RT8237E - Richtek

®
RT8237E
High Efficiency Single Synchronous Buck PWM Controller
General Description
Features
The RT8237E PWM controller provides high efficiency,
excellent transient response, and high DC output accuracy
needed for stepping down high voltage batteries to
generate low voltage CPU core, I/O, and chipset RAM
supplies in notebook computers.
z
Wide Input Voltage Range : 4.5V to 26V
z
Output Voltage Range : 0.7V to 3.3V
Built-in 0.5% 0.7V Reference Voltage
Quick Load-Step Response within 100ns
4700ppm/°°C Current Source for Current Limit
RDS(ON)
Adjustable Current Limit with Low Side MOSFET
4 Selectable Frequency Setting
Soft-Start Control
Drives Large Synchronous-Rectifier FETs
Integrated Boot Switch
Built-in OVP/OCP/UVP
Thermal Shutdown
Power Good Indicator
RoHS Compliant and Halogen Free
The constant on-time PWM control scheme handles wide
input/output voltage ratios with ease and provides 100ns
“instant-on” response to load transients while maintaining
a relatively constant switching frequency.
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
The RT8237E achieves high efficiency at a reduced cost
by eliminating the current sense resistor found in
traditional current mode PWMs. Efficiency is further
enhanced by its ability to drive very large synchronous
rectifier MOSFETs and enter diode emulation mode at
light load condition. The Buck conversion allows this device
to directly step down high voltage batteries at the highest
possible efficiency. The pre-set frequency selections
minimize design effort required for new designs. The
RT8237E is intended for CPU core, chipset, DRAM, or
other low voltage supplies as low as 0.7V. The RT8237E
is available in the WDFN-10L 3x3 package.
z
z
z
z
z
Applications
z
z
z
z
Notebook Computers
CPU Core Supply
Chipset/RAM Supply as Low as 0.7V
Generic DC/DC Power Regulator
Simplified Application Circuit
RT8237E
VCC
VCC
BOOT
PGOOD
VIN
UGATE
EN
RF
CS
PHASE
LGATE
GND
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
VOUT
FB
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
1
RT8237E
Ordering Information
(2)
(TOP VIEW)
Pin 1 Orientation
(2) : Quadrant 2, Follow EIA-481-D
PGOOD
CS
EN
FB
RF
Package Type
QW : WDFN-10L 3x3 (W-Type)
Lead Plating System
Z : ECO (Ecological Element with
Halogen Free and Pb free)
Note :
1
2
3
4
5
GND
RT8237E
Pin Configurations
11
10
9
8
7
6
BOOT
UGATE
PHASE
VCC
LGATE
WDFN-10L 3x3
Marking Information
Richtek products are :
88 : Product Code
`
RoHS compliant and compatible with the current require-
`
Suitable for use in SnPb or Pb-free soldering processes.
ments of IPC/JEDEC J-STD-020.
88 DF
A26
DFA26 : Date Code
Functional Pin Description
Pin No.
1
Pin Name
PGOOD
2
CS
3
EN
4
FB
5
RF
6
LGATE
7
VCC
8
PHASE
9
UGATE
10
BOOT
11
GND
(Exposed Pad)
Pin Function
Open Drain Power Good Indicator. High impedance indicates power is good.
Current Limit Threshold Setting Input. Connect a setting resistor to GND and the
current limit threshold is equal to 1/8 of the voltage at this pin.
Enable Control Input. Pull low to GND to disable the PWM.
V OUT Feedback Input. Connect FB to a resistor voltage divider from V OUT to GND
to adjust the output from 0.7V to 3.3V
Switching Frequency Selection. Connect a resistance to select switching
frequency as shown in Electrical Characteristics. The switching frequency is
detected and latched after startup. This pin also controls diode emulation mode or
forced CCM selection.
Pull down to GND with resistor : Diode Emulation Mode.
Connect to PGOOD with resistor : forced CCM after PGOOD becomes high.
Gate Drive Output for Low Side External MOSFET.
Supply Voltage Input. This pin provides the power for the Buck controller, the low
side driver and the bootstrap circuit for high side driver. Bypass to GND with a 1μF
ceramic capacitor.
External Inductor Connection Pin for PWM Converter. It behaves as the current
sense comparator input for low side MOSFET R DS(ON) sensing and reference
voltage for on time generation.
Gate Drive Output for High Side External MOSFET.
Bootstrap Supply for High Side Gate Driver. Connect through a capacitor to the
floating node (PHASE).
Ground. The exposed pad must be soldered to a large PCB and connected to
GND for maximum power dissipation.
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.richtek.com
2
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
RT8237E
Function Block Diagram
TRIG
On-time
Compute
RF
BOOT
PHASE
R
- COMP
S
+
FB
70%
VREF
+
PWM
DRV
UGATE
PHASE
VREF
125%
VREF
Q
OV
Latch
S1
Q
UV
Latch
S1
Q
Min. tOFF
Q
TRIG
VCC
+
DRV
LGATE
GND
-
DEM/FCCM
125% VREF
-
PGOOD
+
VCC
POR
SS
Timer
EN
-
90% VREF
+
Thermal
Shutdown
+
X(1/8)
+
10µA
X(-1/8)
CS
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
3
RT8237E
Operation
The RT8237E integrates a Constant-On-Time (COT) PWM
controller, and the controller provides the PWM signal
which relies on the output ripple voltage comparing with
internal reference voltage.
The UGATE driver is turned on at the beginning of each
cycle. After the internal one-shot timer expires, the UGATE
driver will be turned off. The pulse width of this one-shot is
determined by the converter's input voltage and the output
voltage to keep the frequency fairly constant over the input
voltage and output voltage range.
Power On Reset, UVLO
Power On Reset (POR) occurs when VCC rises above to
approximately 4.1V (typical), the RT8237E will reset the
fault latch and prepare the PWM for operation. When the
input voltage below 3.7V(min), the Under Voltage Lockout
(UVLO) circuitry inhibits switching by keeping UGATE and
LGATE low.
Soft-Start
The output voltage will track the internal ramp voltage during
soft-start interval to prevent large inrush current and output
voltage overshoot while the converter is being powered
up.
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.richtek.com
4
Mode Selection
The RT8237E supports mode selection through the RF
by connecting a resistor from the RF pin to either GND or
PGOOD. When the resistor is connected to GND, the
controller operates in diode emulation mode. When the
resistor is connected to PGOOD, the controller operates
in CCM mode.
Current Limit Setting
The RT8237E has a cycle-by-cycle current limit control.
The current limit circuit employs a unique “valley” current
sensing algorithm. If the magnitude of the sensing signal
at PHASE is above the current limit threshold, the PWM
is not allowed to initiate a new cycle.
Over Voltage Protection
The output voltage can be continuously monitored for over
voltage condition. When the output voltage exceeds 25%
of its set voltage threshold, the UGATE goes low and the
LGATE is forced high.
Under Voltage Protection
The output voltage can be continuously monitored for under
voltage condition. When the output voltage is less than
70% of its set voltage, under voltage protection is triggered
and then both UGATE and LGATE gate drivers are forced
low.
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
RT8237E
Absolute Maximum Ratings
(Note 1)
VCC, FB, PGOOD, EN, CS, RF to GND ----------------------------------------------------------------------------BOOT to PHASE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z PHASE to GND
DC -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<20ns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z UGATE to PHASE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DC -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<20ns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z LGATE to GND -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DC -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<20ns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z Power Dissipation, PD @ TA = 25°C
WDFN-10L 3x3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z Package Thermal Resistance (Note 2)
WDFN-10L 3x3, θJA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WDFN-10L 3x3, θJC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z Lead Temperature (Soldering, 10 sec.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------z Junction Temperature -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z Storage Temperature Range --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z ESD Susceptibility (Note 3)
HBM (Human Body Model) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------z
z
Recommended Operating Conditions
z
z
z
z
−0.3V to 6V
−0.3V to 6V
−0.3V to 32V
−8V to 38V
−0.3V to 6V
−0.3V to 6V
−5V to 7.5V
−0.3V to 6V
−0.3V to 6V
−2.5V to 7.5V
3.28W
30.5°C/W
7.5°C/W
260°C
150°C
−65°C to 150°C
2kV
(Note 4)
Input Voltage, VIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Control Voltage, VCC ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Junction Temperature Range --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ambient Temperature Range ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.5V to 26V
4.5V to 5.5V
−40°C to 125°C
−40°C to 85°C
Electrical Characteristics
(VCC = 5V, TA = 25°C, unless otherwise specified)
Parameter
Symbol
Test Conditions
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
Input Power Supply
VCC Quiescent Supply
Current
IQ
FB forced above the regulation
point, VEN = 5V,
--
0.5
1.25
mA
VCC Shutdown Current
ISHDN
VCC current, VEN = 0V
--
--
1
μA
CS pull to GND
--
--
1
μA
0.7005
0.704
0.7075
0.697
0.704
0.711
−1
0.01
1
CS Shutdown Current
FB Error Comparator
Threshold
FB Input Bias Current
VREF
DEM
DEM, TA = −40 to 85°C
VFB = 0.735V
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
(Note 5)
V
μA
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
5
RT8237E
Parameter
Symbol
Test Conditions
VOUT Voltage Range
Switching Frequency
fSW
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
0.7
--
3.3
V
RRF = 470kΩ
(Note 6)
--
290
--
RRF = 200kΩ
(Note 6)
--
340
--
RRF = 100kΩ
(Note 6)
--
380
--
--
430
--
250
400
550
ns
9
10
11
μA
--
4700
--
ppm/°C
DEM
−10
--
5
mV
GND − PHASE, VCS = 2.4V
280
300
320
GND − PHASE, VCS = 1.6V
185
200
215
GND − PHASE, VCS = 0.4V
40
50
60
PHASE − GND, VCS = 2.4V
--
300
--
PHASE − GND, VCS = 1.6V
--
200
--
PHASE − GND, VCS = 0.4V
--
50
--
65
70
75
%
120
125
130
%
--
5
--
μs
3.7
3.9
4.1
V
--
1300
--
μs
--
3
--
ms
--
150
--
°C
RRF = 39kΩ
(Note 6)
Minimum Off-Time
kHz
Current Sensing
CS Source Current
ICS
CS Source Current TC
Zero Crossing Threshold
Current Limit Threshold
VLIM
Negative Current Limit
Threshold
mV
mV
Protection Function
With respect to error
comparator threshold
With respect to error
comparator threshold
Output UV Threshold
OVP Threshold
OV Fault Delay
FB forced above OV threshold
VOUT Soft-Start
Falling edge,
hysteresis = 100mV, PWM
disabled below this level
From EN = high to VOUT = 95%
UV Blank Time
From EN signal going high
VCC Under Voltage Lockout
Threshold
Thermal Shutdown
UVLO
TSD
Driver On Resistance
UGATE Drive Source
R UGATEsr
BOOT − PHASE forced to 5V
--
1.8
3.6
Ω
UGATE Drive Sink
R UGATEsk
BOOT − PHASE forced to 5V
--
1.2
2.4
Ω
LGATE Drive Source
R LGATEsr
LGATE, High State
--
1.8
3.6
Ω
LGATE Drive Sink
R LGATEsk
LGATE, Low State
--
0.8
1.6
Ω
LGATE Rising (VPHASE = 1.5V)
--
30
--
UGATE Rising
--
30
--
VCC to BOOT, 10mA
--
--
80
Dead Time
Internal Boost Charging Switch
On Resistance
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.richtek.com
6
ns
Ω
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
RT8237E
Parameter
Symbol
Test Conditions
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
1.8
--
--
--
--
0.5
--
--
0.5
V
1.8
--
--
V
87
90
93
%
120
125
130
%
--
2.5
--
μs
EN Threshold
Logic-High VIH
EN Input
Voltage
Logic-Low
VIL
V
Mode Decision
VRF Threshold for DEM
VRF Threshold for FCCM
PGOOD
Trip Threshold (falling,
leaving PGOOD)
Trip Threshold (rising,
leaving PGOOD)
Fault Propagation Delay
Measured at FB, with respect to
reference, Hysteresis = 3%
Measured at FB, with respect to
reference, Hysteresis = 3%
Falling Edge, FB forced below PGOOD
trip threshold
Output Low Voltage
ISINK = 1mA
--
--
0.4
V
Leakage Current
High State, forced to 5V
--
--
1
μA
Note 1. Stresses beyond those listed “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. These are
stress ratings only, and functional operation of the device at these or any other conditions beyond those indicated in
the operational sections of the specifications is not implied. Exposure to absolute maximum rating conditions may
affect device reliability.
Note 2. θJA is measured at TA = 25°C on a high effective thermal conductivity four-layer test board per JEDEC 51-7. θJC is
measured at the exposed pad of the package.
Note 3. Devices are ESD sensitive. Handling precaution is recommended.
Note 4. The device is not guaranteed to function outside its operating conditions.
Note 5. Guaranteed by design. Not production tested.
Note 6. Not production tested. Test condition is VIN = 8V, VOUT = 1.1V, IOUT = 10A using application circuit.
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
7
RT8237E
Typical Application Circuit
VIN
VCC
R1
0
RT8237E
C1
1µF
16V
7 VCC
BOOT
R5
100k
1 PGOOD
UGATE
PHASE
RRF
470k
5 RF
2 CS
ROC_SET
30k
11 (Exposed Pad)
GND
9
RUGATE
C2
10µF x 3
50V
Q1
0
3 EN
Enable
CBOOT
0.1µF
50V
RBOOT
0
10
LGATE
8
6
C6
10µF x 2
16V
R2*
RLGATE
Q2
0
FB
VOUT
1.05V
LOUT
0.45µH
C3*
RFB1
5.1k
R3*
COUT
330µF x 2
16V
C4*
4
RFB2
10k
C5*
* : Optional
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.richtek.com
8
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
RT8237E
Typical Operating Characteristics
Efficiency vs. Load Current
Efficiency vs. Load Current
100
100
90
90
DEM
DEM
80
70
Efficiency (%)
Efficiency (%)
80
60
50
40
30
70
60
50
40
30
CCM
20
CCM
20
10
10
VIN = 8V, VOUT = 1.05V, RRF = 470kΩ
0
0.001
0.01
0.1
1
10
VIN = 12V, VOUT = 1.05V, RRF = 470kΩ
0
0.001
100
0.01
Load Current (A)
Efficiency vs. Load Current
Switching Frequency (kHz)1
80
Efficiency (%)
10
100
1000
90
DEM
70
60
50
40
30
CCM
20
10
CCM
100
10
DEM
1
VIN = 20V, VOUT = 1.05V, RRF = 470kΩ
0
0.001
0.01
0.1
1
10
VIN = 12V, VOUT = 1.05V, RRF = 470kΩ
0.1
0.001
100
0.01
Load Current (A)
Switching Frequency vs. Load Current
1
10
100
Switching Frequency vs. Load Current
Switching Frequency (kHz)1
1000
CCM
100
10
DEM
1
CCM
100
10
DEM
1
VIN = 12V, VOUT = 1.05V, RRF = 200kΩ
0.1
0.001
0.1
Load Current (A)
1000
Switching Frequency (kHz)1
1
Switching Frequency vs. Load Current
100
0.01
0.1
1
10
Load Current (A)
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
0.1
Load Current (A)
December 2012
100
VIN = 12V, VOUT = 1.05V, RRF = 100kΩ
0.1
0.001
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
Load Current (A)
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
9
RT8237E
Switching Frequency vs. Load Current
Load Regulation vs. Temperature
Switching Frequency (kHz)1
1000
1.0
CCM
0.8
Load Regulation (%)
CCM
100
10
DEM
1
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
VIN = 12V, VOUT = 1.05V, RRF = 39kΩ
0.1
0.001
VIN = 12V, VOUT = 1.05V, IOUT = 10A, RRF = 470kΩ
-1.0
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
-50
-25
0
Load Current (A)
100
125
Switching Frequency vs. Input Voltage
DEM
Switching Frequency (kHz)1
Line Regulation (%)
75
500
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
50
Temperature (°C)
Line Regulation vs. Temperature
1.0
25
VIN = 12V, VOUT = 1.05V, RRF = 470kΩ, No Load
475
RRF = 39k
450
425
RRF = 100k
400
375
RRF = 200k
350
325
RRF = 470k
300
275
250
225
IOUT = 10A
200
-1.0
-50
-25
0
25
50
75
100
4
125
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
Temperature (°C)
Input Voltage (V)
CS Source Current vs. Temperature
Load Transient Response
24
26
20
CS Source Current (µA)
18
VOUT
(50mV/Div)
16
14
12
IOUT
(10A/Div)
UGATE
(20V/Div)
10
8
6
4
2
VCC = 5V
0
-50
-25
0
25
50
75
100
125
LGATE
(5V/Div)
VIN = 12V, IOUT = 0A to 20A, VOUT = 1.05V
Time (40μs/Div)
Temperature (°C)
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.richtek.com
10
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
RT8237E
OVP
UVP
VOUT
(1V/Div)
VOUT
(500mV/Div)
LGATE
(5V/Div)
PGOOD
(5V/Div)
UGATE
(20V/Div)
PGOOD
(5V/Div)
LGATE
(5V/Div)
DEM, VIN = 12V, No Load
VIN = 12V, VOUT = 1.05V
Time (40μs/Div)
Time (40μs/Div)
Power On from EN
Power On from EN
EN
(5V/Div)
EN
(5V/Div)
VOUT
(500mV/Div)
PGOOD
(5V/Div)
VOUT
(500mV/Div)
PGOOD
(5V/Div)
UGATE
(10V/Div)
UGATE
(10V/Div)
DEM, VIN = 12V, No Load
Time (1ms/Div)
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
CCM, VIN = 12V, No Load
Time (1ms/Div)
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
11
RT8237E
Application Information
The RT8237E PWM controller provides high efficiency,
excellent transient response, and high DC output accuracy
needed for stepping down high voltage batteries to
generate low voltage CPU core, I/O, and chipset RAM
supplies in notebook computers. Richtek Mach
Response TM technology is specifically designed for
providing 100ns“instant-on” response to load steps while
maintaining a relatively constant operating frequency and
inductor operating point over a wide range of input voltages.
The topology solves the poor load transient response timing
problems of fixed frequency current mode PWMs and
avoids the problems caused by widely varying switching
frequencies in conventional constant on-time and constant
off-time PWM schemes.
On-Time Control (TON/MODE)
The on-time one-shot comparator has two inputs. One
input monitors the output voltage from the PHASE pin,
while the other input samples the input voltage and converts
it to a current. This input voltage proportional current is
used to charge an internal on-time capacitor. The on-time
is the time required for the voltage on this capacitor to
charge from zero volts to VOUT, thereby making the ontime of the high side switch directly proportional to output
voltage and inversely proportional to input voltage.
The on-time is given by :
The EN pin allows for power sequencing between the
controller bias voltage and another voltage rail. The
RT8237E remains in shutdown if the EN pin is lower than
500mV. When the EN pin rises above the VEN trip point,
the RT8237E will begin a new initialization and soft-start
cycle.
POR, UVLO and Soft-Start
Power-on reset (POR) occurs when VCC rises above
approximately 4.1V, in which the RT8237E resets the fault
latch and prepares the PWM for operation. When the input
voltage below 3.7V (min), the VCC Under Voltage Lockout
(UVLO) circuitry inhibits switching by keeping UGATE and
LGATE low. A built-in soft-start is used to prevent the power
supply input from surge currents after PWM is enabled. A
ramping up current limit threshold eliminates the VOUT
folded-back current during the soft-start duration.
Mode Selection (RF) Operation
To select the operation mode, connect a resistor from the
RF pin to either GND or PGOOD. When the resistor is
connected to GND, the controller operates in diode
emulation mode. When the resistor is connected to
PGOOD, the controller operates in CCM mode.
Diode-Emulation Mode (RRF connected to GND)
tON = (VOUT / VIN) / fSW
Table 1. RF Connection and Switching Frequency
R RF (kΩ)
Switching Frequency (kHz)
470kΩ
200kΩ
100kΩ
39kΩ
290
340
380
430
Note : For DEM, connect RRF to GND; for CCM, connect
RRF to PGOOD.
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.richtek.com
12
Enable and Disable
In diode-emulation mode, the RT8237E automatically
reduces switching frequency at light load conditions to
maintain high efficiency. This reduction of frequency is
achieved smoothly without increasing VOUT ripple or load
regulation. As the output current decreases from heavy
load condition, the inductor current is reduced and
eventually comes to the point where its valley touches
zero current, which is the boundary between continuous
conduction and discontinuous conduction modes. To
emulate the behavior of diodes, the low side MOSFET
allows only partial negative current to flow when the
inductor freewheeling current reaches negative. As the load
current is further decreased, it takes longer and longer to
discharge the output capacitor to the level that requires
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
RT8237E
the next “ON” cycle. The on-time is kept the same as
that in heavy load condition. On the contrary, when the
output current increases from light load to heavy load, the
switching frequency increases to the preset value as the
inductor current reaches the continuous condition. This
is shown in Figure 1. The transition load point to the light
load operation is calculated as follows :
ILOAD ≈
( VIN − VOUT )
2L
× tON
where tON is the on-time.
IL
Slope = (VIN -VOUT) / L
IL, PEAK
ILOAD = IL, PEAK / 2
0
tON
t
Figure 1. Boundary Condition of CCM/DCM
The switching waveforms may appear noisy and
asynchronous when light loading causes diode-emulation
operation, but this is a normal operating condition that
results in high light load efficiency. Trade-offs in DEM noise
vs. light load efficiency is made by varying the inductor
value. Generally, low inductor values produce a broader
efficiency vs. load curve, while higher values result in higher
full load efficiency (assuming that the coil resistance
remains fixed) and less output voltage ripple. The
disadvantages for using higher inductor values include
larger physical size and degraded load transient response
(especially at low input voltage levels).
Forced-CCM Mode (FCCM)
The low noise, forced-CCM mode disables the zerocrossing comparator, which controls the low side switch
on-time. This causes the low side gate drive waveform to
become the complement of the high side gate drive
waveform. This in turn causes the inductor current to
reverse at light loads as the PWM loop to maintain duty
ratio VOUT/VIN. A fairly constant switching frequency is
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
the benefit of forced-CCM mode, but this comes at a cost.
The no load battery current can be up to 10mA to 40mA,
depending on the external MOSFETs.
Current Limit Setting (CS)
The RT8237E has a cycle-by-cycle current limit control.
The current limit circuit employs a unique “valley” current
sensing algorithm. If the magnitude of the current sense
signal at PHASE is above the current limit threshold, the
PWM is not allowed to initiate a new cycle (see Figure
2). In order to provide both good accuracy and a cost
effective solution, the RT8237E supports temperature
compensated MOSFET RDS(ON) sensing.
The CS pin of the RT8237E is a multiplexed pin for PWM
enable/disable control and current limit threshold setting.
Connect a setting resistor from this pin to GND via an NMOSFET. When the N-MOSFET is turned off, the PWM
is disabled. When the N-MOSFET is turned on, the PWM
is enabled and the current limit threshold is equal to 1/8
of the voltage at this pin.
Choose a current limit resistor by following below equation:
ROC_SET =
VCS_OC
ICS
IRIPPLE ⎞
⎛
× 8 × RDS(ON)
⎜ ILOAD_OC −
2 ⎟⎠
=⎝
ICS
Inductor current is monitored by the voltage between the
GND and PHASE pins, so the PHASE pin should be
connected to the Drain terminal of the low side MOSFET.
ICS has a temperature coefficient to compensate the
temperature dependency of the RDS(ON). GND is used as
the positive current sensing node, so GND should be
connected to the Source terminal of the low side MOSFET.
As the comparison is being done during the OFF state,
VLIMIT (current limit threshold) sets the valley level of the
inductor current. Thus, the load current at over current
threshold, ILOAD_OC, can be calculated as follows :
ILOAD_OC =
=
VCS_OC
8 × RDS(ON)
VCS_OC
8 × RDS(ON)
+
+
IRIPPLE
2
(VIN − VOUT ) × VOUT
1
×
2×L × f
VIN
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
13
RT8237E
In an over current condition, the current to the load exceeds
the current to the output capacitor. Thus, the output voltage
falls and eventually crosses the under voltage protection
threshold, inducing IC shutdown.
IL
VIN
BOOT
R
UGATE
IL, PEAK
ILOAD_OC
ILIMIT
t
0
PHASE
Figure 3. Reducing the UGATE Rise Time
Power Good Output (PGOOD)
The power good output is an open-drain output and requires
a pull-up resistor. When the output voltage is 20% above
When the device is operating in the FCCM, the negative
current limit protects the external component. The negative
current limit detect threshold is set as the same value as
positive current limit but negative polarity. The threshold
still is the valley value of the inductor current.
or 10% below its set voltage, PGOOD will be pulled low. It
is held low until the output voltage returns to within these
tolerances once more. During soft-start, PGOOD is actively
held low and is allowed to transition high only after softstart is over and the output reaches 90% of its set voltage.
There is a 2.5μs delay built into the PGOOD circuitry to
prevent false transitions.
MOSFET Gate Driver
Output Over Voltage Protection (OVP)
The high side driver is designed to drive high current, low
RDS(ON) N-MOSFET(s). When configured as a floating
driver, 5V bias voltage is delivered from the VCC supply.
The average drive current is proportional to the gate charge
at VGS = 5V times switching frequency. The instantaneous
drive current is supplied by the flying capacitor between
the BOOT and PHASE pins. To prevent shoot through, a
dead-time is internally generated between high side
MOSFET off to low side MOSFET on, and low side
MOSFET off to high side MOSFET on. The low side driver
is designed to drive high current low R DS(ON)
N-MOSFET(s). The internal pull-down transistor that drives
LGATE low is robust, with a 0.5Ω typical on-resistance.
A 5V bias voltage is delivered from the VCC supply. The
instantaneous drive current is supplied by the flying
capacitor between VCC and GND.
The output voltage is continuously monitored for over
voltage condition. When the output voltage exceeds 25%
of its set voltage threshold, over voltage protection will be
triggered and the low side MOSFET is latched on. This
activates the low side MOSFET to discharge the output
capacitor. The RT8237E is latched once OVP is triggered
and can only be released by VCC or EN power on reset.
There is a 5μs delay built into the over voltage protection
circuit to prevent false transitions.
Figure 2. “Valley” Current Limit
For high current applications, certain combinations of high
and low side MOSFETs may cause excessive gate-drain
coupling, which can lead to efficiency-killing, EMIproducing shoot-through currents. This is often remedied
by adding a resistor in series with BOOT, which increases
the turn-on time of the high side MOSFET without degrading
the turn-off time (see Figure 3).
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.richtek.com
14
Output Under Voltage Protection (UVP)
The output voltage can be continuously monitored for under
voltage condition. When the output voltage is less than
70% of its set voltage threshold, under voltage protection
will be triggered and then both UGATE and LGATE gate
drivers are forced low. There is a 2.5μs delay built into the
under voltage protection circuit to prevent false transitions.
During soft-start, the UVP blanking time is 3ms.
Thermal Shutdown (OTP)
The device implements an internal thermal shutdown to
protect itself if junction temperature exceeds 150°C. When
the junction temperature exceeds the thermal shutdown
threshold that the OTP function will be triggered and the
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
RT8237E
RT8237E will shut down and enter Latch-Off Mode. In
Latch-Off Mode, the RT8237E can be reset by EN or power
input VCC.
Output Voltage Setting (FB)
The output voltage can be adjusted from 0.7V to 3.3V by
setting the feedback resistors, R1 and R2 (see Figure 4).
Choose R2 to be approximately 10kΩ and solve for R1
using the equation below :
⎛ R1 ⎞
VOUT = VREF × ⎜ 1+
⎟
⎝ R2 ⎠
where VREF is 0.704V (typ.).
VOUT
R1
FB
R2
Figure 4. Setting VOUT with a Resistive Voltage Divider
Inductor Selection
The inductor plays an important role in step-down
converters because it stores the energy from the input
power rail and then releases the energy to the load. From
the viewpoint of efficiency, the dc resistance (DCR) of the
inductor should be as small as possible to minimize the
conduction loss. In addition, because the inductor takes
up a significant portion of the board space, its size is also
important. Low profile inductors can save board space
especially when there is a height limitation. However, low
DCR and low profile inductors are usually cost ineffective.
Additionally, larger inductance results in lower ripple
current, which means lower power loss. The inductor
current rising time increases with inductance value. This
means the transient response will be slower. Therefore,
the inductor design is a compromise between
performance, size and cost.
In general, the inductance is designed such that the ripple
current ranges between 20% to 40% of the full load current.
The inductance can be calculated using the following
equation :
VIN − VOUT
V
× OUT
LMIN =
fSW × k × IOUT_rated
VIN
where k is the ratio between inductor ripple current and
rated output current.
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
Input Capacitor Selection
Voltage rating and current rating are the key parameters
in selecting an input capacitor. For a conservatively safe
design, an input capacitor should generally have a voltage
rating 1.5 times greater than the maximum input voltage.
The input capacitor is used to supply the input RMS
current, which is approximately calculated using the
following equation :
IRMS = IOUT ×
VOUT
VIN
⎛ V
⎞
× ⎜ 1− OUT ⎟
V
⎝
IN ⎠
The next step is to select a proper capacitor for RMS
current rating. Placing more than one capacitor with low
Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) in parallel to form a
capacitor bank is a good design. Also, placing ceramic
capacitor close to the Drain of the high side MOSFET is
helpful in reducing the input voltage ripple at heavy load.
Output Capacitor Selection
The output capacitor and the inductor form a low-pass filter
in the buck topology. In steady-state condition, the ripple
current that flows into or out of the capacitor results in
ripple voltage. The output voltage ripples contains two
components, ΔVOUT_ESR and ΔVOUT_C.
ΔVOUT_ESR = ΔIL × ESR
ΔVOUT_C = ΔIL ×
1
8 × COUT × fSW
When load transient occurs, the output capacitor supplies
the load current before the controller can respond.
Therefore, the ESR will dominate the output voltage sag
during load transient. The output voltage sag can be
calculated using the following equation :
VOUT_sag = ESR × ΔIOUT
For a given output voltage sag specification, the ESR value
can be determined.
Another parameter that has influence on the output voltage
sag is the equivalent series inductance (ESL). A rapid
change in load current results in di/dt during transient.
Therefore, ESL contributes to part of the voltage sag. Use
a capacitor that has low ESL to obtain better transient
performance. Generally, using several capacitors in parallel
will have better transient performance than using single
capacitor for the same total ESR.
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
15
RT8237E
MOSFET Selection
The majority of power loss in the step-down power
conversion is due to the loss in the power MOSFETs. For
low voltage high current applications, the duty cycle of
the high side MOSFET is small. Therefore, the switching
loss of the high side MOSFET is of concern. Power
MOSFETs with lower total gate charge are preferred in
such applications.
However, the small duty cycle means the low side MOSFET
is on for most of the switching cycle. Therefore, the
conduction loss tends to dominate the total power loss of
the converter. To improve the overall efficiency, MOSFETs
with low RDS(ON) are preferred in circuit design. In some
cases, more than one MOSFET are connected in parallel
to further decrease the on-state resistance. However, this
depends on the low side MOSFET driver capability and
the budget.
test board. The maximum power dissipation at TA = 25°C
can be calculated by the following formula :
PD(MAX) = (125°C − 25°C) / (30.5°C/W) = 3.28W for
WDFN-10L 3x3 package
The maximum power dissipation depends on the operating
ambient temperature for fixed T J(MAX) and thermal
resistance, θJA. The derating curve in Figure 5 allows the
designer to see the effect of rising ambient temperature
on the maximum power dissipation.
3.6
Maximum Power Dissipation (W)1
Unlike the electrolytic capacitor, the ceramic capacitor has
relative low ESR and can reduce the voltage deviation during
load transient. However, the ceramic capacitor can only
provide low capacitance value. Therefore, use a mixed
combination of electrolytic capacitor and ceramic capacitor
for better transient performance.
Four-Layer PCB
3.2
2.8
2.4
2.0
1.6
1.2
0.8
0.4
0.0
0
25
50
75
100
125
Ambient Temperature (°C)
Figure 5. Derating Curve of Maximum Power Dissipation
Thermal Considerations
For continuous operation, do not exceed absolute
maximum junction temperature. The maximum power
dissipation depends on the thermal resistance of the IC
package, PCB layout, rate of surrounding airflow, and
difference between junction and ambient temperature. The
maximum power dissipation can be calculated by the
following formula :
Layout Considerations
Layout is very important in high frequency switching
converter design. If designed improperly, the PCB may
radiate excessive noise and contribute to converter
instability. Certain points must be considered before
starting a layout for the RT8237E.
`
Connect an RC low pass filter for VCC; 1μF and 10Ω
are recommended. Place the filter capacitor close to
the IC.
`
Keep current limit setting network as close to the IC as
possible. Routing of the network should avoid coupling
to high voltage switching node.
`
Connections from the drivers to the respective gate of
the high side or the low side MOSFET should be as
short as possible to reduce stray inductance.
PD(MAX) = (TJ(MAX) − TA) / θJA
where TJ(MAX) is the maximum junction temperature, TA is
the ambient temperature, and θJA is the junction to ambient
thermal resistance.
For recommended operating condition specifications, the
maximum junction temperature is 125°C. The junction to
ambient thermal resistance, θJA, is layout dependent. For
WDFN-10L 3x3 packages, the thermal resistance, θJA, is
30.5°C/W on a standard JEDEC 51-7 four-layer thermal
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.richtek.com
16
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
RT8237E
`
All sensitive analog traces and components such as
FB, GND, EN, CS, PGOOD, VCC, and RF should be
placed away from high voltage switching nodes such as
PHASE, LGATE, UGATE, or BOOT nodes to avoid
coupling. Use internal layer(s) as ground plane(s) and
shield the feedback trace from power traces and
components.
`
Current sense connections must always be made using
Kelvin connections to ensure an accurate signal, with
the current limit resistor located at the device.
`
Power sections should connect directly to ground
plane(s) using multiple vias as required for current
handling (including the chip power ground connections).
Power components should be placed close to the IC to
minimize loops and reduce losses.
Copyright © 2012 Richtek Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.
DS8237E-00
December 2012
is a registered trademark of Richtek Technology Corporation.
www.richtek.com
17
RT8237E
Outline Dimension
D2
D
L
E
E2
1
e
SEE DETAIL A
b
2
1
2
1
A
A1
A3
DETAIL A
Pin #1 ID and Tie Bar Mark Options
Note : The configuration of the Pin #1 identifier is optional,
but must be located within the zone indicated.
Dimensions In Millimeters
Dimensions In Inches
Symbol
Min
Max
Min
Max
A
0.700
0.800
0.028
0.031
A1
0.000
0.050
0.000
0.002
A3
0.175
0.250
0.007
0.010
b
0.180
0.300
0.007
0.012
D
2.950
3.050
0.116
0.120
D2
2.300
2.650
0.091
0.104
E
2.950
3.050
0.116
0.120
E2
1.500
1.750
0.059
0.069
e
L
0.500
0.350
0.020
0.450
0.014
0.018
W-Type 10L DFN 3x3 Package
Richtek Technology Corporation
5F, No. 20, Taiyuen Street, Chupei City
Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: (8863)5526789
Richtek products are sold by description only. Richtek reserves the right to change the circuitry and/or specifications without notice at any time. Customers should
obtain the latest relevant information and data sheets before placing orders and should verify that such information is current and complete. Richtek cannot
assume responsibility for use of any circuitry other than circuitry entirely embodied in a Richtek product. Information furnished by Richtek is believed to be
accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by Richtek or its subsidiaries for its use; nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third
parties which may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of Richtek or its subsidiaries.
www.richtek.com
18
DS8237E-00
December 2012