AN163: Power On Conditions for the X9400

Power On Conditions for the X9400
®
Application Note
April 26, 2005
AN163.0
Introduction
VCC Supply Quality
The process of powering up a part like the X9400 can be
challenging. There are up to five different supply voltages
connected to the part. Because of the protection
mechanisms built into the device there is a lot of flexibility in
how the supplies power-up. However, not all possible power
supply conditions can be handled internally.
The following conditions are highly recommended for proper
POR:
The power supply issue is complicated further, because as
the various voltages are applied to the part, initial conditions
are being recalled from internal registers. These recalled
values set the wiper position and initialize of the serial
interface circuit.
There are two main failure conditions that result from
improper power on sequencing. These are:
1. Damage to the device due to latchup caused by reverse
voltage application.
2. Improper Power On Recall (POR) of initial conditions.
This document explores the failure mechanisms and
recommends conditions for consistent device operation.
Power Supply Limits
The following conditions are specified in the data sheet and
MUST be observed. Failure to follow these
recommendations can result in device failure or improper
Power On Reset (POR).
1. The VCC supply should power up with a maximum ramp
rate 50V/ms and minimum ramp rate of 0.2V/ms (as per
the data sheet). See Figure 2.
2. The voltage ramp on VCC should be monotonic (does not
reverse direction) and contain no noise greater than
100mV. See Figure 3.
3. Noise or voltage direction changes are especially
significant when VCC is in the range of 1.9 to 2.4V. See
Figure 5.
4. If the voltage on VCC reaches 1.9V or greater, and then
falls to less than 1V, must recover to 2.4V within 1ms or
go to zero volts for more than 10ms. This is a "brownout"
condition. A brown-out condition that happens before
VCC reaches 1.9V always retains the proper
configuration. See Figure 5.
NOTES: It is possible for devices to function properly while violating
one or more of these recommendations. However, these conditions
are recommended to provide proper POR over a wide range of
environmental, system and fabrication variations.
Power Supply Sequencing
Starting with all VCC, V-, V+ and VSS at 0V. For proper POR,
the recommended power on sequence is:
1. VSS.
1. The V- supply is NOT to go more positive than VSS by
more than 0.5V at ANY time.
2. V-. VL can be connected to V- and power up
simultaneously with V-.
2. The V+ supply is NOT to go more negative than VSS by
more than -0.5V at ANY time.
3. VCC.
4. V+. VH can be connected to V+ and power up
simultaneously with V+.
3. The VCC supply is NOT to go more negative than VSS by
more than -0.5V at ANY time.
NOTES: It is advised that the excursions above be limited to <0.3V if
possible to minimize leakage effects. If any of the above situations is
possible, then it is highly recommended that a clamping diode
(schottky required) be added to the circuit to protect the DCP device
and any other devices connected to that supply.
5. VW, VL and VH (Potentiometer Voltages) last. VL and VH
can power up earlier as indicated above.
6. V- should be at least -2.7V as VCC reaches 2V. If not, the
POR circuit is more susceptable to VCC noise and VCC
power-up brown-out conditions. See Figure 4.
NOTES: It may be possible to power up V+, V- and VCC
simultaneously, or in other sequences, if VCC Supply Quality
conditions are met.
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CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.
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Application Note 163
If the power sequencing cannot be guaranteed, then it is
important to do the following:
X9400
• Add resistors to VH, VL and VW to limit the current to less
than 10mA into any of the terminals as shown in Figure 7.
• Make sure that the VCC power supply is a clean,
monotonic ramp that meets the specified ramp rate
conditions.
Supplemental Information:
V- must go to a negative value first because this controls the
substrate voltage, which must be stable prior to the VCC turn
on. This is because the Power on Recall circuit, which
recalls the E2 memory contents, has a VCC trip point of
about 2.2 volts when V- is in the range of -2.7 to -5.0 volts.
But if V- is at 0 volts then the POR trip point drops from 2.2
volts to about 1.9 volts and the recall operation happens at a
voltage that is lower than the design value. Also, an
unasserted V- input can be pulled above VSS by the
application of the V+ supply in some applications, increasing
the chance of incorrect wiper recall.
VCC must turn on 2nd with a ramp rate between 0.2V/ms and
50V/ms. This is required because the POR operation must
be performed to set the correct wiper position before power
is applied to the DCP pins (VH and VL). Otherwise the wiper
setting could be unknown, allowing possibly excessive
currents to flow between the DCP pins and the external
circuits. If the ramp rate is too slow, the POR occurs when
VCC is too low and the wiper data may be recalled
incorrectly. If the ramp rate is too fast, the POR circuit
responds before the internal circuits have had a chance to
“charge up”, again causing a recall when the voltage internal
to the device is too low.
V+ should turn on after VCC powers up because the correct
wiper position will have been recalled, leaving no chance of
a transient erroneous wiper setting.
VH, VL and VW voltages are generally applied last (with the
exceptions noted above). This will assure a uniform poweron at the correct wiper setting and no stress on the internal
circuits.
Incorrect Sequencing Issues
The X9400 has protection diodes on each of the supplies as
shown in Figure 1.
2
V+
VH
R*
VW
R*
VL
R*
VH’
VW’
VL’
V-
NOTE: If the power-on sequence cannot be controlled, resistors
are required to protect against a worst case condition, where VH’,
VL’ or VW’ experience voltage levels that reach V+ or V-. Current
should be limited to 10mA, so a 270Ω resistor is required for
V+/V- of 2.7V and a 500Ω resistor is required for V+/V- of 5V.
FIGURE 1. X9400 INTERNAL PROTECTION DIODES
VH, VL, VW
If these pins are powered out of sequence, and there are no
current limiting resistors, then it is possible to forward bias a
PN junction on the chip (which should always be reverse
biased). If this occurs, damage to the chip can occur.
VIf V- powers up more than 100ms before VCC and V+, then
internal biasing causes the un-controlled wiper selection
FETs to partially turn on. This causes current leakage
between V+ and V-.
Improper sequencing can cause these central issues:
1. Permanent damage which appears to be a stuck wiper
position that can't be moved or set properly.
2. An SCR latchup condition which can cause large
transient currents resulting in permanent damage to the
device.
3. Improper recall of the non-volatile wiper setting and in
rare cases improper initialization of the serial port.
4. Long term degradation of internal circuits with unknown
failure mechanisms.
April 26, 2005
Application Note 163
Fast Ram
(50V/ms) p
Proper Operating
s)
Range
V /m
2
.
0
p(
am
R
w
Slo
VCC
VCC
100mV
V2 = VCC(t2)
100mV
V1
V2
VSS
VSS
t1 t2
VCC
POR errors possible if
VCC noise and VCC
Power-up Brown-out
limits exceeded
2V
0V
t2 > t1 + 1ms
V2 < V1
FIGURE 3. VCC MONOTONICITY AND NOISE RESTRICTIONS
FIGURE 2. VCC RISE TIME
2.5V
V1 = VCC(t1)
Incorrect POR
Not Possible Incorrect POR
Possible
1ms
max.
VCC
2.4V
1.9V
1.0V
-2.7
VSS
Recommended.
POR not affected
by VCC Power-up
Brownout
V1ms
max.
FIGURE 4. V-/VCC POWER-ON TIMING
10ms
min.
10ms
min.
FIGURE 5. VCC POWER-ON BROWN-OUT CONDITION
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verify that the Application Note or Technical Brief is current before proceeding.
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April 26, 2005