XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
October 2012
Rev. 1.0.1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
APPLICATIONS
The XRP7724 is a quad channel Digital Pulse
Width Modulated (DPWM) Step down (buck)
controller. A wide 4.75V to 5.5V and 5.5V to
25V input voltage dual range allows for single
supply operation from standard power rails.
With integrated FET gate drivers, two LDOs for
standby power and a 105kHz to 1.23MHz
independent channel to channel programmable
constant operating frequency, the XRP7724
reduces overall component count and solution
footprint and optimizes conversion efficiencies.
A selectable digital Pulse Frequency Mode
(DPFM) capable of better than 80% efficiency
at light current load and low operating current
allow for portable and Energy Star compliant
applications. Each XRP7724 output channel is
individually programmable as low as 0.6V with
a resolution as fine as 2.5mV, and
configurable for precise soft start and soft stop
sequencing, including delay and ramp control.
The XRP7724 operations are fully controlled
via a SMBus-compliant I2C interface allowing
for
advanced
local
and/or
remote
reconfiguration, full performance monitoring
and reporting as well as fault handling.
Built-in independent output over voltage, over
temperature, over-current and under voltage
lockout protections insure safe operation
under abnormal operating conditions.
The XRP7724 is offered in a RoHS compliant,
“green”/halogen free 44-pin TQFN package.
Servers
Base Stations
Switches/Routers
Broadcast Equipment
Industrial Control Systems
Automatic Test Equipment
Video Surveillance Systems
FEATURES
Quad Channel Step-down Controller
Digital PWM 105kHz-1.23MHz Operations
Individual Channel Frequency Selection
Patented digital PFM with Ultrasonic mode
Patented Over Sampling Feedback
Integrated MOSFET Drivers
Programmable 5 coefficient PID control
4.75V to 25V Input Voltage
4.75V-5.5 and 5.5V-25V Input Ranges
0.6V to 5.5V Output voltage
SMBus Compliant - I2C Interface
Full Power Monitoring and Reporting
3 x 15V Capable PSIO + 2 x GPIOs
Full Start/Stop Sequencing Support
Built-in Thermal, Over-Current, UVLO
and Output Over-Voltage Protections
On Board 5V and 3.3V Standby LDOs
On Board Non-volatile Memory
Supported by PowerArchitect™
TYPICAL APPLICATION DIAGRAM
Fig. 1: XRP7724 Application Diagram
Exar Corporation
48720 Kato Road, Fremont CA 94538, USA
www.exar.com
Tel. +1 510 668-7000 – Fax. +1 510 668-7001
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
OPERATING RATINGS
These are stress ratings only and functional operation of
the device at these ratings or any other above those
indicated in the operation sections of the specifications
below is not implied. Exposure to absolute maximum
rating conditions for extended periods of time may affect
reliability.
Input Voltage Range VCC ............................... 5.5V to 25V
Input Voltage Range VCC = LDO5 ................ 4.75V to 5.5V
VOUT1, 2, 3, 4 ...................................................... 5.5V
Junction Temperature Range ....................-40°C to 125°C
JEDEC Thermal Resistance θ JA ..........................30.2°C/W
VCCD, LDO5, LDO3_3, GLx, VOUTx ............. -0.3V to 7.0V
ENABLE, 5V_EXT ....................................... -0.3V to 7.0V
GPIO0/1, SCL, SDA................................................ 6.0V
PSIOs Inputs, BFB .................................................. 18V
DVDD, AVDD ........................................................ 2.0V
VCC ...................................................................... 28V
LX# ............................................................. -1V to 28V
BSTx, GHx .................................................... VLXx + 6V
Storage Temperature .............................. -65°C to 150°C
Power Dissipation ................................ Internally Limited
Lead Temperature (Soldering, 10 sec).................... 300°C
ESD Rating (HBM - Human Body Model) .................... 2kV
ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications with standard type are for an Operating Junction Temperature of T J = 25°C only; limits applying over the full
Operating Junction Temperature range are denoted by a “•”. Minimum and Maximum limits are guaranteed through test,
design, or statistical correlation. Typical values represent the most likely parametric norm at T J = 25°C, and are provided for
reference purposes only. Unless otherwise indicated, V CC = 5.5V to 25V, 5V EXT open. Note that in cases where there is a
discrepancy in values shown in this section and other sections of the datasheet, the values in the Electrical Specification
section shall be deemed correct and supersede the other values.
QUIESCENT CURRENT
Parameter
Min.
VCC Supply Current in SHUTDOWN
ENABLE Turn On Threshold
ENABLE Pin Leakage Current
Typ.
Max.
Units
10
20
µA
0.95
V
10
uA
0.82
Conditions
EN = 0V, VCC = 12V
VCC = 12V Enable Rising
EN=5V
EN=0V
-10
LDO3_3 disabled, all channels disabled
VCC Supply Current in STANDBY
440
600
µA
GPIOs programmed as inputs
VCC=12V,EN = 5V
VCC Supply Current 2ch PFM
3.1
mA
2 channels on set at 5V, VOUT forced to
5.1V, no load, non-switching, Ultra-sonic
off, VCC=12 V, No I2C activity.
VCC Supply Current 4ch PFM
4.0
mA
4 channels on set at 5V, VOUT forced to
5.1V, no load, non-switching, Ultra-sonic
off, VCC=12V, No I2C activity.
VCC Supply Current ON
18
mA
All channels enabled, Fsw=600kHz, gate
drivers unloaded, No I2C activity.
© 2012 Exar Corporation
2/29
Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
INPUT VOLTAGE RANGE AND UNDERVOLTAGE LOCKOUT
Parameter
VCC Range
Min.
Typ.
Max.
Units
5.5
25
V
4.75
5.5
V
Conditions
•
•
With VCC connected to LDO5
VOLTAGE FEEDBACK ACCURACY AND OUTPUT VOLTAGE SET POINT RESOLUTION
Parameter
VOUT Regulation Accuracy
Low Output Range
0.6V to 1.6V
PWM Operation
VOUT Regulation Accuracy
Mid Output Range
0.6V to 3.2V
PWM Operation
VOUT Regulation Accuracy
High Output Range
0.6V to 5.5V
PWM Operation
VOUT Regulation Range
Min.
Typ.
-5
-20
-7.5
-22.5
-15
-45
-20
-50
-30
-90
-40
-100
0.6
Max.
Units
5
20
7.5
22.5
15
45
20
50
30
90
40
100
5.5
mV
mV
mV
mV
mV
mV
mV
mV
mV
mV
mV
mV
V
Conditions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
0.6 ≤ VOUT ≤ 1.6V
0.6 ≤ VOUT ≤ 1.6V
VCC=LDO5
0.6 ≤ VOUT ≤ 3.2V
0.6 ≤ VOUT ≤ 3.2V
VCC=LDO5
0.6 ≤ VOUT ≤ 5.5V
0.6 ≤ VOUT ≤ 4.2V
VCC=LDO5
Without external divider network
12.5
25
50
mV
Low Range
Mid Range
High Range
VOUT Fine Set Point Resolution1
2.5
5
10
mV
Low Range
Mid Range
High Range
VOUT Input Resistance
120
90
75
kΩ
Low Range
Mid Range
High Range
VOUT Input Resistance in PFM
Operation
10
1
0.67
MΩ
Low Range
Mid Range
High Range
VOUT Native Set Point
Resolution
Power Good and OVP Set Point
Range (from set point)
-155
-310
-620
157.5
315
630
mV
Low Range
Mid Range
High Range
Power Good and OVP Set Point
Accuracy
-5
-10
-20
5
10
20
mV
Low Range
Mid Range
High Range
16
V
BFB Set Point Range
9
BFB Set Point Resolution
BFB Accuracy
1
-0.5
V
0.5
V
Note 1: Fine Set Point Resolution not available in PFM
© 2012 Exar Corporation
3/29
Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
CURRENT AND AUX ADC (MONITORING ADCS)
Parameter
Current Sense Accuracy
Min.
Typ.
Max.
Units
-3.75
-10
-5
-12.5
±1.25
3.75
10
5
+12.5
mV
mV
mV
mV
LSB
±2.5
Current Sense ADC INL
+/-0.4
Conditions
•
Low Range (≤120mV) Note 2
-60mV applied
•
High Range (≤280mV)
-150mV
DNL
0.27
Current Limit Set Point
Resolution and Current
Sense ADC Resolution
1.25
mV
Low Range (≤120mV)
2.5
mV
High Range (≤280mV)
mV
Low Range (≤120mV)
Current Sense ADC Range
-120
20
-280
40
15
30
60
VOUT ADC Resolution
VOUT ADC Accuracy
High Range (≤280mV)
Low Range
Mid Range
High Range
mV
-1
1
LSB
VCC ADC Range
4.6
25
V
Note 3
UVLO WARN SET
4.4
4.72
V
UVLO WARN set point 4.6V, VCC=LDO5
UVLO WARN CLEAR
4.4
4.72
V
UVLO WARN set point 4.6V, VCC=LDO5
UVLO FAULT SET (Note 4)
4.2
4.55
V
UVLO FAULT set point 4.4V, VCC=LDO5
VCC ADC Resolution
VCC ADC Accuracy
200
1
-1
Die Temp ADC Resolution
Die Temp ADC Range
mV
5
Vin 1uF) to PAD is recommended for
each VCCD pin with the pin(s) connected to LDO5 with shortest possible length of etch.
VCCD1-2
VCCD3-4
23,34
AGND
2
GL_RTN1-4
39,33, 28,22
Ground connection for the low side gate driver. This should be routed as a signal trace
with GL. Connect to the source of the low side MOSFET.
GL1-GL4
38,32, 27,21
Output pin of the low side gate driver. Connect directly to the gate of an external Nchannel MOSFET.
GH1-GH4
36,30, 25,19
Output pin of the high side gate driver. Connect directly to the gate of an external Nchannel MOSFET.
© 2012 Exar Corporation
Analog ground pin. This is the small signal ground connection.
8/29
Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
Name
Pin Number
Description
37,31, 26,20
Lower supply rail for the GH high-side gate driver. Connect this pin to the switching
node at the junction between the two external power MOSFETs and the inductor. These
pins are also used to measure voltage drop across bottom MOSFETs in order to provide
output current information to the control engine.
BST1-BST4
35,29, 24,18
High side driver supply pin(s). Connect BST to the external capacitor as shown in the
Typical Application Circuit on page 2. The high side driver is connected between the
BST pin and LX pin and delivers the BST pin voltage to the high side FET gate each
cycle.
GPI0-GPIO1
9,10
These pins can be configured as inputs or outputs to implement custom flags, power
good signals, enable/disable controls and synchronization to an external clock.
LX1-LX4
Open drain, these pins can be
on and off, shedding the load
configures as standard logic
configured, but as open drains
used to control external power MOSFETs to switch loads
for fine grained power management. They can also be
outputs or inputs just as any of the GPIOs can be
require an external pull-up when configured as outputs.
PSIO0-PSIO2
13,14,15
SDA, SCL
11,12
VOUT1-VOUT4
5,6,7,8
Connect to the output of the corresponding power stage. The output is sampled at least
once every switching cycle
LDO5
44
Output of a 5V LDO. This is a micro power LDO that can remain active while the rest of
the IC is in shutdown. This LDO is also used to power the internal Analog Blocks.
LDO3_3
1
Output of the 3.3V standby LDO. This is a micro power LDO that can remain active
while the rest of the IC is in shutdown.
ENABLE
40
If ENABLE is pulled high or allowed to float high, the chip is powered up (logic is reset,
registers configuration loaded, etc.). The pin must be held low for the XRP7724 to be
placed into shutdown.
BFB
42
Input from the 15V output created by the external boost supply. When this pin goes
below a pre-defined threshold, a pulse is created on the low side drive to charge this
output back to the original level. If not used, this pin should be connected to GND.
DGND
17
Digital ground pin. This is the logic ground connection, and should be connected to the
ground plane close to the PAD.
CPLL
3
V5EXT
43
AVDD
4
PAD
45
SMBus/I2C serial interface communication pins.
Connect to a 2.2nF capacitor to GND.
External 5V that can be provided. If one of the output channels is configured for 5V,
then this voltage can be fed back to this pin for reduced operating current of the chip
and improved efficiency.
Output of the internal 1.8V LDO.
AVDD and AGND close to the chip.
A decoupling capacitor should be placed between
This is the die attach paddle, which is exposed on the bottom of the part.
externally to the ground plane.
Connect
ORDERING INFORMATION
Part Number
Temperature
Range
Marking
Package
Packing
Quantity
Note 1
I2C Default
Address
XRP7724ILB-F
Bulk
Halogen Free
-40°C≤TJ≤+125°C XRP7724ILB
0x28 (7Bit)
44-pin TQFN
YYWW
X
Halogen Free
2.5K/Tape
&
Reel
-40°C≤TJ≤+125°C
Evaluation kit includes XRP7724EVB-DEMO-1 Evaluation Board with Power
XRP7724EVB-DEMO-2P-KIT
Architect software and XRP77XXEVB-XCM (USB to I2C Exar Configuration Module)
XRP7724ILBTR-F
“YY” = Year – “WW” = Work Week – “X” = Lot Number; when applicable.
© 2012 Exar Corporation
9/29
Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
All data taken at VCC = 12V, TJ = TA = 25°C, unless otherwise specified - Schematic and BOM from XRP7724EVB. See
XRP7724EVB-DEMO-1 Manual.
Fig. 5: PFM to PWM Transition
Fig. 6 PWM to PFM Transition
Fig. 7 0-6A Transient 300kHz PWM only
Fig. 8 10-6A Transient 300kHz with OVS ±5.5%
Fig. 9 Sequential Start-up
Fig. 10 Sequential Shut Down
© 2012 Exar Corporation
10/29
Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
Example
Fig. 11: Simultaneous Start-up
Fig. 12 Simultaneous Shut Down
Fig. 13: PFM Zero Current Accuracy
Fig. 14: LDO5 Brown Out Recovery, No Load
1.00
0.95
0.90
Vin=25V
Rising
0.85
Vin=25V
Falling
0.80
0.75
Vin=4.75
V Rising
0.70
Vin=4.75
V Falling
0.65
0.60
-40°C
25°C
85°C
125°C
Fig. 15: Enable Threshold Over Temp
© 2012 Exar Corporation
11/29
Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
System Integration Capabilities
Single supply operation
Programmable Power Benefits
I2C interface allows:
Communication with a System Controller
or other Power Management devices for
optimized system function
Fully Configurable
Output set point
Feedback compensation
Frequency set point
Access to modify or read internal
registers that control or monitor:
Under voltage lock out
Input voltage measurement
Output Current
Input and Output Voltage
Gate drive dead time
Soft-Start/Soft-Stop Time
‘Power Good’
Reduced Development Time
Configurable and re-configurable for
different Vout, Iout, Cout, and Inductor
values
Part Temperature
No need to change external passives for a
new output specification.
Higher integration and Reliability
Many external circuits used in the past
can be eliminated significantly improving
reliability.
Adjusting fault limits and
disabling/enabling faults
Packet Error Checking (PEC) on I2C
communication
PowerArchitect™ 5.0 Design and
Configuration Software
5 GPIO pins with a wide range of
configurability
Fault reporting (including UVLO
Warn/Fault, OCP Warn/Fault, OVP,
Temperature, Soft-Start in progress,
Power Good, System Reset)
Allows a Logic Level interface with other
non-digital IC’s or as logic inputs to other
devices
Wizard quickly generates a base design
Calculates all configuration registers
Projects can be saved and/or recalled
GPIOs can be configured easily and
intuitively
“Dashboard” Interface can be used for
real-time monitoring and debug
Frequency and Synchronization
Capability
Selectable switching frequency between
105kHz and 1.2MHz
System Benefits
Reliability is enhanced via communication
with the system controller which can obtain
real time data on an output voltage, input
voltage and current.
Main oscillator clock and DPWM clock can
be synchronized to external sources
System processors can communicate with
the XRP7724 directly to obtain data or
make adjustments to react to circuit
conditions
‘Master’, ‘Slave’ and ‘Stand-alone’
Configurations are possible
Internal MOSFET Drivers
Internal FET drivers (4Ω/2Ω) per channel
Built-In Automatic Dead-time adjustment
A system process or could also be
configured to log and analyze operating
history, perform diagnostics and if required,
take the supply off-line after making other
system adjustments.
© 2012 Exar Corporation
Enable/Disable Outputs
Over Current
Over Voltage
Temperature Faults
30ns Rise and Fall times
4 Independent SMPS channels and 2
LDOs in a 7x7mm TQFN
12/29
Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW
external circuitry. The 3.3V LDO is solely for
customer use and is not used by the chip.
There is also a 1.8V linear which is for internal
use only and should not be used externally.
The XRP7724 is a quad-output digital pulse
width modulation (DPWM) controller with
integrated
gate
drivers
for
use
with
synchronous buck switching regulators. Each
output voltage can be programmed from 0.6V
to 5.5V without the need of an external
voltage divider. The wide range of the
programmable DPWM switching frequency
(from 105 kHz to 1.2 MHz) enables the user to
optimize for efficiency or component sizes.
Since the digital regulation loop requires no
external
passive
components,
loop
performance is not compromised due to
external component variation or operating
condition.
A key feature of the XRP7724 is its powerful
power management capabilities. All four
outputs are independently programmable and
gives the user not only full control of the
delay, ramp, and sequence during power up
and power down. One can also control of how
the outputs interact and power down in the
event of a fault. This includes active ramp
down of the output voltages to remove an
output voltage as quickly as possible. Another
nice feature is that the outputs can be defined
and controlled as groups.
The XRP7724 has two main types of
programmable memory. The first types are
runtime registers that contain configuration,
control and monitoring information for the
chip. The second type is rewritable NonVolatile Flash Memory (NVFM) that is used for
permanent storage of the configuration data
along with various chip internal functions.
During power up the run time registers are
loaded from the NVFM allowing for standalone
operation.
The XRP7724 provides a number of critical
safety
features, such
as
Over-Current
Protection (OCP), Over-Voltage Protection
(OVP), Over Temperature Protection (OTP)
plus input Under Voltage Lockout (UVLO). In
addition, a number of key health monitoring
features such as warning level flags for the
safety functions, Power Goods (PGOOD), etc.,
plus full monitoring of system voltages and
currents. The above are all programmable
and/or readable from the SMBus and many
are steerable to the GPIOs for hardware
monitoring.
The XRP7724 brings an extremely high level of
functionality
and
performance
to
a
programmable
power
system.
Ever
decreasing product budgets require the
designer
to
quickly
make
good
cost/performance tradeoffs to be truly
successful. By incorporating 4 switching
channels, two user LDOs, a charge pump
boost controller, along with internal gate
drivers, all in a single package, the XRP7724
allows for extremely cost effective power
system designs. Another key cost factor to
put into the cost tradeoffs, which is often
overlooked, is the unanticipated Engineering
Change Order (ECO). The programmable
versatility of the XRP7724, along with the lack
of hard wired, on board configuration
components, allows for minor and major
changes to be made, in circuit, on the board
by simple reprogramming.
For hardware communication, the XRP7724
has two logic level General Purpose InputOutput (GPIO) pins and three, 15V, open
drain, Power System Input-Output (PSIO)
pins. Two pins are dedicated to the SMBus
data (SDA) and clock (SCL). Additional pins
include Chip Enable (Enable), Aux Boost
Feedback (BFB) and External PLL Capacitor
(CPLL).
In addition to providing four switching outputs,
the XRP7724 also provides control for an Aux
boost supply, and two stand-by linear
regulators that produce 5V and 3.3V for a total
of 7 customer usable supplies in a single
device.
The 5V LDO is used for internal power and is
also available for customer use to power
© 2012 Exar Corporation
13/29
Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
THEORY OF OPERATION
CHIP ARCHITECTURE
REGULATION LOOPS
Vin
(VCC)
Vref
DAC
VFB
(VOUTx)
Scalar
÷1,2,4
AFE
Error
Amp
AFE
ADC
Window
Comp.
Fine
Adjust
Vin Feed
Forward
Error
Register
PID
Vdrive
(VCCD)x
DPWM
Gate
Driver
GHx
GLx
LXx
Current
ADC
OVS
PFM/
Ultrasonic
PWMPFM Sel
Fig 16 XRP7724 Regulation Loops
Figure 16 shows a functional block diagram of
the regulation loops for an output channel.
There are four separate parallel control loops;
Pulse
Width
Modulation
(PWM),
Pulse
Frequency Modulation (PFM), Ultrasonic, and
Over Sampling (OVS). Each of these loops is
fed by the Analog Front End (AFE) as shown at
the left of the diagram. The AFE consist of an
input voltage scalar, a programmable Voltage
Reference (Vref) DAC, Error Amplifier, and a
window comparator. (Please note that the
block diagram shown is simplified for ease of
understanding. Some of the function blocks
are common and shared by each channel by
means of a multiplexer.)
up to 1.6V (low range) the scalar has a gain of
1. For output voltages from 1.6V to 3.2V (mid
range) the scalar gain is 1/2 and for voltages
greater than 3.2V (high range) the gain is 1/4.
This results in the low range having a
reference voltage resolution of 12.5mV, mid
range of 25mV and the high range having a
resolution of 50mV. The error amp has a gain
of 4 and compares the output voltage of the
scalar to Vref to create an error voltage on its
output. This is converted to a digital error
term by the AFE ADC which is stored in the
error register. The error register has a fine
adjust function that can be used to improve
the output voltage set point resolution by a
factor of 5 resulting in a low range resolution
of 2.5mV, mid range resolution of 5mV and a
high range resolution of 10mV. The output of
the error resister is then used by the
Proportional
Integral
Derivative
(PID)
controller to manage the loop dynamics.
PWM Loop
The PWM loop operates in Voltage Control
Mode (VCM) with optional Vin feed forward
based on the voltage at the VCC pin. The
reference voltage (Vref) for the error amp is
created by a 0.15V to 1.6V DAC that has a
12.5mV resolution. In order to get a full 0.6V
to 5.5V output voltage range an input scalar is
used to reduce feedback voltages for higher
output voltages to bring them within the 0.15V
to 1.6V control range. So for output voltages
© 2012 Exar Corporation
The XRP7724 PID is a 17-bit five coefficient
control engine that calculates the correct duty
cycle under the various operating conditions
and feeds it to the Digital Pulse Width
Modulator (DPWM). Besides the normal
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Rev. 1.0.1
XRP7724
Quad Channel Digital PWM/PFM
Programmable Power Management System
coefficients the PID also uses the Vin voltage
to provide a feed forward function.
The PFM loop works in conjunction with the
PWM loop and is entered when the output
current falls below a programmed threshold
level for a programmed number of cycles.
When PFM mode is entered, the PWM loop is
disabled and instead, the scaled output
voltage is compared to Vref with a window
comparator. The window comparator has three
thresholds; normal (Vref), high (Vref +
%high) and low (Vref - %low). The %high and
%low values are programmable and track
Vref.
The XRP7724 DPWM includes a special delay
timing loop that gives a timing resolution that
is 16 times the master oscillator frequency
(103MHz) for a timing resolution of 607ns for
both the driver pulse width and dead time
delays. The DWPM creates and outputs the
Gate High (GH) and Gate Low (GL) signals to
the driver. The maximum and minimum on
times and dead time delays are programmable
by configuration resisters.
In PFM mode, the normal comparator is used
to regulate the output voltage. If the output
voltage falls below the Vref level, the
comparator is activated and triggers the
DPWM to start a switching cycle. When the
high side FET is turned on, the inductor
current ramps up which charges up the output
capacitors and increasing their voltage. After
the completion of the high side and low side
on-times, the lower FET is turned off to inhibit
any inductor reverse current flow. The load
current then discharges the output capacitors
until the output voltage falls below Vref and
the normal comparator is activated this then
triggers the DPWM to start the next switching
cycle. The time from the end of the switching
cycle to the next trigger is referred to as the
dead zone. This PFM methodology ensures
output voltage ripple does not increase from
PWM to PFM.
To provide current information, the output
inductor current is measured by a differential
amplifier that reads the voltage drop across
the RDS of lower FET during its on time. There
are two selectable ranges, a low range with a
gain of 8 for a +20mV to -120 mV range and a
high range with a gain of 4 for +40mV to 280mV range. The optimum range to use will
depend on the maximum output current and
the RDS of the lower FET. The measured
voltage is then converted to a digital value by
the current ADC block. The resulting current
value is stored in a readable register and also
used to determine when PWM to PFM
transitions should occur.
PFM mode loop
The XRP7724 has a PFM loop that can be
enabled to improve efficiency at light loads.
By reducing switching frequency and operating
in the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM),
both switching and I2R losses are minimized.
When PFM mode is initially entered the
switching duty cycle is the same that it was in
PWM mode. The cause the inductor ripple
current to be the same level that it was in
PWM mode. During operation the PFM duty
cycle is calculated based on the ratio of the
output voltage to VCC.
Figure 17 shows a functional diagram of the
PFM logic.
# Cycles Reg
Default = 20
A
CHx Fsw
PFM Current
Threshold Reg
Clk
A
COUNTER
If the output voltage ever goes outside the
high/low windows, PFM mode is exited and the
PWM loop is reactivated.
A