LT1939
Monolithic 2A Step-Down
Regulator Plus Linear
Regulator/Controller
DESCRIPTION
FEATURES
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Wide Input Range: 3V to 25V
Short-Circuit Protected Over Full Input Range
2A Output Current Capability
Adjustable/Synchronizable Fixed Frequency
Operation from 250kHz to 2.2MHz
Soft-Start/Tracking Capability
Output Adjustable Down to 0.8V
Adjustable Linear Regulator/Driver with 13mA
Output Capability
Power Good Comparator with Complementary
Outputs
Low Shutdown Current: 12μA
Thermally Enhanced 3mm × 3mm DFN Package
APPLICATIONS
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The LT®1939 is a current mode PWM step-down DC/DC
converter with an internal 2.3A switch. The wide input
range of 3V to 25V makes the LT1939 suitable for regulating power from a wide variety of sources, including
automotive batteries, industrial supplies and unregulated
wall adapters.
Resistor-programmable 250kHz to 2.2MHz frequency
range and synchronization capability enable optimization
between efficiency and external component size. Cycleby-cycle current limit, frequency foldback and thermal
shutdown provide protection against a shorted output.
The soft-start feature controls the ramp rate of the output
voltage, eliminating input current surge during start-up,
and also provides output tracking.
The LT1939 contains an internal NPN transistor with feedback control which can be configured as a linear regulator
or as a linear regulator controller.
Automotive Battery Regulation
Industrial Control
Wall Transformer Regulation
Distributed Power Regulation
The LT1939’s low current shutdown mode ( 0.5), there is a minimum inductance required to avoid
subharmonic oscillations. See Application Note 19 for
more information.
2500
2250
L = 1μH
L = 1.5μH
FREQUENCY (kHz)
2000
1750
L = 2.2μH
1500
1250
1000
L = 3.3μH
750
L = 4.7μH
500
L = 6.8μH
250
5
10
15
20
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
25
1939 F04
Figure 4. Inductor Values for 2A Maximum Load Current
(VOUT1 = 3.3V, IRIPPLE = 1A)
Input Capacitor Selection
Bypass the input of the LT1939 circuit with a 4.7μF or
higher ceramic capacitor of X7R or X5R type. A lower
value or a less expensive Y5V type can be used if there
is additional bypassing provided by bulk electrolytic or
tantalum capacitors. The following paragraphs describe
the input capacitor considerations in more detail.
Step-down regulators draw current from the input supply in pulses with very fast rise and fall times. The input
capacitor is required to reduce the resulting voltage
ripple at the LT1939 and to force this very high frequency
switching current into a tight local loop, minimizing EMI.
The input capacitor must have low impedance at the
switching frequency to do this effectively, and it must
have an adequate ripple current rating.
A conservative value is the RMS input current is given
by:
ICIN(RMS) =
IOUT1 VOUT1 • ( VIN VOUT1)
VIN
0.5
<
IOUT1
2
and is largest when VIN = 2VOUT1 (50% duty cycle).
The frequency, VIN to VOUT ratio, and maximum load
current requirement of the LT1939 along with the input
supply source impedance, determine the energy storage
requirements of the input capacitor. Determine the worstcase condition for input ripple current and then size the
input capacitor such that it reduces input voltage ripple to
an acceptable level. Typical values for input capacitors run
from 10μF at low frequencies to 2.2μF at higher frequencies.
The combination of small size and low impedance (low
equivalent series resistance or ESR) of ceramic capacitors
make them the preferred choice. The low ESR results in
very low voltage ripple and the capacitors can handle plenty
of ripple current. They are also comparatively robust and
can be used in this application at their rated voltage. X5R
and X7R types are stable over temperature and applied
voltage, and give dependable service. Other types (Y5V and
Z5U) have very large temperature and voltage coefficients
of capacitance, so they may have only a small fraction of
their nominal capacitance in your application. While they
will still handle the RMS ripple current, the input voltage
ripple may become fairly large, and the ripple current may
end up flowing from your input supply or from other bypass capacitors in your system, as opposed to being fully
sourced from the local input capacitor. An alternative to a
high value ceramic capacitor is a lower value along with
a larger electrolytic capacitor, for example a 1μF ceramic
capacitor in parallel with a low ESR tantalum capacitor.
For the electrolytic capacitor, a value larger than 10μF will
be required to meet the ESR and ripple current requirements. Because the input capacitor is likely to see high
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LT1939
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
surge currents when the input source is applied, tantalum
capacitors should be surge rated. The manufacturer may
also recommend operation below the rated voltage of the
capacitor. Be sure to place the 1μF ceramic as close as
possible to the VIN and GND pins on the IC for optimal
noise immunity.
A final caution regarding the use of ceramic capacitors for
input bypassing. A ceramic input capacitor can combine
with stray inductance to form a resonant tank circuit. If
power is applied quickly (for example, by plugging the
circuit into a live power source) this tank can ring, doubling
the input voltage and damaging the LT1939. The solution is
to either clamp the input voltage or dampen the tank circuit
by adding a lossy capacitor in parallel with the ceramic
capacitor. For details see Application Note 88.
Output Capacitor Selection
Typically step-down regulators are easily compensated with
an output crossover frequency that is 1/10 of the switching frequency. This means that the time that the output
capacitor must supply the output load during a transient
step is ~2 or 3 switching periods. With an allowable 5%
drop in output voltage during the step, a good starting
value for the output capacitor can be expressed by:
C VOUT1 =
Max Load Step
Frequency • 0.05 • VOUT1
Example:
VOUT1 = 3.3V, Frequency = 1MHz, Max Load Step = 2A
C VOUT1 =
2
= 12μF
1MHz • 0.05 • 3.3
The calculated value is only a suggested starting value.
Increase the value if transient response needs improvement
or reduce the capacitance if size is a priority. The output
capacitor filters the inductor current to generate an output
with low voltage ripple. It also stores energy in order to
satisfy transient loads and to stabilize the LT1939’s control
loop. The switching frequency of the LT1939 determines
the value of output capacitance required. Also, the current
mode control loop doesn’t require the presence of output
capacitor series resistance (ESR). For these reasons, you
are free to use ceramic capacitors to achieve very low
output ripple and small circuit size. Estimate output ripple
with the following equations:
VRIPPLE =
IL
8 • Frequency • COUT1
For ceramic capacitors and,
VRIPPLE = ΔIL • ESR
For electrolytic (tantalum and aluminum)
where ΔIL is the peak-to-peak ripple current in the
inductor.
The RMS content of this ripple is very low, and the RMS
current rating of the output capacitor is usually not of
concern.
Another constraint on the output capacitor is that it must
have greater energy storage than the inductor; if the stored
energy in the inductor is transferred to the output, you
would like the resulting voltage step to be small compared
to the regulation voltage. For a 5% overshoot, this requirement becomes:
I
COUT1 > 10 • L LIM
VOUT1
2
Finally, there must be enough capacitance for good transient
performance. The last equation gives a good starting point.
Alternatively, you can start with one of the designs in this
data sheet and experiment to get the desired performance.
This topic is covered more thoroughly in the section on
loop compensation.
The high performance (low ESR), small size and robustness of ceramic capacitors make them the preferred type
for LT1939 applications. However, all ceramic capacitors
are not the same. As mentioned above, many of the high
value capacitors use poor dielectrics with high temperature and voltage coefficients. In particular, Y5V and Z5U
types lose a large fraction of their capacitance with applied voltage and temperature extremes. Because the loop
stability and transient response depend on the value of
COUT, you may not be able to tolerate this loss. Use X7R
and X5R types. You can also use electrolytic capacitors.
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LT1939
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
The ESRs of most aluminum electrolytics are too large to
deliver low output ripple. Tantalum and newer, lower ESR
organic electrolytic capacitors intended for power supply
use, are suitable and the manufacturers will specify the
ESR. The choice of capacitor value will be based on the
ESR required for low ripple. Because the volume of the
capacitor determines its ESR, both the size and the value
will be larger than a ceramic capacitor that would give you
similar ripple performance. One benefit is that the larger
capacitance may give better transient response for large
changes in load current.
Catch Diode
The diode D1 conducts current only during switch off
time. Use a Schottky diode to limit forward voltage drop to
increase efficiency. The Schottky diode must have a peak
reverse voltage that is equal to regulator input voltage and
sized for average forward current in normal operation.
Average forward current can be calculated from:
ID(AVG) =
LDRV
VIN
LT1939
BST Pin Considerations
The capacitor and diode tied to the BST pin generate
a voltage that is higher than the input voltage. In most
cases a 0.47μF capacitor and fast switching diode (such
as the CMDSH-3 or FMMD914) will work well. Almost
any type of film or ceramic capacitor is suitable, but the
ESR should be VIN + 3V
BST
C3
VOUT1
SW
VBST – VSW = VOUT2
VBST(MAX) = VIN + VOUT2
VOUT2 ≥ 2.5V
VOUT1
SW
D1
D1
VBST – VSW = VX
VBST(MAX) = VX
(5c)
1939 F05
(5d)
Figure 5. BST Pin Considerations
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LT1939
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
Generally, for outputs of 3.3V and higher the standard
circuit (Figure 5a) is the best. For outputs between 2.8V
and 3.3V, replace the D2 with a small Schottky diode such
as the PMEG4005.
cases the discharged output capacitor will present a load
to the switcher which will allow it to start. The plots show
the worst-case situation where VIN is ramping very slowly.
Use a Schottky diode for the lowest start-up voltage.
For lower output voltages the boost diode can be tied to
the input (Figure 5b). The circuit in Figure 5a is more efficient because the BST pin current comes from a lower
voltage source.
Frequency Compensation
Figure 5c shows the boost voltage source from the linear
output that is set to greater than 2.5V (any available DC
sources that are greater than 2.5V is sufficient). The highest
efficiency is attained by choosing the lowest boost voltage above 2.5V. You must also be sure that the maximum
voltage at the BST pin is less than the maximum specified
in the Absolute Maximum Ratings section.
The boost circuit can also run directly from a DC voltage
that is higher than the input voltage by more than 2.5V, as
in Figure 5d. The diode is used to prevent damage to the
LT1939 in case VX is held low while VIN is present. The
circuit eliminates a capacitor, but efficiency may be lower
and dissipation in the LT1939 may be higher. Also, if VX is
absent, the LT1939 will still attempt to regulate the output,
but will do so with very low efficiency and high dissipation
because the switch will not be able to saturate, dropping
1.5V to 2V in conduction.
The minimum input voltage of an LT1939 application is
limited by the minimum operating voltage (