RMS Input Current Comparison
3727fc
12
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
2.5
PLLFLTR PIN VOLTAGE (V)
Figure 1 on the first page is a basic LTC3727/LTC3727-1
application circuit. External component selection is driven
by the load requirement, and begins with the selection of
RSENSE and the inductor value. Next, the power MOSFETs
and D1 are selected. Finally, CIN and COUT are selected.
The circuit shown in Figure 1 can be configured for
operation up to an input voltage of 28V (limited by the
external MOSFETs).
RSENSE Selection For Output Current
RSENSE is chosen based on the required output current.
The LTC3727 current comparator has a maximum threshold of 135mV/RSENSE and an input common mode range
of SGND to 14V. The current comparator threshold sets
the peak of the inductor current, yielding a maximum
average output current IMAX equal to the peak value less
half the peak-to-peak ripple current, ΔIL.
Allowing a margin for variations in the LTC3727 and
external component values yields:
RSENSE =
90mV
IMAX
When using the controller in very low dropout conditions,
the maximum output current level will be reduced due to
the internal compensation required to meet stability criterion for buck regulators operating at greater than 50%
duty factor. A curve is provided to estimate this reducton
in peak output current level depending upon the operating
duty factor.
Operating Frequency
The LTC3727 uses a constant frequency phase-lockable
architecture with the frequency determined by an internal
capacitor. This capacitor is charged by a fixed current plus
an additional current which is proportional to the voltage
applied to the PLLFLTR pin. Refer to Phase-Locked Loop
and Frequency Synchronization in the Applications Information section for additional information.
A graph for the voltage applied to the PLLFLTR pin vs
frequency is given in Figure 5. As the operating frequency
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
200
250 300 350 400 450 500
OPERATING FREQUENCY (kHz)
550
3727 F05
Figure 5. PLLFLTR Pin Voltage vs Frequency
is increased the gate charge losses will be higher, reducing
efficiency (see Efficiency Considerations). The maximum
switching frequency is approximately 550kHz.
Inductor Value Calculation
The operating frequency and inductor selection are interrelated in that higher operating frequencies allow the use
of smaller inductor and capacitor values. So why would
anyone ever choose to operate at lower frequencies with
larger components? The answer is efficiency. A higher
frequency generally results in lower efficiency because of
MOSFET gate charge losses. In addition to this basic
trade-off, the effect of inductor value on ripple current and
low current operation must also be considered.
The inductor value has a direct effect on ripple current. The
inductor ripple current ΔIL decreases with higher inductance or frequency and increases with higher VIN:
ΔIL =
⎛ V ⎞
1
VOUT ⎜ 1 – OUT ⎟
⎝
( f)(L)
VIN ⎠
Accepting larger values of ΔIL allows the use of low
inductances, but results in higher output voltage ripple
and greater core losses. A reasonable starting point for
setting ripple current is ΔIL = 0.3(IMAX). The maximum ΔIL
occurs at the maximum input voltage.
3727fc
13
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
The inductor value also has secondary effects. The transition to Burst Mode operation begins when the average
inductor current required results in a peak current below
25% of the current limit determined by RSENSE. Lower
inductor values (higher ΔIL) will cause this to occur at
lower load currents, which can cause a dip in efficiency in
the upper range of low current operation. In Burst Mode
operation, lower inductance values will cause the burst
frequency to decrease.
The peak-to-peak drive levels are set by the INTVCC
voltage. This voltage is typically 7.5V during start-up (see
EXTVCC Pin Connection). Consequently, logic-level
threshold MOSFETs must be used in most applications.
The only exception is if low input voltage is expected
(VIN < 5V); then, sub-logic level threshold MOSFETs
(VGS(TH) < 3V) should be used. Pay close attention to the
BVDSS specification for the MOSFETs as well; most of the
logic level MOSFETs are limited to 30V or less.
Inductor Core Selection
Selection criteria for the power MOSFETs include the “ON”
resistance RDS(ON), reverse transfer capacitance CRSS,
input voltage and maximum output current. When the
LTC3727 is operating in continuous mode the duty cycles
for the top and bottom MOSFETs are given by:
Once the inductance value is determined, the type of
inductor must be selected. Actual core loss is independent
of core size for a fixed inductor value, but it is very
dependent on inductance selected. As inductance increases, core losses go down. Unfortunately, increased
inductance requires more turns of wire and therefore
copper (I2R) losses will increase.
Ferrite designs have very low core loss and are preferred
at high switching frequencies, so designers can concentrate on reducing I2R loss and preventing saturation.
Ferrite core material saturates “hard,” which means that
inductance collapses abruptly when the peak design current is exceeded. This results in an abrupt increase in
inductor ripple current and consequent output voltage
ripple. Do not allow the core to saturate!
Different core materials and shapes will change the size/
current and price/current relationship of an inductor.
Toroid or shielded pot cores in ferrite or permalloy materials are small and don’t radiate much energy, but generally cost more than powdered iron core inductors with
similar characteristics. The choice of which style inductor
to use mainly depends on the price vs size requirements
and any radiated field/EMI requirements. New designs for
high current surface mount inductors are available from
numerous manufacturers, including Coiltronics, Vishay,
TDK, Pulse, Panasonic, Wuerth, Coilcraft, Toko and Sumida.
Power MOSFET and D1 Selection
Two external power MOSFETs must be selected for each
controller in the LTC3727: One N-channel MOSFET for the
top (main) switch, and one N-channel MOSFET for the
bottom (synchronous) switch.
Main Switch Duty Cycle =
VOUT
VIN
Synchronous Switch Duty Cycle =
VIN – VOUT
VIN
The MOSFET power dissipations at maximum output
current are given by:
PMAIN =
VOUT
2
IMAX ) (1 + δ )RDS(ON) +
(
VIN
k( VIN ) (IMAX )(CRSS )( f)
2
PSYNC =
VIN – VOUT
2
IMAX ) (1 + δ )RDS(ON)
(
VIN
where δ is the temperature dependency of RDS(ON) and k
is a constant inversely related to the gate drive current.
Both MOSFETs have I2R losses while the topside N-channel
equation includes an additional term for transition losses,
which are highest at high input voltages. For VIN < 20V the
high current efficiency generally improves with larger
MOSFETs, while for VIN > 20V the transition losses rapidly
increase to the point that the use of a higher RDS(ON) device
with lower CRSS actually provides higher efficiency. The
synchronous MOSFET losses are greatest at high input
voltage when the top switch duty factor is low or during a
3727fc
14
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
short-circuit when the synchronous switch is on close to
100% of the period.
The term (1+δ) is generally given for a MOSFET in the form
of a normalized RDS(ON) vs Temperature curve, but
δ = 0.005/°C can be used as an approximation for low
voltage MOSFETs. CRSS is usually specified in the MOSFET characteristics. The constant k = 1.7 can be used to
estimate the contributions of the two terms in the main
switch dissipation equation.
The Schottky diode D1 shown in Figure 2 conducts during
the dead-time between the conduction of the two power
MOSFETs. This prevents the body diode of the bottom
MOSFET from turning on, storing charge during the deadtime and requiring a reverse recovery period that could
cost as much as 3% in efficiency at high VIN. A 1A to 3A
Schottky is generally a good compromise for both regions
of operation due to the relatively small average current.
Larger diodes result in additional transition losses due to
their larger junction capacitance. Schottky diodes should
be placed in parallel with the synchronous MOSFETs when
operating in pulse-skip mode or in Burst Mode operation.
CIN and COUT Selection
The selection of CIN is simplified by the multiphase architecture and its impact on the worst-case RMS current
drawn through the input network (battery/fuse/capacitor).
It can be shown that the worst case RMS current occurs
when only one controller is operating. The controller with
the highest (VOUT)(IOUT) product needs to be used in the
formula below to determine the maximum RMS current
requirement. Increasing the output current, drawn from
the other out-of-phase controller, will actually decrease
the input RMS ripple current from this maximum value
(see Figure 4). The out-of-phase technique typically reduces the input capacitor’s RMS ripple current by a factor
of 30% to 70% when compared to a single phase power
supply solution.
The type of input capacitor, value and ESR rating have
efficiency effects that need to be considered in the selection process. The capacitance value chosen should be
sufficient to store adequate charge to keep high peak
battery currents down. 22μF to 47μF is usually sufficient
for a 25W output supply operating at 250kHz. The ESR of
the capacitor is important for capacitor power dissipation
as well as overall battery efficiency. All of the power (RMS
ripple current • ESR) not only heats up the capacitor but
wastes power from the battery.
Medium voltage (20V to 35V) ceramic, tantalum, OS-CON
and switcher-rated electrolytic capacitors can be used as
input capacitors, but each has drawbacks: ceramic voltage
coefficients are very high and may have audible piezoelectric effects; tantalums need to be surge-rated; OS-CONs
suffer from higher inductance, larger case size and limited
surface-mount applicability; electrolytics’ higher ESR and
dryout possibility require several to be used. Multiphase
systems allow the lowest amount of capacitance overall.
As little as one 22μF or two to three 10μF ceramic capacitors are an ideal choice in a 20W to 35W power supply due
to their extremely low ESR. Even though the capacitance
at 20V is substantially below their rating at zero-bias, very
low ESR loss makes ceramics an ideal candidate for
highest efficiency battery operated systems. Also consider parallel ceramic and high quality electrolytic capacitors as an effective means of achieving ESR and bulk
capacitance goals.
In continuous mode, the source current of the top N-channel MOSFET is a square wave of duty cycle VOUT/VIN. To
prevent large voltage transients, a low ESR input capacitor
sized for the maximum RMS current of one channel must
be used. The maximum RMS capacitor current is given by:
1/ 2
VOUT ( VIN − VOUT )]
[
CIN Re quiredIRMS ≅ IMAX
VIN
This formula has a maximum at VIN = 2VOUT, where
IRMS = IOUT/2. This simple worst case condition is commonly used for design because even significant deviations
do not offer much relief. Note that capacitor manufacturer’s
ripple current ratings are often based on only 2000 hours
of life. This makes it advisable to further derate the
capacitor, or to choose a capacitor rated at a higher
temperature than required. Several capacitors may also be
paralleled to meet size or height requirements in the
design. Always consult the manufacturer if there is any
question.
3727fc
15
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
The benefit of the LTC3727 multiphase can be calculated
by using the equation above for the higher power controller and then calculating the loss that would have resulted
if both controller channels switch on at the same time. The
total RMS power lost is lower when both controllers are
operating due to the interleaving of current pulses through
the input capacitor’s ESR. This is why the input capacitor’s
requirement calculated above for the worst-case controller is adequate for the dual controller design. Remember
that input protection fuse resistance, battery resistance
and PC board trace resistance losses are also reduced due
to the reduced peak currents in a multiphase system. The
overall benefit of a multiphase design will only be fully
realized when the source impedance of the power supply/
battery is included in the efficiency testing. The drains of
the two top MOSFETS should be placed within 1cm of each
other and share a common CIN(s). Separating the drains
and CIN may produce undesirable voltage and current
resonances at VIN.
The selection of COUT is driven by the required effective
series resistance (ESR). Typically once the ESR requirement is satisfied the capacitance is adequate for filtering.
The output ripple (ΔVOUT) is determined by:
⎛
1 ⎞
ΔVOUT ≅ ΔIL ⎜ ESR +
⎟
⎝
8 fCOUT ⎠
Where f = operating frequency, COUT = output capacitance, and ΔIL= ripple current in the inductor. The output
ripple is highest at maximum input voltage since ΔIL
increases with input voltage. With ΔIL = 0.3IOUT(MAX) the
output ripple will typically be less than 50mV at max V IN
assuming:
COUT Recommended ESR < 2 RSENSE
and COUT > 1/(8fRSENSE)
The first condition relates to the ripple current into the
ESR of the output capacitance while the second term
guarantees that the output capacitance does not significantly discharge during the operating frequency period
due to ripple current. The choice of using smaller output
capacitance increases the ripple voltage due to the
discharging term but can be compensated for by using
capacitors of very low ESR to maintain the ripple voltage
at or below 50mV. The ITH pin OPTI-LOOP compensation
components can be optimized to provide stable, high
performance transient response regardless of the output
capacitors selected.
Manufacturers such as Nichicon, Nippon Chemi-Con and
Sanyo can be considered for high performance throughhole capacitors. The OS-CON semiconductor dielectric
capacitor available from Sanyo has the lowest (ESR)(size)
product of any aluminum electrolytic at a somewhat
higher price. An additional ceramic capacitor in parallel
with OS-CON capacitors is recommended to reduce the
inductance effects.
In surface mount applications multiple capacitors may
need to be used in parallel to meet the ESR, RMS current
handling and load step requirements of the application.
Aluminum electrolytic, dry tantalum and special polymer
capacitors are available in surface mount packages. Special polymer surface mount capacitors offer very low ESR
but have lower storage capacity per unit volume than other
capacitor types. These capacitors offer a very cost-effective output capacitor solution and are an ideal choice when
combined with a controller having high loop bandwidth.
Tantalum capacitors offer the highest capacitance density
and are often used as output capacitors for switching
regulators having controlled soft-start. Several excellent
surge-tested choices are the AVX TPS, AVX TPS Series III
or the KEMET T510 series of surface mount tantalums,
available in case heights ranging from 1.2mm to 4.1mm.
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors can be used in costdriven applications providing that consideration is given
to ripple current ratings, temperature and long term reliability. A typical application will require several to many
aluminum electrolytic capacitors in parallel. A combination of the above mentioned capacitors will often result in
maximizing performance and minimizing overall cost. Other
capacitor types include Nichicon PL series, NEC Neocap,
Cornell Dubilier ESRE and Sprague 595D series. Consult
manufacturers for other specific recommendations.
3727fc
16
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
INTVCC Regulator
EXTVCC Connection
An internal P-channel low dropout regulator produces
7.5V at the INTVCC pin from the VIN supply pin. INTVCC
powers the drivers and internal circuitry within the
LTC3727. The INTVCC pin regulator can supply a peak
current of 50mA and must be bypassed to ground with a
minimum of 4.7μF tantalum, 10μF special polymer, or low
ESR type electrolytic capacitor. A 1μF ceramic capacitor
placed directly adjacent to the INTVCC and PGND IC pins
is highly recommended. Good bypassing is necessary to
supply the high transient currents required by the MOSFET
gate drivers and to prevent interaction between channels.
The LTC3727 contains an internal P-channel MOSFET
switch connected between the EXTVCC and INTVCC pins.
When the voltage applied to EXTVCC rises above 7.3V, the
internal regulator is turned off and the switch closes,
connecting the EXTVCC pin to the INTVCC pin thereby
supplying internal power. The switch remains closed as
long as the voltage applied to EXTVCC remains above 7.0V.
This allows the MOSFET driver and control power to be
derived from the output during normal operation (7.2V <
VOUT < 8.5V) and from the internal regulator when the
output is out of regulation (start-up, short-circuit). If more
current is required through the EXTVCC switch than is
specified, an external Schottky diode can be added between the EXTVCC and INTVCC pins. Do not apply greater
than 8.5V to the EXTVCC pin and ensure that EXTVCC < VIN.
Higher input voltage applications in which large MOSFETs
are being driven at high frequencies may cause the maximum junction temperature rating for the LTC3727 to be
exceeded. The system supply current is normally dominated by the gate charge current. Additional external
loading of the INTVCC and 3.3V linear regulators also
needs to be taken into account for the power dissipation
calculations. The total INTVCC current can be supplied by
either the 7.5V internal linear regulator or by the EXTVCC
input pin. When the voltage applied to the EXTVCC pin is
less than 7.3V, all of the INTVCC current is supplied by the
internal 7.5V linear regulator. Power dissipation for the IC
in this case is highest: (VIN)(IINTVCC), and overall efficiency
is lowered. The gate charge current is dependent on
operating frequency as discussed in the Efficiency Considerations section. The junction temperature can be estimated by using the equations given in Note 2 of the
Electrical Characteristics. For example, the LTC3727 VIN
current is limited to less than 24mA from a 24V supply
when not using the EXTVCC pin as follows:
TJ = 70°C + (24mA)(24V)(95°C/W) = 125°C
Use of the EXTVCC input pin reduces the junction temperature to:
TJ = 70°C + (24mA)(7.5V)(95°C/W) = 87°C
Dissipation should be calculated to also include any added
current drawn from the internal 3.3V linear regulator. To
prevent maximum junction temperature from being exceeded, the input supply current must be checked operating in continuous mode at maximum VIN.
Significant efficiency gains can be realized by powering
INTVCC from the output, since the VIN current resulting
from the driver and control currents will be scaled by a
factor of (Duty Cycle)/(Efficiency). For 7.5V regulators this
supply means connecting the EXTVCC pin directly to VOUT.
However, for 3.3V and other lower voltage regulators,
additional circuitry is required to derive INTVCC power
from the output.
The following list summarizes the four possible connections for EXTVCC:
1. EXTVCC Left Open (or Grounded). This will cause INTVCC
to be powered from the internal 7.5V regulator resulting in
an efficiency penalty of up to 10% at high input voltages.
2. EXTVCC Connected directly to VOUT. This is the normal
connection for a 7.5V regulator and provides the highest
efficiency.
3. EXTVCC Connected to an External supply. If an external
supply is available in the 7.5V to 8.5V range, it may be used
to power EXTVCC providing it is compatible with the
MOSFET gate drive requirements.
4. EXTVCC Connected to an Output-Derived Boost Network. For 3.3V and other low voltage regulators, efficiency
gains can still be realized by connecting EXTVCC to an
output-derived voltage that has been boosted to greater
3727fc
17
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
Output Voltage
VIN
OPTIONAL EXTVCC
CONNECTION
7.5V < VSEC < 8.5V
+
CIN
VSEC
VIN
+
N-CH
LTC3727
1μF
TG1
RSENSE
VOUT
EXTVCC
SW
FCB
BG1
T1
1:N
R6
+
R5
COUT
N-CH
SGND
The LTC3727 output voltages are each set by an external
feedback resistive divider carefully placed across the
output capacitor. The resultant feedback signal is
compared with the internal precision 0.800V voltage
reference by the error amplifier. The output voltage is
given by the equation:
⎛ R2 ⎞
VOUT = 0.8 V⎜ 1 + ⎟
⎝ R1⎠
PGND
3727 F06
Figure 6. Secondary Output Loop & EXTVCC Connection
than 7.5V. This can be done with the inductive boost
winding as shown in Figure 6.
Topside MOSFET Driver Supply (CB, DB)
External bootstrap capacitors CB connected to the BOOST
pins supply the gate drive voltages for the topside MOSFETs.
Capacitor CB in the functional diagram is charged though
external diode DB from INTVCC when the SW pin is low.
When one of the topside MOSFETs is to be turned on, the
driver places the CB voltage across the gate-source of the
desired MOSFET. This enhances the MOSFET and turns on
the topside switch. The switch node voltage, SW, rises to
VIN and the BOOST pin follows. With the topside MOSFET
on, the boost voltage is above the input supply: VBOOST =
VIN + VINTVCC. The value of the boost capacitor CB needs
to be 100 times that of the total input capacitance of the
topside MOSFET(s). The reverse breakdown of the external Schottky diode must be greater than VIN(MAX). When
adjusting the gate drive level, the final arbiter is the total
input current for the regulator. If a change is made and the
input current decreases, then the efficiency has improved.
If there is no change in input current, then there is no
change in efficiency.
where R1 and R2 are defined in Figure 2.
SENSE+/SENSE– Pins
The common mode input range of the current comparator
sense pins is from 0V to 14V. Continuous linear operation
is guaranteed throughout this range allowing output voltage setting from 0.8V to 14V. A differential NPN input
stage is biased with internal resistors from an internal
2.4V source as shown in the Functional Diagram. This
requires that current either be sourced or sunk from the
SENSE pins depending on the output voltage. If the output
voltage is below 2.4V current will flow out of both SENSE
pins to the main output. The output can be easily preloaded
by the VOUT resistive divider to compensate for the current
comparator’s negative input bias current. The maximum
current flowing out of each pair of SENSE pins is:
ISENSE+ + ISENSE– = (2.4V – VOUT)/24k
Since VOSENSE is servoed to the 0.8V reference voltage, we
can choose R1 in Figure 2 to have a maximum value to
absorb this current.
⎛
⎞
0.8 V
R1(MAX) = 24k ⎜
⎟
⎝ 2.4V – VOUT ⎠
for VOUT < 2.4V
3727fc
18
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
Regulating an output voltage of 1.8V, the maximum value
of R1 should be 32K. Note that for an output voltage above
2.4V, R1 has no maximum value necessary to absorb the
sense currents; however, R1 is still bounded by the
VOSENSE feedback current.
Soft-Start/Run Function
The RUN/SS1 and RUN/SS2 pins are multipurpose pins
that provide a soft-start function and a means to shut
down the LTC3727. Soft-start reduces the input power
source’s surge currents by gradually increasing the
controller’s current limit (proportional to VITH). This pin
can also be used for power supply sequencing.
An internal 1.2μA current source charges up the CSS
capacitor. When the voltage on RUN/SS1 (RUN/SS2)
reaches 1.5V, the particular controller is permitted to start
operating. As the voltage on RUN/SS increases from 1.5V
to 3.0V, the internal current limit is increased from 45mV/
RSENSE to 135mV/RSENSE. The output current limit ramps
up slowly, taking an additional 1.25s/μF to reach full
current. The output current thus ramps up slowly, reducing the starting surge current required from the input
power supply. If RUN/SS has been pulled all the way to
ground there is a delay before starting of approximately:
tDELAY
1.5V
=
CSS = (1.25s / μF ) CSS
1.2μA
tIRAMP =
3V − 1.5V
CSS = (1.25s / μF ) CSS
1.2μA
By pulling both RUN/SS pins below 1V, the LTC3727 is
put into low current shutdown (IQ = 20μA). The RUN/SS
pins can be driven directly from logic as shown in Figure 7. Diode D1 in Figure 7 reduces the start delay but
allows CSS to ramp up slowly providing the soft-start
function. Each RUN/SS pin has an internal 6V zener clamp
(See Functional Diagram).
Fault Conditions: Overcurrent Latchoff (LTC3727 Only)
The RUN/SS pins also provide the ability to latch off the
controller(s) when an overcurrent condition is detected.
VIN
3.3V OR 5V
D1
INTVCC
RUN/SS
RSS*
RSS*
RUN/SS
CSS
CSS
*OPTIONAL TO DEFEAT OVERCURRENT
LATCHOFF (NOT NEEDED WITH THE LTC3727-1)
(7a)
3727 F07
(7b)
Figure 7. RUN/SS Pin Interfacing
The RUN/SS capacitor, CSS, is used initially to turn on and
limit the inrush current. After the controller has been
started and been given adequate time to charge up the
output capacitor and provide full load current, the RUN/SS
capacitor is used for a short-circuit timer. If the regulator’s
output voltage falls to less than 70% of its nominal value
after CSS reaches 4.1V, CSS begins discharging on the
assumption that the output is in an overcurrent condition.
If the condition lasts for a long enough period as determined by the size of the CSS and the specified discharge
current, the controller will be shut down until the RUN/SS
pin voltage is recycled. If the overload occurs during startup, the time can be approximated by:
tLO1 ≅ [CSS (4.1 – 1.5 + 4.1 – 3.5)]/(1.2μA)
= 2.7 • 106 (CSS)
If the overload occurs after start-up the voltage on CSS will
begin discharging from the zener clamp voltage:
tLO2 ≅ [CSS (6 – 3.5)]/(1.2μA) = 2.1 • 106 (CSS)
This built-in overcurrent latchoff can be overridden by
providing a pull-up resistor to the RUN/SS pin as shown
in Figure 7. This resistance shortens the soft-start period
and prevents the discharge of the RUN/SS capacitor
during an over current condition. Tying this pull-up resistor to VIN, as in Figure 7a, defeats overcurrent latchoff.
Diode-connecting this pull-up resistor to INTV CC, as in
Figure 7b, eliminates any extra supply current during
controller shutdown while eliminating the INTV CC loading
from preventing controller start-up. This pull-up resistor
is not needed in LTC3727-1 designs.
3727fc
19
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
Why should you defeat overcurrent latchoff? During the
prototyping stage of a design, there may be a problem
with noise pickup or poor layout causing the protection
circuit to latch off. Defeating this feature will easily allow
troubleshooting of the circuit and PC layout. The internal
short-circuit and foldback current limiting still remains
active, thereby protecting the power supply system from
failure. After the design is complete, a decision can be
made whether to enable the latchoff feature. If latchoff is
not required, the LTC3727-1 can be used.
The value of the soft-start capacitor CSS may need to be
scaled with output voltage, output capacitance and load
current characteristics. The minimum soft-start capacitance is given by:
CSS > (COUT )(VOUT) (10 – 4) (RSENSE)
The minimum recommended soft-start capacitor of
CSS = 0.1μF will be sufficient for most applications.
Fault Conditions: Current Limit and Current Foldback
The LTC3727 current comparator has a maximum sense
voltage of 135mV resulting in a maximum MOSFET current of 135mV/RSENSE. The maximum value of current
limit generally occurs with the largest VIN at the highest
ambient temperature, conditions that cause the highest
power dissipation in the top MOSFET.
The LTC3727 includes current foldback to help further
limit load current when the output is shorted to ground.
The foldback circuit is active even when the overload
shutdown latch described above is overridden. If the
output falls below 70% of its nominal output level, then the
maximum sense voltage is progressively lowered from
135mV to 45mV. Under short-circuit conditions with very
low duty cycles, the LTC3727 will begin cycle skipping in
order to limit the short-circuit current. In this situation the
bottom MOSFET will be dissipating most of the power but
less than in normal operation. The short-circuit ripple
current is determined by the minimum on-time tON(MIN) of
the LTC3727 (less than 200ns), the input voltage and
inductor value:
The resulting short-circuit current is:
ISC =
45mV 1
+ ΔIL(SC)
RSENSE 2
Fault Conditions: Overvoltage Protection (Crowbar)
The overvoltage crowbar is designed to blow a system
input fuse when the output voltage of the regulator rises
much higher than nominal levels. The crowbar causes
huge currents to flow, that blow the fuse to protect against
a shorted top MOSFET if the short occurs while the
controller is operating.
A comparator monitors the output for overvoltage conditions. The comparator (OV) detects overvoltage faults
greater than 7.5% above the nominal output voltage.
When this condition is sensed, the top MOSFET is turned
off and the bottom MOSFET is turned on until the overvoltage condition is cleared. The output of this comparator is
only latched by the overvoltage condition itself and will
therefore allow a switching regulator system having a poor
PC layout to function while the design is being debugged.
The bottom MOSFET remains on continuously for as long
as the OV condition persists; if VOUT returns to a safe level,
normal operation automatically resumes. A shorted top
MOSFET will result in a high current condition which will
open the system fuse. The switching regulator will regulate properly with a leaky top MOSFET by altering the duty
cycle to accommodate the leakage.
Phase-Locked Loop and Frequency Synchronization
The LTC3727 has a phase-locked loop comprised of an
internal voltage controlled oscillator and phase detector.
This allows the top MOSFET turn-on to be locked to the
rising edge of an external source. The frequency range of
the voltage controlled oscillator is ±50% around the
center frequency fO. A voltage applied to the PLLFLTR pin
of 1.2V corresponds to a frequency of approximately
380kHz. The nominal operating frequency range of the
LTC3727 is 250kHz to 550kHz.
ΔIL(SC) = tON(MIN) (VIN/L)
3727fc
20
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
The phase detector used is an edge sensitive digital type
which provides zero degrees phase shift between the
external and internal oscillators. This type of phase detector will not lock up on input frequencies close to the
harmonics of the VCO center frequency. The PLL hold-in
range, ΔfH, is equal to the capture range, ΔfC:
ΔfH = ΔfC = ±0.5 fO (250kHz-550kHz)
The output of the phase detector is a complementary pair
of current sources charging or discharging the external
filter network on the PLLFLTR pin.
If the external frequency (fPLLIN) is greater than the oscillator frequency f0SC, current is sourced continuously,
pulling up the PLLFLTR pin. When the external frequency
is less than f0SC, current is sunk continuously, pulling
down the PLLFLTR pin. If the external and internal frequencies are the same but exhibit a phase difference, the
current sources turn on for an amount of time corresponding to the phase difference. Thus the voltage on the
PLLFLTR pin is adjusted until the phase and frequency of
the external and internal oscillators are identical. At this
stable operating point the phase comparator output is
open and the filter capacitor CLP holds the voltage. The
LTC3727 PLLIN pin must be driven from a low impedance
source such as a logic gate located close to the pin. When
using multiple LTC3727s for a phase-locked system, the
PLLFLTR pin of the master oscillator should be biased at
a voltage that will guarantee the slave oscillator(s) ability
to lock onto the master’s frequency. A DC voltage of 0.7V
to 1.7V applied to the master oscillator’s PLLFLTR pin is
recommended in order to meet this requirement. The
resultant operating frequency can range from 310kHz to
470kHz.
The loop filter components (CLP, RLP) smooth out the
current pulses from the phase detector and provide a
stable input to the voltage controlled oscillator. The filter
components CLP and RLP determine how fast the loop
acquires lock. Typically RLP =10kΩ and CLP is 0.01μF to
0.1μF.
Minimum On-Time Considerations
Minimum on-time tON(MIN) is the smallest time duration
that the LTC3727 is capable of turning on the top MOSFET.
It is determined by internal timing delays and the gate
charge required to turn on the top MOSFET. Low duty cycle
applications may approach this minimum on-time limit
and care should be taken to ensure that
tON(MIN) <
VOUT
VIN( f)
If the duty cycle falls below what can be accommodated by
the minimum on-time, the LTC3727 will begin to skip
cycles. The output voltage will continue to be regulated,
but the ripple voltage and current will increase.
The minimum on-time for the LTC3727 is generally less
than 200ns. However, as the peak sense voltage decreases
the minimum on-time gradually increases up to about
300ns. This is of particular concern in forced continuous
applications with low ripple current at light loads. If the
duty cycle drops below the minimum on-time limit in this
situation, a significant amount of cycle skipping can occur
with correspondingly larger inductor current and output
voltage ripple.
FCB Pin Operation
The FCB pin can be used to regulate a secondary winding
or as a logic level input. Continuous operation is forced on
both controllers when the FCB pin drops below 0.8V.
During continuous mode, current flows continuously in
the transformer primary. The secondary winding(s) draw
current only when the bottom, synchronous switch is on.
When primary load currents are low and/or the VIN/VOUT
ratio is low, the synchronous switch may not be on for a
sufficient amount of time to transfer power from the
output capacitor to the secondary load. Forced continuous
operation will support secondary windings providing there
is sufficient synchronous switch duty factor. Thus, the
FCB input pin removes the requirement that power must
3727fc
21
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
be drawn from the inductor primary in order to extract
power from the auxiliary windings. With the loop in
continuous mode, the auxiliary outputs may nominally be
loaded without regard to the primary output load.
The secondary output voltage VSEC is normally set as
shown in Figure 6 by the turns ratio N of the transformer:
VSEC ≅ (N + 1) VOUT
However, if the controller goes into Burst Mode operation
and halts switching due to a light primary load current,
then VSEC will droop. An external resistive divider from
VSEC to the FCB pin sets a minimum voltage VSEC(MIN):
⎛ R6 ⎞
VSEC(MIN) ≅ 0.8 V⎜ 1 + ⎟
⎝ R5 ⎠
loading conditions. The open-loop DC gain of the control
loop is reduced depending upon the maximum load step
specifications. Voltage positioning can easily be added to
the LTC3727 by loading the ITH pin with a resistive divider
having a Thevenin equivalent voltage source equal to the
midpoint operating voltage range of the error amplifier, or
1.2V (see Figure 8).
The resistive load reduces the DC loop gain while maintaining the linear control range of the error amplifier. The
maximum output voltage deviation can theoretically be
reduced to half or alternatively the amount of output
capacitance can be reduced for a particular application. A
complete explanation is included in Design Solutions 10
(see www.Linear.com).
INTVCC
where R5 and R6 are shown in Figure 2.
If VSEC drops below this level, the FCB voltage forces
temporary continuous switching operation until VSEC is
again above its minimum.
In order to prevent erratic operation if no external connections are made to the FCB pin, the FCB pin has a 0.18μA
internal current source pulling the pin high. Include this
current when choosing resistor values R5 and R6.
The following table summarizes the possible states available on the FCB pin:
Table 1
FCB PIN
CONDITION
0V to 0.75V
Forced Continuous Both Controllers
(Current Reversal Allowed—
Burst Inhibited)
0.85V < VFCB < 6.8V
Minimum Peak Current Induces
Burst Mode Operation
No Current Reversal Allowed
Feedback Resistors
Regulating a Secondary Winding
>7.3V
Burst Mode Operation Disabled
Constant Frequency Mode Enabled
No Current Reversal Allowed No
Minimum Peak Current
RT2
ITH
RT1
RC
LTC3727
CC
3727 F08
Figure 8. Active Voltage Positioning Applied to the LTC3727
Efficiency Considerations
The percent efficiency of a switching regulator is equal to
the output power divided by the input power times 100%.
It is often useful to analyze individual losses to determine
what is limiting the efficiency and which change would
produce the most improvement. Percent efficiency can be
expressed as:
%Efficiency = 100% – (L1 + L2 + L3 + ...)
where L1, L2, etc. are the individual losses as a percentage
of input power.
Voltage Positioning
Although all dissipative elements in the circuit produce
losses, four main sources usually account for most of the
losses in LTC3727 circuits: 1) LTC3727 VIN current (including loading on the 3.3V internal regulator), 2) INTVCC
regulator current, 3) I2R losses, 4) Topside MOSFET
transition losses.
Voltage positioning can be used to minimize peak-to-peak
output voltage excursions under worst-case transient
1. The VIN current has two components: the first is the DC
supply current given in the Electrical Characteristics table,
3727fc
22
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
which excludes MOSFET driver and control currents; the
second is the current drawn from the 3.3V linear regulator
output. VIN current typically results in a small (1μF) supply bypass capacitors. The
discharged bypass capacitors are effectively put in parallel
with COUT, causing a rapid drop in VOUT. No regulator can
alter its delivery of current quickly enough to prevent this
sudden step change in output voltage if the load switch
resistance is low and it is driven quickly. If the ratio of
CLOAD to COUT is greater than 1:50, the switch rise time
should be controlled so that the load rise time is limited to
approximately 25 • CLOAD. Thus a 10μF capacitor would
require a 250μs rise time, limiting the charging current to
about 200mA.
Automotive Considerations: Plugging into the
Cigarette Lighter
As battery-powered devices go mobile, there is a natural
interest in plugging into the cigarette lighter in order to
conserve or even recharge battery packs during operation. But before you connect, be advised: you are plugging
into the supply from Hell. The main power line in an
automobile is the source of a number of nasty potential
transients, including load-dump, reverse-battery, and
double-battery.
Load-dump is the result of a loose battery cable. When the
cable breaks connection, the field collapse in the alternator
can cause a positive spike as high as 60V which takes
several hundred milliseconds to decay. Reverse-battery is
just what it says, while double-battery is a consequence of
tow-truck operators finding that a 24V jump start cranks
cold engines faster than 12V.
The network shown in Figure 9 is the most straight forward
approach to protect a DC/DC converter from the ravages
of an automotive power line. The series diode prevents
current from flowing during reverse-battery, while the
transient suppressor clamps the input voltage during
load-dump. Note that the transient suppressor should not
conduct during double-battery operation, but must still
clamp the input voltage below breakdown of the converter.
Although the LTC3727 has a maximum input voltage of
36V, most applications will be limited to 30V by the
MOSFET BVDSS.
50A IPK RATING
12V
VIN
LTC3727
TRANSIENT VOLTAGE
SUPPRESSOR
GENERAL INSTRUMENT
1.5KA24A
3727 F09
Figure 9. Automotive Application Protection
3727fc
24
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
Design Example
As a design example for one channel, assume VIN =
24V(nominal), VIN = 30V(max), VOUT = 12V, IMAX = 5A and
f = 250kHz.
The inductance value is chosen first based on a 40% ripple
current assumption. The highest value of ripple current
occurs at the maximum input voltage. Tie the PLLFLTR pin
to the SGND pin for 250kHz operation. The minimum
inductance for 40% ripple current is:
ΔIL =
VOUT ⎛ VOUT ⎞
⎜ 1–
⎟
( f)(L) ⎝
VIN ⎠
A 14μH inductor will result in 40% ripple current. The peak
inductor current will be the maximum DC value plus one
half the ripple current, or 6A, for the 14μH value.
The RSENSE resistor value can be calculated by using the
maximum current sense voltage specification with some
accommodation for tolerances:
RSENSE ≤
90mV
≈ 0.015Ω
6A
Choosing 1% resistors; R1 = 20k and R2 = 280k yields an
output voltage of 12V.
The power dissipation on the top side MOSFET can be
easily estimated. Choosing a Siliconix Si4412DY results
in: RDS(ON) = 0.042Ω, CRSS = 100pF. At maximum input
voltage with T(estimated) = 50°C:
PMAIN =
12V 2
(5) [1+ (0.005)(50°C – 25°C)]
30 V
(0.042Ω) + 1.7(30V)2 (5A)(100pF )(250kHz)
= 664mW
A short-circuit to ground will result in a folded back current
of:
ISC =
45mV 1 ⎛ 200ns(30 V)⎞
+ ⎜
⎟ = 3.2A
0.015Ω 2 ⎝ 14μH ⎠
with a typical value of RDS(ON) and δ = (0.005/°C)(20) = 0.1.
The resulting power dissipated in the bottom MOSFET is:
PSYNC =
30 V – 12V
2
3.2A ) (1.1)(0.042Ω)
(
30 V
= 284mW
which is less than under full-load conditions.
CIN is chosen for an RMS current rating of at least 3A at
temperature assuming only this channel is on. COUT is
chosen with an ESR of 0.02Ω for low output ripple. The
output ripple in continuous mode will be highest at the
maximum input voltage. The output voltage ripple due to
ESR is approximately:
VORIPPLE = RESR (ΔIL) = 0.02Ω(2A) = 40mVP–P
PC Board Layout Checklist
When laying out the printed circuit board, the following
checklist should be used to ensure proper operation of the
LTC3727. These items are also illustrated graphically in
the layout diagram of Figure 10; Figure 11 illustrates the
current waveforms present in the various branches of the
2-phase synchronous regulators operating in continuous
mode. Check the following in your layout:
1. Are the top N-channel MOSFETs M1 and M3 located
within 1cm of each other with a common drain connection
at CIN? Do not attempt to split the input decoupling for the
two channels as it can cause a large resonant loop.
3727fc
25
LTC3727/LTC3727-1
U
W
U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
2. Are the signal and power grounds kept separate? The
combined LTC3727 signal ground pin and the ground
return of CINTVCC must return to the combined COUT (–)
terminals. The path formed by the top N-channel MOSFET,
Schottky diode and the CIN capacitor should have short
leads and PC trace lengths. The output capacitor (–)
terminals should be connected as close as possible to the
(–) terminals of the input capacitor by placing the capacitors next to each other and away from the Schottky loop
described above.
3. Do the LTC3727 VOSENSE pins resistive dividers connect to the (+) terminals of COUT? The resistive divider
must be connected between the (+) terminal of COUT and
signal ground. The R2 and R4 connections should not be
along the high current input feeds from the input
capacitor(s).
4. Are the SENSE – and SENSE + leads routed together
with minimum PC trace spacing? The filter capacitor
between SENSE + and SENSE – should be as close as
possible to the IC. Ensure accurate current sensing with
Kelvin connections at the SENSE resistor.
5. Is the INTVCC decoupling capacitor connected close to
the IC, between the INTVCC and the power ground pins?
This capacitor carries the MOSFET drivers current peaks.
An additional 1μF ceramic capacitor placed immediately
next to the INTVCC and PGND pins can help improve noise
performance substantially.
RPU
3
R2
R1
4
5
fIN
6
7
8
3.3V
10
11
12
R3
R4
13
14
SENSE1 +
TG1
SENSE1 –
SW1
VOSENSE1
BOOST1
PLLFLTR
VIN
PLLIN
BG1
FCB
EXTVCC
LTC3727
ITH1
SGND
3.3VOUT
ITH2
INTVCC
PGND
BG2
BOOST2
VOSENSE2
SW2
SENSE2 –
TG2
SENSE2 +
RUN/SS2
PGOOD
L1
27
VOUT1
RSENSE
26
25
CB1
M1
M2
D1
24
23
COUT1
RIN
22
CIN
CVIN
21
20
CINTVCC
GND
+
9
PGOOD
+
INTVCC
RUN/SS1
VPULL-UP
(