Renesas ISL6398 Advanced linear eapp digital 6-phase green pwm controller for digital power management with nvm and auto phase shedding Datasheet

DATASHEET
ISL6398
FN8575
Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Advanced Linear EAPP Digital 6-Phase Green PWM Controller for Digital Power
Management with NVM and AUTO Phase Shedding
The ISL6398 is a smart and smallest 6-Phase Green PWM
controller, designed for networking, datacenter, and POL
applications. It includes programmable functions and
telemetries for easy use and system flexibility using SMBus,
PMBus, or I2C interface, which is designed to program NVM
banks up to 8 different compensations and system
parameters. This minimizes external components and
significantly reduces design complexity and PCB area, and
simplifies the manufacturing process.
The ISL6398 utilizes Intersil’s proprietary Advanced Linear EAPP
(Enhanced Active Pulse Positioning) Digital control scheme to
achieve the extremely fast linear transient response with fewer
output capacitors and overcomes many hurdles of traditional
digital approach, which uses non-linear, discrete control method
for both voltage loop and current balance loop and runs into beat
frequency oscillation and non-linear response. The ISL6398
accurately monitors the load current via the IMON pin and
reports this information via the READ_IOUT register for power
management. The ISL6398 features auto-phase shedding. In low
power operation, the magnetic core and switching losses are
significantly reduced with lower phase count operation, yielding
high efficiency at light load. When APA is triggered, the dropped
phase(s) are added back to sustain heavy load transient
response and efficiency. It optimizes the efficiency from light to
full load for Greener Environment without sacrificing the transient
performance.
The ISL6398 senses the output current continuously by a
dedicated current sense resistor or the DCR of the output
inductor. The sensed current flows through a digitally
programmable 1% droop resistor for precision load line control.
Current sensing circuits also provide the needed signals for
channel-current balancing, average overcurrent protection and
individual phase current limiting. The TM pin senses an NTC
thermistor’s temperature, which is internally digitized for thermal
monitoring and for integrated thermal compensation of the
current sense elements of the regulator.
The ISL6398 features remote voltage sensing and completely
eliminates any potential difference between remote and local
grounds. This improves regulation and protection accuracy. The
threshold-sensitive enable input is available to accurately
coordinate the start-up of the ISL6398 with other voltage rails.
Features
• SMBus/PMBus/I2C Compatible
-
•
•
•
•
Programmable IMAX, TMAX, BOOT, and address
Programmable soft-start rate and DVID rate
Up to 1.5MHz
NVM to store up to 8 Configurations with programmable
frequency, droop, auto, faults (OCP, UVP, CFP), etc.
- No firmware requirement and hassle
Advanced Linear EAPP Digital control scheme (patented)
- Digitally programmable compensation
- Auto phase shedding option for greener environment
- Variable frequency control during load transients to
reduce beat frequency oscillation
- Linear control with evenly distributed PWM pulses for
better phase current balance during load transients
- Voltage feed-forward and ramp adjustable options
- High frequency compensation option
- Active phase adding and dropping for enhanced light load
efficiency
Phase doubler and coupled-inductor compatibility
Differential remote voltage sensing with ±0.5% accuracy
Programmable minimum phase count operation
• Programmable slew rate of dynamic VID with dynamic VID
compensation (DVC)
• Support 3-state 5V or 3.3V PWM DrMOS and driver
• Zero current shutdown with ISL6627
• Precision resistor or DCR differential current sensing
- Accurate load-line (Droop) programming and control
- Accurate current monitoring and channel-current
balancing with calibration capability
• True input current sensing for catastrophic failure protection
• Average overcurrent protection and channel current limiting
• High common mode current sense input (VCC-1.5V)
• Open sensing and single point of loop failure protection
• Thermal monitoring and integrated compensation
• 1- to 6-Phase option and up to 2MHz per phase
• Start-up into precharged load
• Pb-free (RoHS Compliant)
• 40 Ld 5x5 Plastic Package
Applications
• High efficiency and high density digital power
• High performance multi-phase POL and network
• Cloud Computing, Router, Data Center and Storage
• General processor power
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 1 of 57
ISL6398
Table of Contents
Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Driver Recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
ISL6398 Internal Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Typical Application: 6-Phase VR with DrMOS and
PMBus/SMBus/I2C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Typical Application: 4-Phase VR with DrMOS and
PMBus/SMBus/I2C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Typical Application: 6-Phase VR for General Processor
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Fault Monitoring and Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
VR_Ready Signal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Overvoltage Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Undervoltage Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Overcurrent Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Thermal Monitoring (VR_HOT#) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Temperature Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Integrated Temperature Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Design Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Dynamic VID Compensation (DVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Programmable Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Catastrophic Fault Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Input Current Sensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Typical Application: 12-Phase VR for Over-clocking
Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Auto-phase Shedding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Absolute Maximum Ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Memory Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Thermal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
SMBus, PMBus and I2C Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Recommended Operating Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
General Design Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power Stages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Current Sensing Resistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Load-line Regulation Resistor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Output Filter Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Switching Frequency Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Input Capacitor Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electrical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Functional Pin Descriptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Multiphase Power Conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Interleaving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
PWM Modulation Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
PWM Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
DrMOS and Driver Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Phase Doubler Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Precharged Start-up Capability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Switching Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Current Sensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
RSET and L/DCR Matching for Coupled inductor . . . . . . . . . . 19
Channel-current Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Voltage Regulation (5mV and 10mV Mode). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Load-line Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Dynamic VID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Resistor Reader (Patented) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Layout and Design Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Pin Noise Sensitivity, Design and Layout Consideration . . . 53
Component Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Powering Up And Open-Loop Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Voltage Regulator (VR) Design Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Revision History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
About Intersil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Package Outline Drawing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Operation Initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Enable and Disable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Soft-start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Current Sense Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
49
49
50
51
51
52
52
Page 2 of 57
ISL6398
Ordering Information
PART NUMBER
(Notes 1, 2, 3)
PART
MARKING
TEMP. RANGE
(°C)
PACKAGE
(Pb-Free)
PKG.
DWG. #
ISL6398HRTZ
ISL6398 HRTZ
-10 to +100
40 Ld 5x5 TQFN
L40.5x5
ISL6398IRTZ
ISL6398 IRTZ
-40 to +85
40 Ld 5x5 TQFN
L40.5x5
ISL6398EVAL1Z
120A 3-Phase Evaluation Board with On Board Transient
NOTES:
1. Add “-T*” suffix for tape and reel. Please refer to TB347 for details on reel specifications
2. These Intersil Pb-free plastic packaged products employ special Pb-free material sets, molding compounds/die attach materials, and 100% matte
tin plate plus anneal (e3 termination finish, which is RoHS compliant and compatible with both SnPb and Pb-free soldering operations). Intersil
Pb-free products are MSL classified at Pb-free peak reflow temperatures that meet or exceed the Pb-free requirements of IPC/JEDEC J STD-020.
3. For Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL), please see product information page for ISL6398. For more information on MSL please see techbrief TB363.
Pin Configuration
ISEN3+
ISEN3-
ISEN1+
ISEN1-
ISEN4+
ISEN4-
ISEN2+
ISEN2-
ISEN5+
ISEN5-
ISL6398
(40 LD 5X5 TQFN)
TOP VIEW
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
ISEN6-
1
30 PWM6
ISEN6+
2
29 PWM3
ISENIN-
3
28 PWM1
ISENIN+
4
27 PWM4
EN_PWR_CFP
5
26 PWM2
GND
RGND
6
VSEN
7
24 VCC
VSEN_OVP
8
23 RSET
VRSEL_ADDR
9
22 AUTO
25 PWM5
NVM_BANK_BT 10
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
13
14
15
16
17
18
IMON
GND
GND
GND
VR_HOT#
SM_PM_I2DATA
SM_PMALERT#
19
20
BUF_COMP
12
SM_PM_I2CLK
11
VR_RDY
21 TM_EN_OTP
Page 3 of 57
ISL6398
Driver Recommendation
QUIESCENT
CURRENT (mA)
GATE DRIVE
(V)
# OF
DRIVERS
DIODE EMULATION
(DE)
ISL6627
1.0
5V
Single
Yes
For dropped phases or all channels with Diode Emulation
(DE) for low stress shutdown or phase dropping.
ISL6596
0.19
5V
Single
No
For dropped phases or all channels without DE.
ISL6610
ISL6610A
0.24
5V
Dual
No
For dropped phases or all channels without DE.
ISL6611A
1.25
5V
Dual
No
Phase Doubler with Integrated Drivers, up to 12-Phase. For
all channels with DE Disabled.
ISL6617
5.0
N/A
N/A
No
PWM Doubler for DrMOS, up to 12- or 24-Phase. For all
channels with DE Disabled.
ISL99140
0.47
5V
Single
Yes
DrMOS with 40A current capability. ISL99140’s diode
emulation is not compatible with ISL6398. Both DrMOS and
ISL6398 should disable their diode emulation operation.
DRIVER
COMMENTS
NOTE: Intersil 5V and 12V drivers are mostly pin-to-pin compatible and allow for dual footprint layout implementation to optimize MOSFET selection and
efficiency. The 5V Drivers are more suitable for high frequency and high power density applications.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 4 of 57
ISL6398
ISL6398 Internal Block Diagram
RSET
ISEN1+
HIGH SPEED AND
HIGH FREQUENCY
BALANCE
ISEN1ISEN2+
ISEN2ISEN3+
ISEN3ISEN4+
TEMPERATURE
COMPENSATION
CHANNEL
CURRENT
SENSE
ISEN4ISEN5+
ISEN5ISEN6+
ISEN6-
AVERAGE
OVERCURRENT AND
CYCLE-BY-CYCLE
CURRENT LIMITING
PROTECTION
PWM1
LINEAR CONTROL
EAPP PWM
MODULATOR
PWM2
PWM
DRIVERS
DIGITAL
COMPENSATION:
DROOP, DVID,
PSICOMP, AUTO,
THERMAL COMP
PWM3
PWM4
PWM5
PWM6
RGND
VSEN
OUTPUT VOLTAGE
SENSE
VSEN_OVP
FEEDFORWARD
CLOCK AND RAMP
CONTROL
ISENIN+
ISENIN-
DAC (VID AND OFFSET)
AND SOFT-START
PROTECTION
VR_RDY
REAL-TIME AND
HIGH-SPEED
FAULT LOGIC
VR_HOT#
INPUT I/V
SENSE
STATE MACHINE
TM_EN_OTP
TEMP SENSE
VCC
POWER-ON
RESET (POR)
EN_PWR_CFP
INTERFACES
CONTROL, MONITOR
REGISTERS, TELEMETRY
AND CALIBRATION
AUTO PHASE
CONTROL
SM_PM_I2CLK
SM_PM_ALERT#
SM_PM_I2DATA
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
PMBus
NVM
ADC
CORE/MEMORY
ADDRESS AND
NVM
BANKS CONTROL
IMON
AUTO
VRSEL_ADDR
NVM_BANKS_BT
Page 5 of 57
ISL6398
Typical Application: 6-Phase VR with DrMOS and PMBus/SMBus/I2C
+5V
VCC
VSEN_OVP
VSEN
VIN
RGND
ISENIN-
RISENIN1
VINF
RSENIN
RISENIN2
ISENIN+
VR_RDY
VR_HOT#
+5V
SM_PM_I2DA
VCC
SM_PMALERT#
ISL99140
VINF
BOOT
UG
SM_PM_I2CLK
PWM1
VINF
PHASE
PWM LG
ISEN1EN_PWR_CFP
ISEN1+
+5V
VCC
CFP
ISL6398
VINF
BOOT
UG
PWM4
IMON
ISL99140
PHASE
PWM LG
ISEN4+5V
ISEN4+
PWM2,5
NVM_BANKS_BT
2X
ISEN2,5-
VRSEL_ADDR
ISEN2,5+
AUTO
+5V
VCC
ISL99140
VINF
BOOT
UG
PWM3
RSET
LOAD
PHASE
PWM LG
ISEN3ISEN3+
+5V
+5V
VCC
ISL99140
UG
TM_EN_OTP
PWM6
NTC
VINF
BOOT
PHASE
PWM LG
ISEN6-
NTC: BETA = 3477
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
GND
ISEN6+
NTC1 NETWORK IS NOT NEEDED
IF TMS IS USED FOR VR1, GPU
Page 6 of 57
ISL6398
Typical Application: 4-Phase VR with DrMOS and PMBus/SMBus/I2C
+5V
VCC
VSEN_OVP
VSEN
VIN
RGND
ISENIN-
R ISENIN1
VINF
R SENIN
R ISENIN2
ISENIN+
VR_RDY
+5V
VR_HOT#
VCC
SM_PM_I2DA
ISL99140
VINF
BOOT
UG
SM_PMALERT#
SM_PM_I2CLK
PWM1
VINF
PHASE
PWM LG
ISEN1ISEN1+
EN_PWR_CFP
+5V
VCC
ISL6398
CFP
ISL99140
VINF
BOOT
UG
PWM3
IMON
PHASE
PWM LG
ISEN3ISEN3+
+5V
+5V
NVM_BANK_BT
2X
ISL99140
BOOT
UG
VRSEL_ADDR
PWM2
AUTO
VINF
VCC
PHASE
PWM LG
LOAD
ISEN2ISEN2+
+5V
RSET
ISL99140
BOOT
VCC
UG
PWM4
VINF
PHASE
PWM LG
+5V
ISEN4TM_EN_OTP
NTC
ISEN4+
PWM6
ISEN5,6+
OPEN
ISEN5,6NTC: BETA = 3477
GND
PWM5
VCC
NTC1 NETWORK IS NOT NEEDED
IF TMS IS USED FOR VR1, GPU
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 7 of 57
ISL6398
Typical Application: 6-Phase VR for General Processor Power
+5V
VCC
VSEN_OVP
VSEN
VIN
RGND
ISENIN-
RISENIN1
VINF
RSENIN
RISENIN2
ISENIN+
VINF
VR_RDY
BOOT
+5V
VR_HOT#
UGATE
SM_PM_I2DA
VCC
SM_PMALERT#
SM_PM_I2CLK
ISL6627
DRIVER
LGATE
PWM1
VINF
PHASE
GND
ISEN1EN_PWR_CFP
ISEN1+
VINF
CFP
BOOT
+5V
ISL6398
UGATE
VCC
IMON
ISL6627
DRIVER
LGATE
PWM4
+5V
PHASE
GND
ISEN4NVM_BANK_BT
2X
ISEN4+
VRSEL_ADDR
AUTO
LOAD
PWM2,3,5
ISEN2,3,5ISEN2,3,5+
RSET
VINF
BOOT
+5V
+5V
UGATE
VCC
TM_EN_OTP
NTC
PWM6
ISL6627
DRIVER
PHASE
GND
LGATE
ISEN6NTC: BETA = 3477
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
GND
ISEN6+
Page 8 of 57
ISL6398
Typical Application: 12-Phase VR for Over-clocking Applications
+12V
+5V
+5V
VCC
PWMA
EN_PH_SYNC
+5V
+5V
PWM PHASE
GND
+5V
ISENA-
VCC
VCC
ISENA+
ISENB+
PWMIN
PWMA
ISENB-
EN_PH_SYNC
VSEN_OVP
ISL6617
ISENA-
VSEN
RGND
IOUT
PWMB
GND
ISENA+
PWMIN
PWM1
PWMA
EN_PH_SYNC
IOUT
ISEN1-
IOUT
ISENB-
ISEN1+
ISENB-
PWMIN
GND
PWM2-5
ISEN2-5-
VCC
PWMA
+5V
EN_PH_SYNC
PWMA
ISL6617
ISENA-
IOUT
PWMB
GND
ISENA+
PWMIN
VCC
ISL6617
IOUT
GND
GND
GND
VIN
PWM PHASE
GND
ISL99140
+12V
VIN
PWM PHASE
GND
ISL99140
PWMA
PWM PHASE
GND
ISENA-
ISENB+
PWMB
VIN
PWM PHASE
VIN
EN_PH_SYNC
ISENB-
ISL99140
+12V
+12V
+5V
+5V
ISEN6+
GND
ISENA+
ISENB+
ISENB-
PWMIN
EN_PH_SYNC
IOUT
ISL99140
ISENA-
VCC
ISEN6-
LOAD
+12V ISL99140
+5V
+5V
EN_PH_SYNC2
VO
PWM PHASE
ISL6617
PWMB
GND
PWM6
GND
ISENA+
ISENB+
PWMB
ISEN2-5+
PWM PHASE
ISENA-
ISENB+
MAIN
CONTROL
ISL6398
ISL99140
VIN
VIN
VCC
ISL6617
+12V
+12V
+5V
+5V
PWMIN
ISENA+
ISENB+
ISENB-
ISL6617
PWMB
GND
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
ISL99140
VIN
ISL99140
+12V
VIN
PWM PHASE
GND
Page 9 of 57
ISL6398
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Thermal Information
VCC, VR_RDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +6V
ISENIN± . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GND -0.3V to 27V
All Other Pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GND -0.3V to VCC + 0.3V
Thermal Resistance (Notes 4, 5)
JA (°C/W) JC (°C/W)
40 Ld 5x5 TQFN Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
1
Maximum Junction Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .+150°C
Maximum Storage Temperature Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-65°C to +150°C
Pb-Free Reflow Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see TB493
Recommended Operating Conditions
Supply Voltage, VCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .+5V ±5%
EEPROM Write and Store Command Temperature . . . . . . -40°C to +85°C
Ambient Temperature
ISL6398HRTZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-10°C to +100°C
ISL6398IRTZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40°C to +85°C
CAUTION: Do not operate at or near the maximum ratings listed for extended periods of time. Exposure to such conditions may adversely impact product
reliability and result in failures not covered by warranty.
NOTES:
4. JA is measured in free air with the component mounted on a high effective thermal conductivity test board with “direct attach” features. See Tech
Brief TB379.
5. For JC, the “case temp” location is the center of the exposed metal pad on the package underside.
Electrical Specifications Recommended Operating Conditions, VCC = 5V, Unless Otherwise specified. Boldface limits apply across the
operating temperature range.
PARAMETER
TEST CONDITIONS
MIN
(Note 7)
TYP
MAX
(Note 7) UNITS
VCC SUPPLY CURRENT
Nominal Supply
VCC = 5VDC; EN_PWR = 5VDC; FSW = 400kHz
-
35
45
mA
Shutdown Supply
VCC = 5VDC; EN_PWR = 0VDC; FSW = 400kHz
-
27
33
mA
VCC Rising POR Threshold
4.22
4.35
4.55
V
VCC Falling POR Threshold
4.00
4.10
4.22
V
POWER-ON RESET AND ENABLE
EN_PWR_CFP High Level Turn-OFF Threshold
Externally Driven
3.5
3.6
3.7
V
EN_PWR_CFP High Level Turn-ON Threshold
Externally Driven
3.33
3.52
3.58
V
EN_PWR_CFP Latch-OFF Level
Internally Driven, 5mA Load
4.80
-
-
V
-
12
34

EN_PWR_CFP Rising Threshold
0.83
0.85
0.87
V
EN_PWR_CFP Falling Threshold
0.70
0.77
0.84
V
DAC = 1.5V to 3.04 V
-0.5
-
0.5
%VID
DAC = 0.8V to 1.49V
-5
-
5
mV
DAC = 0.25V to 0.795V
-8
-
8
mV
DAC = 1.5V to 3.04 V
-0.55
-
0.55
%VID
DAC = 0.8V to 1.49V
-7
-
7
mV
DAC = 0.25V to 0.795V
-9
-
9
mV
DAC = 1.5V to 3.04 V
-0.6
-
0.6
%VID
DAC = 0.8V to 1.49V
-10
-
10
mV
DAC = 0.25V to 0.795V
-10
-
10
mV
EN_PWR_CFP Internal Pull-Up Impedance
DAC (VID+OFFSET)
System Accuracy of Commercial Temperature
(TJ = 0°C to +70°C, Note 6, Closed-Loop)
System Accuracy of ISL6398HRTZ
(TJ = -10°C to +100°C, Note 6, Closed-Loop)
System Accuracy of ISL6398IRTZ
(TJ = -40°C to +85°C, Note 6, Closed-Loop)
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 10 of 57
ISL6398
Electrical Specifications Recommended Operating Conditions, VCC = 5V, Unless Otherwise specified. Boldface limits apply across the
operating temperature range. (Continued)
MIN
(Note 7)
TYP
390kHz, F3[2:0] = 0h = Original, ISL6398HRTZ
355
390
425
kHz
390kHz, F3[2:0] = 0h = Original, ISL6398IRTZ
348
390
425
kHz
Maximum Switching Frequency
-
2.025
-
MHz
Minimum Switching Frequency
-
0.120
-
MHz
0.3125
-
-
mV/µs
DVID = 2.5mV/µs
2.5
3.0
3.4
mV/µs
DVID = 5.0mV/µs
5.0
6.0
7.0
mV/µs
DVID = 13.25mV/µs, Maximum
13.25
-
-
mV/µs
Minimum Dynamic VID Slew Rate
DVID = 0.3125mV/µs, Minimum
0.3125
-
-
mV/µs
Maximum Dynamic VID Slew Rate
DVID = 13.25mV/µs, Maximum
13.25
-
-
mV/µs
Maximum Duty Cycle Per PWM
390kHz
95
98
99
%
VRRAMP_ADJ = 0.7V, ISENIN+ = 12V
-
0.7
-
V
VRRAMP_ADJ = 1.0V, ISENIN+ = 12V
-
1.0
-
V
VRRAMP_ADJ = 1.2V, ISENIN+ = 12V
-
1.2
-
V
VRRAMP_ADJ = 1.5V, ISENIN+ = 12V
-
1.5
-
V
RL = 10k to ground
-
96
-
dB
-
20
-
MHz
PARAMETER
TEST CONDITIONS
MAX
(Note 7) UNITS
OSCILLATORS
Accuracy of Switching Frequency Setting
DVID = 0.3125mV/µs, Minimum
Soft-start Ramp Rate
PWM GENERATOR
Sawtooth Amplitude
BUFFERED COMP AMPLIFIER
Open-Loop Gain
Open-Loop Bandwidth
Maximum Output Voltage
No Load
3.6
4.0
-
V
Output High Voltage
1mA Load
3.4
3.9
-
V
Output Low Voltage
1mA Load
1.88
1.99
V
PWM OUTPUT (PWM[6:1])
-
80
-

PWM = Low with 1mA Load, ISL6398HRTZ
170
285
425

PWM = Low with 1mA Load, ISL6398IRTZ
170
285
400

PWM[6:1] Source Impedance
PWM = High, Forced to 3.7V
60
125
210

PWM Mid-Level
0.4mA Load, 5V PWM
36
40
44
%VCC
PWM Mid-Level
0.4mA Load, 3.3V PWM
24
28
31
%VCC
(TJ = 0°C to +70°C)
73
78
82.5
µA
(TJ = -40°C to +100°C, HRTZ, IRTZ)
72
78
83
µA
Average OC Trip Level at Normal CCM PWM Mode (TJ = 0°C to +70°C)
CS Offset and Mirror Error Included,
(TJ = -40°C to +100°C, HRTZ, IRTZ)
RSET = 12.8k
96
103
111
µA
95
103
112
µA
Average Overcurrent Trip Level at PSI1/2/3 Mode (TJ = 0°C to +70°C)
CS Offset and Mirror Error Included,
(TJ = -40°C to +100°C, HRTZ, IRTZ)
RSET = 12.8k
92
107
122
µA
90
125
124
µA
PWM = Low with 1mA Load, for Fast Transition
PWM[6:1] Sink Impedance
CURRENT SENSE AND OVERCURRENT PROTECTION
Sensed Current Tolerance
CS Offset and Mirror Error Included,
RSET = 12.8k
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 11 of 57
ISL6398
Electrical Specifications Recommended Operating Conditions, VCC = 5V, Unless Otherwise specified. Boldface limits apply across the
operating temperature range. (Continued)
MIN
(Note 7)
TYP
(TJ = 0°C to +70°C)
118
125
133
µA
(TJ = -40°C to +100°C, HRTZ, IRTZ)
116
125
134
µA
2.9
3.0
3.1
V
2.45
2.5
2.56
V
-
10
-
µA
13.9
15
16.5
µA
-
9.2
13

-
39.12
-
%VCC
-
3
-
°C
-
-
1
µA
Over-Temperature Shutdown Threshold
0.91
0.94
0.97
V
Over-Temperature Shutdown Reset Threshold
1.04
1.07
1.11
V
PARAMETER
Peak Current Limit for Individual Channel
CS Offset and Mirror Error Included,
RSET = 12.8k
TEST CONDITIONS
IMON OCP Trip Level
IMON VOLTAGE IMAX (FF) TRIP POINT
Higher than this will be “FF”
READ_IIN (1F) Maximum Threshold
Input Peak Current Trip Level
MAX
(Note 7) UNITS
THERMAL MONITORING
VR_HOT# Pull-down Impedance
TM Voltage at VR_HOT# Trip
TMAX = +100°C (see Table 6), Programmable via Tmax
VR_HOT# and Thermal Alert# Hysteresis
Leakage Current of VR_HOT#
With external pull-up resistor connected to VCC
VR READY AND PROTECTION MONITORS
Leakage Current of VR_RDY
With pull-up resistor externally connected to VCC
-
-
1
µA
VR READY Low Voltage
4mA Load
-
-
0.3
V
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 0h)
65
105
146
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 1h)
93
141
191
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 2h)
121
178
236
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 3h)
149
214
281
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 4h)
177
252
330
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 5h)
207
291
378
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 6h)
233
328
426
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 7h)
288
402
519
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 0h)
10
41
72
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 1h)
35
72
109
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 2h)
61
103
146
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 3h)
84
135
186
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 4h)
109
168
226
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 5h)
133
202
268
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 6h)
157
234
307
mV
Voltage below VID E1[3:0] = 7h)
201
298
389
mV
Undervoltage Protection Threshold (UVP)
Can Be Disabled by DFh
Undervoltage Warning Threshold (UVP Warning)
Can Be Disable by DFh
Undervoltage Protection Reset Hysteresis
Higher than UVP
-
19
-
mV
Undervoltage Warning Reset Hysteresis
Higher than UVP Warning
-
17
-
mV
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 12 of 57
ISL6398
Electrical Specifications Recommended Operating Conditions, VCC = 5V, Unless Otherwise specified. Boldface limits apply across the
operating temperature range. (Continued)
MIN
(Note 7)
TYP
Prior to the End of Soft-start (D8h[4:3] = 0h)
1.51
1.58
1.70
V
Prior to the End of Soft-start (D8h[4:3] = 1h)
1.75
1.86
1.95
V
Prior to the End of Soft-start (D8h[4:3] = 2h)
2.20
2.29
2.40
V
Prior to the End of Soft-start (D8h[4:3] = 3h)
3.10
3.32
3.50
V
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 0h)
91
135
177
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 1h)
125
177
225
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 2h)
158
218
274
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 3h)
191
260
323
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 4h)
254
342
424
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 5h)
318
425
526
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 6h)
347
460
580
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 7h)
395
549
697
mV
Prior to the end of Soft-start, lower than OVP
55
110
180
mV
-
83
-
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 0h)
22
54
83
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 1h)
60
96
129
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 2h)
97
138
176
mV
End of Soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 3h)
132
179
225
mV
End of soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 4h)
205
264
324
mV
End of soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 5h)
273
347
427
mV
End of soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 6h)
308
389
476
mV
End of soft-start, the voltage above VID D8[2:0] = 7h)
377
474
578
mV
-
42
-
mV
Signal Input Low Voltage
-
-
0.8
V
Signal Input High Voltage
2.1
-
VCC
V
-
-
0.4
V
ALERT# Pull-down Impedance
-
28
50
Ω
DATA Pull-down Impedance
-
28
50
Ω
CLOCK Maximum Speed
1.5
-
-
MHz
CLOCK Minimum Speed
-
-
0.05
MHz
25
30
35
ms
-
8
-
-
16
20
PARAMETER
Overvoltage Protection Threshold (OVP)
Can Be Disabled by DFh
Overvoltage Protection Reset Hysteresis
Overvoltage Warning Threshold (OVP)
Can Be Disabled by DFh
Overvoltage Warning Reset Hysteresis
TEST CONDITIONS
During operation, lower than OVP
Lower than OVP Warning
MAX
(Note 7) UNITS
SMBus/PMBus/I2C
Signal Output Low Voltage
4mA loading on Alert#
Time-out
EEPROM
Number of NVM_BANK
NVM_BANK Loading Time
Including POR delay and Resistor Reading Time
ms
NOTES:
6. These parts are designed and adjusted for accuracy with all errors in the voltage loop included.
7. Compliance to datasheet limits is assured by one or more methods: production test, characterization and/or design.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 13 of 57
ISL6398
Functional Pin Descriptions
Refer to Table 19 on page 53 for Design and Layout
Considerations.
VCC - Supplies the power necessary to operate the chip. Connect
this pin directly to a +5V supply with a high quality ceramic
bypass capacitor. The controller start to operate, when the
voltage on this pin exceeds the rising POR threshold and shuts
down when the voltage on this pin drops below the falling POR
threshold.
GND - The bottom metal base of ISL6398 is return of VCC supply.
It is also the return of the PMBus as well as all PWM output
drivers. Connect it to system ground; also externally connect pins
13, 14, and 15 to system GND.
ISENIN+, ISENIN- - These pins are current sense inputs to the
differential amplifier of the input supply. The sensed current is
used for input power monitoring and power management of the
system. When not used, connect ISENIN+ to VIN and a resistor
divider with a ratio of 1/3 on ISENIN± pin, say 499kΩ in between
ISENIN± pins and then 1.5MΩ from ISENIN- to ground
(see Figure 29). Refer to “Input Current Sensing” on page 30 for
configuration details. Regardless input current sense is used or
not, ISENIN+ should be connected to input voltage (VIN) for
feed-forward compensation to maintain a constant loop gain
over the input line variation.
EN_PWR_CFP - This pin is a threshold-sensitive enable input and
a catastrophic failure protection (CFP) output. Connecting the
power train input supply to this through an appropriate resistor
divider provides input undervoltage protection and a means to
synchronize the power sequencing of the controller and the
MOSFET driver ICs. When EN_PWR_CFP is driven above 0.85V
but below 3.3V, the controller is actively depending on status of
the TM_EN_OTP, the internal POR, and pending fault states.
Driving EN_PWR_CFP below 0.75V or above 3.7V will turn off the
controller, clear all fault states (except for CFP fault) and prepare
the ISL6398 to soft-start when re-enabled. In addition, this pin
will be latched high (VCC) by the input overcurrent (monitored by
ISENIN±) or VR overvoltage event. The latch resets by cycling VCC
and cannot reset by TM_EN_OTP or EN_PWR_CFP since when the
catastrophic failure (CFP) is triggered, the input power is
removed from VR so is the VTT voltage rail and it is PGOOD
signal. To keep CFP active, VCC should be biased with a standby
supply. This feature means to provide protection to the case that
the VR with shorted high-side MOSFET draws insufficient current
to trigger the input supply’s over current trip level, this pin will
send an active high signal (CFP) to disconnect the input supply
before catching fire or further damage of PCB. Refer
“Catastrophic Fault Protection” on page 30 for more details.
VSEN_OVP - This pin monitors the regulator output for
overvoltage protection. Connect this pin to the positive rail
remote sensing point of the microprocessor or load. This pin
tracks with the VSEN pin. If a resistive divider is placed on the
VSEN pin, a resistive divider with the same ratio should be placed
on the VSEN_OVP pin to track UVP and OVP.
VSEN - This pin compensates the voltage drop between the load
and local output rail for precision regulation. Connect this pin to
the positive rail remote sensing point of the microprocessor or
load. It also is the APA level sensing input.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
RGND - This pin compensates the offset between the remote
ground of the load and the local ground of this device for
precision regulation. Connect this pin to the negative rail remote
sensing point of the microprocessor or load.
VR_RDY - VR_RDY indicates that soft-start has completed and the
output remains in normal operation. It is an open-drain logic output.
When OCP, UVP, OVP, or CFP occurs, VR_RDY is pulled low.
TM_EN_OTP - Input pin for the temperature measurement.
Connect this pin through an NTC thermistor to GND and a resistor
to VCC of the controller. The voltage at this pin is inversely
proportional to the VR temperature. The device monitors the VR
temperature based on the voltage at the TM pin. Combined with
“TCOMP” setting, the sensed current is thermally compensated.
The VR_HOT# asserts low if the sensed temperature at this pin is
higher than the maximum desired temperature, “TMAX”. The NTC
should be placed close to the current sensing element, the output
inductor or dedicated sense resistor on Phase 1. A decoupling
capacitor (0.1µF) is typically needed in close proximity to the
controller. In addition, the controller is disabled when this pin’s
voltage drops below 0.95 (typically) and is active when it is above
1.05V (typically); it can serve as Enable and Over-Temperature
functions, however, when it is used as an Enable toggle input,
bit2 of STATUS_BYTE (78h) will flag OT; CLEAR_FAULTS (03h)
command must be sent to clear the fault after VR start-up. If not
used, connect a 1MΩ/2MΩ resistor divider or tie to VCC.
PWM[6:1] - Pulse width modulation outputs. Connect these pins
to the PWM input pins of the Intersil driver IC(s). The number of
active channels is determined by the state of PWM[6:2]. Tie
PWM(N+1) to VCC to configure for N-phase operation. The PWM
firing order is sequential from 1 to N with N being the number of
active phases. If PWM1 is tied high, the VR is disabled.
ISEN[6:1]+, ISEN[6:1] - The ISEN+ and ISEN- pins are current
sense inputs to individual differential amplifiers of VR. The
sensed current is used for channel current balancing, overcurrent
protection, and droop regulation. Inactive channels should have
their respective current sense inputs, ISEN[6:#]- grounded, and
ISEN[6:#]+ open. For example, ground ISEN[6:5]- and open
ISEN[6:5]+ for 4-phase operation. DO NOT ground ISEN[6:1]+. For
DCR sensing, connect each ISEN- pin to the node between the RC
sense elements. Tie the ISEN+ pin to the other end of the sense
capacitor (typically output rail). The voltage across the sense
capacitor is proportional to the inductor current. Therefore, the
sensed current is proportional to the inductor current and scaled
by the DCR of the inductor and RSET.
BUF_COMP - Buffered output of internal COMP.
VR_HOT# - Indicator of VR temperature reaching above TMAX set
by PMBus E8[2:0]. It is an open-drain logic output. Normally open
if the measured VR temperature is less than TMAX, and pulled
low when the measured VR temperature exceeds TMAX.
RSET - A resistor connected from this pin to ground sets the
current gain of the current sensing amplifier. The RSET resistor
value can be set from 3.84k to 60.4k and is 64x of the
equivalent RISEN resistor value. Therefore, the effective current
sense resistor value can be set between 60 and 943.
Page 14 of 57
ISL6398
IMON - IMON is the output pin of sensed, thermally compensated
(if internal thermal compensation is used) average current of VR0.
The voltage at the IMON pin is proportional to the load current and
the resistor value. When it reaches to 3.0V, it initiates an overcurrent
shutdown, while 2.5V IMON voltage corresponds to READ_IOUT
(8Ch) maximum reading. By choosing the proper value for the
resistor at IMON pin, the overcurrent trip level can be set lower than
the fixed internal overcurrent threshold. During dynamic VID, the
OCP function of this pin is disabled to avoid false triggering. Tie it to
GND if not used. Refer to “Current Sense Output” on page 25 for
more details.
AUTO - A resistor from the pin to ground sets the current
threshold of phase dropping for operation. The AUTO mode can be
permanently disabled by pulling this pin to ground or PMBus D4h[2].
See Table 2 on page 17 and Table 8 on page 32 for more details.
Multiphase Power Conversion
High Power processor load current profiles have changed to the
point that the advantages of multiphase power conversion are
impossible to ignore. The technical challenges associated with
producing a single-phase converter (which are both cost-effective
and thermally viable), have forced a change to the cost-saving
approach of multiphase. The ISL6398 controller helps reduce the
complexity of implementation by integrating vital functions and
requiring minimal output components. The typical application
circuits diagrams on pages 6 through 9 provide the top level views of
multiphase power conversion using the ISL6398 controller.
Interleaving
VRSEL_ADDR - Register pin used to program VR address
(PMBus) and to determine 5m/step or 10mV/step mode.
The switching of each channel in a multiphase converter is timed to
be symmetrically out-of-phase with each of the other channels. In a
3-phase converter, each channel switches 1/3 cycle after the
previous channel and 1/3 cycle before the following channel. As a
result, the 3-phase converter has a combined ripple frequency three
times greater than the ripple frequency of any one phase, as
illustrated in Figure 1. The three channel currents (IL1, IL2 and IL3)
combine to form the AC ripple current and the DC load current. The
ripple component has three times the ripple frequency of each
individual channel current. Each PWM pulse is terminated 1/3 of a
cycle after the PWM pulse of the previous phase. The DC
components of the inductor currents combine to feed the load.
NVM_BANK_BT - Register pin to select NVM memory bank to use
(up to 8 configuration banks) and boot voltage, which can be set
by this pin or the value stored in NVM bank.
To understand the reduction of ripple current amplitude in the
multiphase circuit, examine Equation 1, which represents an
individual channel’s peak-to-peak inductor current.
Operation
 V IN – V OUT   V OUT
I p-p = --------------------------------------------------------L  F SW  V
SM_PM_I2CLK - Synchronous clock signal input of
SMBus/PMBus/I2C.
SM_PM_I2DATA - I/O pin for transferring data signals
SMBus/PMBus/I2C and VR controller.
SM_PMALERT# - Output pin for transferring the active low signal
driven asynchronously from the VR controller to SMBus/PMBus.
The ISL6398 is the smallest 6-Phase PWM controller. It utilizes
Intersil’s proprietary Advanced Linear EAPP (Enhanced Active Pulse
Positioning) digital control scheme that can process voltage and
current information in real time for fast control and high speed
protection and realize digital power management capability and
flexibility. It achieves the extremely fast linear transient response
with fewer output capacitors and overcomes many hurdles of
traditional digital approach, which uses non-linear, discrete control
method for both voltage loop and current balance loop and runs into
beat frequency oscillation and non-linear response. The ISL6398 is
designed to cloud computing, networking, datacenter, and POL
applications. The system parameters and required registers are
programmable and can be stored into selected NVM_BANK via
PMBus, no firmware required. It allows up to 8 memory banks, i.e.,
8 different applications. This greatly simplifies the system design
for various platforms and lowers inventory complexity and cost by
using a single device.
In addition, this controller is compatible with phase doublers
(ISL6611A and ISL6617), which can double or quadruple the phase
count. For instance, the multi-phase PWM can realize up to
24-phase count system. A higher phase count system can improve
thermal distribution and power conversion efficiency at heavy load.
(EQ. 1)
IN
In Equation 1, VIN and VOUT are the input and output voltages
respectively, L is the single-channel inductor value, and FSW is
the switching frequency.
IL1 + IL2 + IL3, 7A/DIV
IL1, 7A/DIV
PWM1, 5V/DIV
IL2, 7A/DIV
PWM2, 5V/DIV
IL3, 7A/DIV
PWM3, 5V/DIV
1µs/DIV
FIGURE 1. PWM AND INDUCTOR-CURRENT WAVEFORMS FOR
3-PHASE CONVERTER
The ISL6398 also supports coupled (2-Phase CI) inductor design.
Refer to Intersil’s application note, AN1268 for detailed coupled
inductor discussion.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 15 of 57
ISL6398
RIPPLE CURRENT MULTIPLIER, KRCM
In the case of multiphase converters, the capacitor current is the
sum of the ripple currents from each of the individual channels.
Compare Equation 1 to the expression for the peak-to-peak
current after the summation of N symmetrically phase-shifted
inductor currents in Equation 2, the peak-to-peak overall ripple
current IC(P-P) decreases with the increase in the number of
channels, as shown in Figure 2.
INPUT-CAPACITOR CURRENT, 10A/DIV
CHANNEL 1
INPUT CURRENT
10A/DIV
CHANNEL 2
INPUT CURRENT
10A/DIV
N=1
CHANNEL 3
INPUT CURRENT
10A/DIV
2
1µs/DIV
3
FIGURE 3. CHANNEL INPUT CURRENTS AND INPUT-CAPACITOR
RMS CURRENT FOR 3-PHASE CONVERTER
4
5
6
DUTY CYCLE (VOUT/VIN)
FIGURE 2. RIPPLE CURRENT MULTIPLIER VS. DUTY CYCLE
Output voltage ripple is a function of capacitance, capacitor
Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR), and the summed inductor
ripple current. Increased ripple frequency and lower ripple
amplitude means that the designer can use less per-channel
inductance and few or less costly output capacitors for any
performance specification.
V OUT
I c  p – p  = -------------------- K RCM
L  F SW
(EQ. 2)
N  D – m + 1  m –  N  D
K RCM = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------ND
for
m–1NDm
m = ROUNDUP  N  D 0 
Another benefit of interleaving is to reduce input ripple current.
Input capacitance is determined in part by the maximum input
ripple current. Multiphase topologies can improve overall system
cost and size by lowering input ripple current and allowing the
designer to reduce the cost of input capacitors. The example in
Figure 3 illustrates input currents from a three-phase converter
combining to reduce the total input ripple current.
The converter depicted in Figure 3 delivers 36A to a 1.5V load from
a 12V input. The RMS input capacitor current is 5.9A. Compare this
to a single-phase converter also stepping down 12V to 1.5V at 36A.
The single-phase converter has 11.9ARMS input capacitor current.
The single-phase converter must use an input capacitor bank with
twice the RMS current capacity as the equivalent three-phase
converter.
Figures 37, 38 and 39, as described in “Input Capacitor
Selection” on page 52, can be used to determine the input
capacitor RMS current based on load current, duty cycle, and the
number of channels. They are provided as aids in determining
the optimal input capacitor solution. Figure 40 shows the single
phase input-capacitor RMS current for comparison.
PWM Modulation Scheme
The ISL6398 adopts Intersil's proprietary Enhanced Active Pulse
Positioning (EAPP) modulation scheme to improve transient
performance. The EAPP is a unique dual-edge PWM modulation
scheme with both PWM leading and trailing edges being
independently moved to give the best response to transient
loads. The EAPP has an inherited function, similar to Intersil's
proprietary Adaptive Phase Alignment (APA) technique, to turn
on all phases together to further improve the transient response,
when there are sufficiently large load step currents. The EAPP is
a variable frequency architecture, providing linear control over
transient events and evenly distributing the pulses among all
phases to achieve very good current balance and eliminate beat
frequency oscillation over a wide range of load transient
frequencies.
To further improve the line and load transient responses, the
multi-phase PWM features feed-forward function to change the
up ramp with the input line (voltage on ISENIN+ pin) to maintain
a constant overall loop gain over a wide range input voltage. The
up ramp of the internal sawtooth is defined in Equation 3.
V IN  V
RAMP_ADJ
V RAMP = ----------------------------------------------12V
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
(EQ. 3)
Page 16 of 57
ISL6398
With EAPP control and feed-forward function, the ISL6398 can
achieve excellent transient performance over wide frequency
range of load step, resulting in lower demand on the output
capacitors.
Under steady state conditions, the operation of the ISL6398
PWM modulator is similar to a conventional trailing edge
modulator. Conventional analysis and design methods can
therefore be used for steady state and small signal analysis.
NPSI
D2[1:0]
CODE
AUTO MINIMUM
PHASE COUNT
0h
SI1
SI, (N-1)-CI
1-Phase
1h
SI2
SI, (N-2)-CI
2-Phase
2h
CI1
2-Phase CI
1-Phase
3h
CI2
2-Phase CI
2-Phase
NOTE: For 2-Phase CI option, the dropped coupled phase turns on LGATE
to circulate current when PWM1 is high. Programmable via PMBus.
PWM Operation
The timing of each channel is set by the number of active
channels. The default channel setting for the ISL6398 is six. The
switching cycle is defined as the time between PWM pulse
termination signals of each channel. The cycle time of the pulse
signal is the inverse of the switching frequency. The PWM signals
command the MOSFET driver to turn on/off the channel
MOSFETs.
The ISL6398 can work in a 0 to 6-Phase configuration. Tie
PWM(N+1) to VCC to configure for N-phase operation. PWM firing
order is sequential from 1 to N with N being the number of active
phases, as summarized in Table 1. For 6-phase operation, the
channel firing sequence is 1-2-3-4-5-6, and they are evenly
spaced over 1/6 of a cycle. Connecting PWM6 to VCC configures
5-phase operation, the channel firing order is 1-2-3-4-5 and the
phase spacing is 1/5 of a cycle. If PWM2 is connected to VCC,
only Channel 1 operation is selected. If PWM1 is connected to
VCC, the VR operation is turned off.
TABLE 1. PHASE NUMBER AND PWM FIRING SEQUENCE
N
PHASE SEQUENCE
PWM# TIED
TO VCC
ACTIVE PHASE
AT 0A LOAD
5
1-2-3-4-5
None
PWM1/3
4
1-2-3-4
PWM5
PWM1/3
3
1-2-3
PWM4
PWM1/2
2
1-2
PWM3
PWM1/2
1
1
PWM2
PWM1
0
OFF
PWM1
OFF
The controller starts phase shedding the next switching cycle. The
controller reduces the number of active phases according to the
logic state on Table 2. “NPSI” register and AUTO pin program the
controller in operation of standard (SI), 2-phase coupled, or
(N-x)-phase coupled inductors. Different cases yield different PWM
output behaviors on both dropped phase(s) and operational
phase(s) as load changes. When APA is triggered, it pulls the
controller back to full phase operation to sustain an immediate
heavy transient load. Note that “N-x” means N-x phase(s) coupled
and x phase(s) are uncoupled.
For 2-Phase coupled inductor (CI) operation, both coupled phases
should be 180° out-of-phase. In low power conditions, it drops to
2-phase and the opposite phase of the operational phase turns
on its low-side MOSFET to circulate inductor current to minimize
conduction loss when Phase 1 is high.
In low power condition, VR is in single-phase CCM operation with
PWM1, or 2-phase CCM operation with PWM1 and 2, 3 or 4, as
shown in Table 1. The number of operational phases is
configured by “NPSI” register, shown in Table 2.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
TABLE 2. PHASE DROPPING CONFIGURATION AT LOW POWER
While the controller is operational (VCC above POR, TM_EN_OTP
and EN_PWR_CFP are both high, valid VID inputs), it can pull the
PWM pins to ~40% of VCC (~2V for 5V VCC bias, for 5V PWM) or
~28% of VCC (for 3.3V PWM) during various stages, such as
soft-start delay, phase shedding operation, or fault conditions
(OC or OV events). The matching driver's internal PWM resistor
divider can further raise the PWM potential, but not lower it
below the level set by the controller IC. Therefore, the controller's
PWM outputs are designed to be compatible with DrMOS and
Intersil drivers that require 3.3V and 5V PWM signal amplitudes,
programmed by PMBus.
DrMOS and Driver Compatibility
In operational mode, the ISL6398 can actively drive PWM into
tri-state level (mid level), which can be programmed to be
compatible with 3.3V or 5V PWM input DrMOS or Drivers. The
ISL6398’s PWM “LOW” level is 0V and PWM “HIGH” level is VCC (5V).
The PWM “HIGH” minimum threshold of the DrMOS should be
higher than 33% of VCC for 3.3V PWM logic and 44% of VCC for 5V
PWM logic, while the PWM “LOW” maximum threshold of the
DrMOS should be lower than 26% of VCC for 3.3V PWM logic and
36% of VCC for 5V PWM logic. Since most of industrial DrMOS
devices are not compatible with Intersil’s PWM protocol for diode
emulation, therefore, the diode emulation mode should be disabled
in both controller and DrMOS. Coupling with the ISL6627, zero
current shutdown can be achieved, which minimizes the power
stage stress.
Phase Doubler Compatibility
The ISL6398 is compatible with phase doublers (ISL6611A and
ISL6617), which can double or quadruple the phase count. For
instance, the multi-phase PWM can realize up to 24-phase count
system. A higher phase count system can improve thermal
distribution and power conversion efficiency at heavy load.
Non-Intersil Phase doubler typically does not have current balance
and is not compatible with Intersil’s multi-phase controllers.
Precharged Start-up Capability
Since the ISL6398 uses 5V bias and the high efficiency power train
mostly uses 5V driver, this makes the ISL6398 digital power system
much more robust and reliable for power-up and down as well as
precharged start-up, which is typically hardly managed for a system
that deals with 3.3V, 5V, and 12V supplies.
Switching Frequency
The VR’s switching frequency is programmable from 120kHz to
2.025MHz via PMBus. It is 15kHz/step with a slew rate of
step/20µs.
Page 17 of 57
ISL6398
The internal circuitry, shown in Figures 4 and 5, represents one
channel of the VR output, respectively. The ISEN± circuitry is
repeated for each channel, but may not be active depending on
the status of the PWM[6:2] pins, as described in “PWM
Operation” on page 17. The input bias current of the current
sensing amplifier is typically 25nA; less than 8k input
impedance is preferred to minimized the offset error, i.e., a larger
C value as needed.
INDUCTOR DCR SENSING
An inductor’s winding is characteristic of a distributed resistance,
as measured by the Direct Current Resistance (DCR) parameter.
Consider the inductor DCR as a separate lumped quantity, as
shown in Figure 4. The channel current IL, flowing through the
inductor, will also pass through the DCR. Equation 4 shows the
S-domain equivalent voltage across the inductor VL.
V L  s  = I L   s  L + DCR 
(EQ. 4)
A simple R-C network across the inductor extracts the DCR
voltage, as shown in Figure 4.
INDUCTOR
+
+
VC(s)
R
In
CURRENT
SENSE
For more accurate current sensing, a dedicated current-sense
resistor RSENSE in series with each output inductor can serve as the
current sense element (see Figure 5). This technique however
reduces overall converter efficiency due to the additional power loss
on the current sense element RSENSE.
IL
L
RSEN
R
ISL6398
+
COUT
ESL
RSENSE
VR
VC(s)
VOUT
COUT
RISEN(n)
ISEN-(n)
ISEN+(n)
R SEN  64
I SEN = I -------------------------L R
SET
C
ISEN-(n)
+
RESISTIVE SENSING
-
VL
(EQ. 6)
CURRENT
SENSE
-
ISL6398
DCR
DCR  64
I SEN = I L  ------------------ = I L ------------------------R ISEN
R SET
In
VOUT
DCR
Equation 6 shows that the ratio of the channel current to the
sensed current, ISEN, is driven by the value of the sense resistor
and the DCR of the inductor.
C
IL  s 
L
With the internal low-offset current amplifier, the capacitor
voltage VC is replicated across the sense resistor RISEN.
Therefore, the current out of the ISENS+ pin, ISEN, is proportional
to the inductor current.
+ +
The ISL6398 senses current continuously for fast response. The
ISL6398 supports inductor DCR sensing, or resistive sensing
techniques. The associated channel current sense amplifier uses
the ISEN inputs to reproduce a signal proportional to the inductor
current, IL. The sense current, ISEN, is proportional to the inductor
current. The sensed current is used for current balance, load-line
regulation, and overcurrent protection.
voltage across the capacitor VC is equal to the voltage drop across
the DCR, i.e., proportional to the channel current.
-
Current Sensing
RSET
CT, Optional
FIGURE 5. SENSE RESISTOR IN SERIES WITH INDUCTORS
RISEN(n)
ISEN+(n)
CT, Optional
RSET
 64
I SEN = I DCR
------------------------L R
SET
A current sensing resistor has a distributed parasitic inductance,
known as ESL (equivalent series inductance, typically less than
1nH) parameter. Consider the ESL as a separate lumped
quantity, as shown in Figure 5. The channel current IL, flowing
through the inductor, will also pass through the ESL. Equation 7
shows the s-domain equivalent voltage across the resistor VR.
V R  s  = I L   s  ESL + R SEN 
FIGURE 4. DCR SENSING CONFIGURATION
(EQ. 7)
The voltage on the capacitor VC, can be shown to be proportional
to the channel current IL(see Equation 5).
A simple R-C network across the current sense resistor extracts
the RSEN voltage, as shown in Figure 5.
L
 s  ------------+ 1   DCR  I L 
 DCR

V C  s  = -------------------------------------------------------------------- s  RC + 1 
The voltage on the capacitor VC, can be shown to be proportional
to the channel current IL (see Equation 8).
(EQ. 5)
If the R-C network components are selected such that the RC time
constant matches the inductor time constant (R*C = L/DCR), the
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
ESL
 s  --------------- + 1   R SEN  I L 
 R

SEN
V C  s  = ------------------------------------------------------------------------ s  RC + 1 
(EQ. 8)
Page 18 of 57
ISL6398
If the R-C network components are selected such that the RC time
constant matches the ESL-RSEN time constant (R*C = ESL/RSEN),
the voltage across the capacitor VC is equal to the voltage drop
across the RSEN, i.e., proportional to the channel current. As an
example, a typical 1mΩ sense resistor can use R = 348 and
C = 820pF for the matching. Figures 6 and 7 show the sensed
waveforms with and without matching RC when using resistive
sense.
IOUT
VOUT
FIGURE 8. DESIRED LOAD TRANSIENT RESPONSE WAVEFORMS
If the R-C timing constant is too large or too small, VC(s) will not
accurately represent real-time IOUT(s) and will worsen the
transient response. Figure 9 shows the load transient response
when the R-C timing constant is too small. VOUT will sag
excessively upon load insertion and may create a system failure
or early overcurrent trip. Figure 10 shows the transient response
when the R-C timing constant is too large. VOUT is sluggish in
drooping to its final value. There will be excessive overshoot if
load insertion occurs during this time, which may potentially hurt
the reliability.
FIGURE 6. VOLTAGE ACROSS R WITHOUT RC
I OUT
FIGURE 7. VOLTAGE ACROSS C WITH MATCHING RC
Equation 9 shows that the ratio of the channel current to the
sensed current, ISEN, is driven by the value of the sense resistor
and the RISEN.
R SEN
R SEN  64
I SEN = I L  ------------------ = I L --------------------------R ISEN
R SET
(EQ. 9)
However, the RISEN resistor of each channel is integrated, while its
value is determined by the RSET resistor. The RSET resistor value can
be from 3.84kΩ to 60.4kΩ and is 64x of the required ISEN resistor
value. Therefore, the current sense gain resistor (Integrated RISEN)
value can be effectively set at 60Ωto 943Ω.
The inductor DCR value will increase as the temperature increases.
Therefore, the sensed current will increase as the temperature of
the current sense element increases. In order to compensate the
temperature effect on the sensed current signal, a Negative
Temperature Coefficient (NTC) resistor can be used for thermal
compensation, or the integrated temperature compensation
function of the ISL6398 should be utilized. The integrated
temperature compensation function is described in “Temperature
Compensation” on page 28.
Decoupling capacitor (CT) on ISEN[6:1]- pins are optional and
might be required for long sense traces and a poor layout.
L/DCR OR ESL/RSEN MATCHING
Assuming the compensator design is correct, Figure 8 shows the
expected load transient response waveforms if L/DCR or
ESL/RSEN is matching the R-C time constant. When the load
current IOUT has a square change, the output voltage VOUT also
has a square response, except for the overshoot at load release.
However, there is always some PCB contact impedance of current
sensing components between the two current sensing points; it
hardly accounts into the L/DCR or ESL/RSEN matching calculation.
Fine tuning the matching is necessarily done in the board level to
improve overall transient performance and system reliability.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
V OUT
FIGURE 9. LOAD TRANSIENT RESPONSE WHEN R-C TIME
CONSTANT IS TOO SMALL
IOUT
VOUT
FIGURE 10. LOAD TRANSIENT RESPONSE WHEN R-C TIME
CONSTANT IS TOO LARGE
RSET AND L/DCR MATCHING FOR COUPLED INDUCTOR
The current sense circuitry operates in a very similar manner for
negative current feedback, where inductor current is flowing
from the output of the regulator to the PHASE node, opposite of
flow pictured in Figures 4 and 5. However, the range of proper
operation with negative current sensing has a limitation. The
worst-case peak-to-peak inductor ripple current should be kept
less than 80% of the OCP trip point (~80µA). Care should be
taken to avoid operation with negative current feedback
exceeding this threshold, as this may lead to momentary loss of
current balance between phases and disruption of normal circuit
operation. Note that the negative current can especially affect
coupled inductor designs, where the effective inductance is the
leakage between the two channels, much lower than the
specified mutual inductance (LM) and self inductance (L). To limit
the impact, a higher RSET value (1.5x to 2x) is often used to
reduce the effective negative current seen by the controller in
coupled inductor designs.
Refer to Intersil’s application note, AN1268 for detailed coupled
inductor discussion and ripple current calculation.
Page 19 of 57
ISL6398
As explained in application note, AN1268 the leakage inductance
(not self inductance or mutual inductance) of the coupled
inductor should be used as the inductance in the time constant
calculation. Therefore, the leakage, self, and mutual inductance
should be well controlled for a good coupled inductor design.
Channel-current Balance
The sensed current In from each active channel is summed
together and divided by the number of active channels. The
resulting average current IAVG provides a measure of the total
load current. Channel current balance is achieved by comparing
the sensed current of each channel to the average current to
make an appropriate adjustment to the PWM duty cycle of each
channel with Intersil’s patented current-balance method.
Channel current balance is essential in achieving the thermal
advantage of multiphase operation. With good current balance,
the power loss is equally dissipated over multiple devices and a
greater area. The ISL6398 can adjust the thermal/current
balance of the VR via registers F7 to FC.
or 10mV offset, a large ratio resistor divider can be placed on the
VSEN pin between the output and GND for positive offset or VCC
for negative offset, as in Figure 12. The VR operational mode is
programmed by the “VRSEL_ADDR” pin. Table 3 shows the
difference between 5mV and 10mV modes. VOUT_MAX and
VBOOT registers must be programmed accordingly to support
each mode, otherwise, the VR might NOT power-up correctly.
Furthermore, the PMBus register (E4h[9:5]) can program the
additional droop current (range from -4µA to 3.75µA) into R1 for
DC offset calibration; a negative current will yield a negative
offset, while a positive current will yield a positive offset:
OFFSET = R1* I(E4[9:5]). In droop applications, E4[4:0] can add
current out of IMON pin and droop current through R1
simultaneously (the negative current yields positive offset, and
vice versa).
TABLE 3. 5mV vs 10mV DAC Resolution
MODE
(VRSEL)
MAXIMUM
DAC (V)
VOUT_MAX
(24h)
MAXIMUM
VBOOT
(“BT” pin)
MAXIMUM
VBOOT
(E6)
Voltage Regulation (5mV and 10mV Mode)
5mV
2.155
Table 18
1.50
1.52
The compensation network shown in Figure 11 assures that the
steady-state error in the output voltage is limited only to the error
in the reference voltage (DAC and OFFSET) and droop current
source, remote sense, and error amplifier.
10mV
3.011
Table 4
Follow DAC
3.00
3.04
The sensed average current IDROOP is tied to FB internally and
will develop a voltage drop across the resistor between FB and
VOUT for droop control. This current can be disconnected from the
FB node via PMBus for non-droop applications.
The output of the error amplifier, VCOMP, is compared to the internal
sawtooth waveforms to generate the PWM signals. The PWM
signals control the timing of the Intersil MOSFET drivers and regulate
the converter output to the specified reference voltage.
For remote sensing, connect the load sensing pins to the
non-inverting input, VSEN, and inverting input, RGND, of the error
amplifier. This configuration effectively removes the voltage error
encountered when measuring the output voltage relative to the local
controller ground reference point.
COMPENSATION
DIGITALLY PROGRAMMABLE VIA PMBUS
C3
VSEN
R2
C1
FB
INPUT
BUFFER
RGND
C2
R3
RFB = R1
VOFFSET TRIM
(E4[9:5])
DAC
COMP
BUF_COMP
IDROOP
VOFFSET Trim
(E4[4:0])
VID+OFFSET
DROOP
ENABLE
FIGURE 11. OUTPUT VOLTAGE AND LOAD-LINE REGULATION
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) generates a reference voltage,
which is programmable via PMBus bus. The DAC decodes the
PMBus set VID command into one of the discrete voltages shown
in Table 4. In addition, the output voltage can be margined in
±5mV step between -640mV and 635mV, ±10mV step between
-1280mV and 1270mV, as shown in Table 4. For a finer than 5mV
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
VCC
VOUT
VSEN
VOUT
+
VSEN
-
+
-
DAC = VID+OFFSET
DAC = VID+OFFSET
B. VOUT LOWER THAN DAC
A. VOUT HIGHER THAN DAC
FIGURE 12. EXTERNAL PROGRAMMABLE REGULATION
TABLE 4. 5mV OR 10mV VID 8-BIT
HEX
BINARY CODE CODE
5mV
VID (V)
10mV
VID (V)
5mV
10mV
OFFSET (mV) OFFSET (mV)
00000000
0
OFF
OFF
0
0
00000001
1
0.250
0.500
5
10
00000010
2
0.255
0.510
10
20
00000011
3
0.260
0.520
15
30
00000100
4
0.265
0.530
20
40
00000101
5
0.270
0.540
25
50
00000110
6
0.275
0.550
30
60
00000111
7
0.280
0.560
35
70
00001000
8
0.285
0.570
40
80
00001001
9
0.290
0.580
45
90
00001010
A
0.295
0.590
50
100
00001011
B
0.300
0.600
55
110
00001100
C
0.305
0.610
60
120
00001101
D
0.310
0.620
65
130
Page 20 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 4. 5mV OR 10mV VID 8-BIT (Continued)
HEX
BINARY CODE CODE
5mV
VID (V)
10mV
VID (V)
TABLE 4. 5mV OR 10mV VID 8-BIT (Continued)
5mV
10mV
OFFSET (mV) OFFSET (mV)
HEX
BINARY CODE CODE
5mV
VID (V)
10mV
VID (V)
5mV
10mV
OFFSET (mV) OFFSET (mV)
00001110
E
0.315
0.630
70
140
00111011
3B
0.540
1.080
295
590
00001111
F
0.320
0.640
75
150
00111100
3C
0.545
1.090
300
600
00010000
10
0.325
0.650
80
160
00111101
3D
0.550
1.100
305
610
00010001
11
0.330
0.660
85
170
00111110
3E
0.555
1.110
310
620
00010010
12
0.335
0.670
90
180
00111111
3F
0.560
1.120
315
630
00010011
13
0.340
0.680
95
190
01000000
40
0.565
1.130
320
640
00010100
14
0.345
0.690
100
200
01000001
41
0.570
1.140
325
650
00010101
15
0.350
0.700
105
210
01000010
42
0.575
1.150
330
660
00010110
16
0.355
0.710
110
220
01000011
43
0.580
1.160
335
670
00010111
17
0.360
0.720
115
230
01000100
44
0.585
1.170
340
680
00011000
18
0.365
0.730
120
240
01000101
45
0.590
1.180
345
690
00011001
19
0.370
0.740
125
250
01000110
46
0.595
1.190
350
700
00011010
1A
0.375
0.750
130
260
01000111
47
0.600
1.200
355
710
00011011
1B
0.380
0.760
135
270
01001000
48
0.605
1.210
360
720
00011100
1C
0.385
0.770
140
280
01001001
49
0.610
1.220
365
730
00011101
1D
0.390
0.780
145
290
01001010
4A
0.615
1.230
370
740
00011110
1E
0.395
0.790
150
300
01001011
4B
0.620
1.240
375
750
00011111
1F
0.400
0.800
155
310
01001100
4C
0.625
1.250
380
760
00100000
20
0.405
0.810
160
320
01001101
4D
0.630
1.260
385
770
00100001
21
0.410
0.820
165
330
01001110
4E
0.635
1.270
390
780
00100010
22
0.415
0.830
170
340
01001111
4F
0.640
1.280
395
790
00100011
23
0.420
0.840
175
350
01010000
50
0.645
1.290
400
800
00100100
24
0.425
0.850
180
360
01010001
51
0.650
1.300
405
810
00100101
25
0.430
0.860
185
370
01010010
52
0.655
1.310
410
820
00100110
26
0.435
0.870
190
380
01010011
53
0.660
1.320
415
830
00100111
27
0.440
0.880
195
390
01010100
54
0.665
1.330
420
840
00101000
28
0.445
0.890
200
400
01010101
55
0.670
1.340
425
850
00101001
29
0.450
0.900
205
410
01010110
56
0.675
1.350
430
860
00101010
2A
0.455
0.910
210
420
01010111
57
0.680
1.360
435
870
00101011
2B
0.460
0.920
215
430
01011000
58
0.685
1.370
440
880
00101100
2C
0.465
0.930
220
440
01011001
59
0.690
1.380
445
890
00101101
2D
0.470
0.940
225
450
01011010
5A
0.695
1.390
450
900
00101110
2E
0.475
0.950
230
460
01011011
5B
0.700
1.400
455
910
00101111
2F
0.480
0.960
235
470
01011100
5C
0.705
1.410
460
920
00110000
30
0.485
0.970
240
480
01011101
5D
0.710
1.420
465
930
00110001
31
0.490
0.980
245
490
01011110
5E
0.715
1.430
470
940
00110010
32
0.495
0.990
250
500
01011111
5F
0.720
1.440
475
950
00110011
33
0.500
1.000
255
510
01100000
60
0.725
1.450
480
960
00110100
34
0.505
1.010
260
520
01100001
61
0.730
1.460
485
970
00110101
35
0.510
1.020
265
530
01100010
62
0.735
1.470
490
980
00110110
36
0.515
1.030
270
540
01100011
63
0.740
1.480
495
990
00110111
37
0.520
1.040
275
550
01100100
64
0.745
1.490
500
1000
00111000
38
0.525
1.050
280
560
01100101
65
0.750
1.500
505
1010
00111001
39
0.530
1.060
285
570
01100110
66
0.755
1.510
510
1020
00111010
3A
0.535
1.070
290
580
01100111
67
0.760
1.520
515
1030
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 21 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 4. 5mV OR 10mV VID 8-BIT (Continued)
HEX
BINARY CODE CODE
5mV
VID (V)
10mV
VID (V)
TABLE 4. 5mV OR 10mV VID 8-BIT (Continued)
5mV
10mV
OFFSET (mV) OFFSET (mV)
HEX
BINARY CODE CODE
5mV
VID (V)
10mV
VID (V)
5mV
10mV
OFFSET (mV) OFFSET (mV)
01101000
68
0.765
1.530
520
1040
10010101
95
0.990
1.980
-535
-1070
01101001
69
0.770
1.540
525
1050
10010110
96
0.995
1.990
-530
-1060
01101010
6A
0.775
1.550
530
1060
10010111
97
1.000
2.000
-525
-1050
01101011
6B
0.780
1.560
535
1070
10011000
98
1.005
2.010
-520
-1040
01101100
6C
0.785
1.570
540
1080
10011001
99
1.010
2.020
-515
-1030
01101101
6D
0.790
1.580
545
1090
10011010
9A
1.015
2.030
-510
-1020
01101110
6E
0.795
1.590
550
1100
10011011
9B
1.020
2.040
-505
-1010
01101111
6F
0.800
1.600
555
1110
10011100
9C
1.025
2.050
-500
-1000
01110000
70
0.805
1.610
560
1120
10011101
9D
1.030
2.060
-495
-990
01110001
71
0.810
1.620
565
1130
10011110
9E
1.035
2.070
-490
-980
01110010
72
0.815
1.630
570
1140
10011111
9F
1.040
2.080
-485
-970
01110011
73
0.820
1.640
575
1150
10100000
A0
1.045
2.090
-480
-960
01110100
74
0.825
1.650
580
1160
10100001
A1
1.050
2.100
-475
-950
01110101
75
0.830
1.660
585
1170
10100010
A2
1.055
2.110
-470
-940
01110110
76
0.835
1.670
590
1180
10100011
A3
1.060
2.120
-465
-930
01110111
77
0.840
1.680
595
1190
10100100
A4
1.065
2.130
-460
-920
01111000
78
0.845
1.690
600
1200
10100101
A5
1.070
2.140
-455
-910
01111001
79
0.850
1.700
605
1210
10100110
A6
1.075
2.150
-450
-900
01111010
7A
0.855
1.710
610
1220
10100111
A7
1.080
2.160
-445
-890
01111011
7B
0.860
1.720
615
1230
10101000
A8
1.085
2.170
-440
-880
01111100
7C
0.865
1.730
620
1240
10101001
A9
1.090
2.180
-435
-870
01111101
7D
0.870
1.740
625
1250
10101010
AA
1.095
2.190
-430
-860
01111110
7E
0.875
1.750
630
1260
10101011
AB
1.100
2.200
-425
-850
01111111
7F
0.880
1.760
635
1270
10101100
AC
1.105
2.210
-420
-840
10000000
80
0.885
1.770
-640
-1280
10101101
AD
1.110
2.220
-415
-830
10000001
81
0.890
1.780
-635
-1270
10101110
AE
1.115
2.230
-410
-820
10000010
82
0.895
1.790
-630
-1260
10101111
AF
1.120
2.240
-405
-810
10000011
83
0.900
1.800
-625
-1250
10110000
B0
1.125
2.250
-400
-800
10000100
84
0.905
1.810
-620
-1240
10110001
B1
1.130
2.260
-395
-790
10000101
85
0.910
1.820
-615
-1230
10110010
B2
1.135
2.270
-390
-780
10000110
86
0.915
1.830
-610
-1220
10110011
B3
1.140
2.280
-385
-770
10000111
87
0.920
1.840
-605
-1210
10110100
B4
1.145
2.290
-380
-760
10001000
88
0.925
1.850
-600
-1200
10110101
B5
1.150
2.300
-375
-750
10001001
89
0.930
1.860
-595
-1190
10110110
B6
1.155
2.310
-370
-740
10001010
8A
0.935
1.870
-590
-1180
10110111
B7
1.160
2.320
-365
-730
10001011
8B
0.940
1.880
-585
-1170
10111000
B8
1.165
2.330
-360
-720
10001100
8C
0.945
1.890
-580
-1160
10111001
B9
1.170
2.340
-355
-710
10001101
8D
0.950
1.900
-575
-1150
10111010
BA
1.175
2.350
-350
-700
10001110
8E
0.955
1.910
-570
-1140
10111011
BB
1.180
2.360
-345
-690
10001111
8F
0.960
1.920
-565
-1130
10111100
BC
1.185
2.370
-340
-680
10010000
90
0.965
1.930
-560
-1120
10111101
BD
1.190
2.380
-335
-670
10010001
91
0.970
1.940
-555
-1110
10111110
BE
1.195
2.390
-330
-660
10010010
92
0.975
1.950
-550
-1100
10111111
BF
1.200
2.400
-325
-650
10010011
93
0.980
1.960
-545
-1090
11000000
C0
1.205
2.410
-320
-640
10010100
94
0.985
1.970
-540
-1080
11000001
C1
1.210
2.420
-315
-630
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 22 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 4. 5mV OR 10mV VID 8-BIT (Continued)
HEX
BINARY CODE CODE
5mV
VID (V)
10mV
VID (V)
TABLE 4. 5mV OR 10mV VID 8-BIT (Continued)
5mV
10mV
OFFSET (mV) OFFSET (mV)
HEX
BINARY CODE CODE
5mV
VID (V)
10mV
VID (V)
5mV
10mV
OFFSET (mV) OFFSET (mV)
11000010
C2
1.215
2.430
-310
-620
11101110
EE
1.435
2.870
-90
-180
11000011
C3
1.220
2.440
-305
-610
11101111
EF
1.440
2.880
-85
-170
11000100
C4
1.225
2.450
-300
-600
11110000
F0
1.445
2.890
-80
-160
11000101
C5
1.230
2.460
-295
-590
11110001
F1
1.450
2.900
-75
-150
11000110
C6
1.235
2.470
-290
-580
11110010
F2
1.455
2.910
-70
-140
11000111
C7
1.240
2.480
-285
-570
11110011
F3
1.460
2.920
-65
-130
11001000
C8
1.245
2.490
-280
-560
11110100
F4
1.465
2.930
-60
-120
11001001
C9
1.250
2.500
-275
-550
11110101
F5
1.470
2.940
-55
-110
11001010
CA
1.255
2.510
-270
-540
11110110
F6
1.475
2.950
-50
-100
11001011
CB
1.260
2.520
-265
-530
11110111
F7
1.480
2.960
-45
-90
11001100
CC
1.265
2.530
-260
-520
11111000
F8
1.485
2.970
-40
-80
11001101
CD
1.270
2.540
-255
-510
11111001
F9
1.490
2.980
-35
-70
11001110
CE
1.275
2.550
-250
-500
11111010
FA
1.495
2.990
-30
-60
11001111
CF
1.280
2.560
-245
-490
11111011
FB
1.500
3.000
-25
-50
11010000
D0
1.285
2.570
-240
-480
11111100
FC
1.505
3.010
-20
-40
11010001
D1
1.290
2.580
-235
-470
11111101
FD
1.510
3.020
-15
-30
11010010
D2
1.295
2.590
-230
-460
11111110
FE
1.515
3.030
-10
-20
11010011
D3
1.300
2.600
-225
-450
11111111
FF
1.520
3.040
-5
-10
11010100
D4
1.305
2.610
-220
-440
-215
-430
11010101
D5
1.310
2.620
11010110
D6
1.315
2.630
-210
-420
11010111
D7
1.320
2.640
-205
-410
1.325
2.650
-200
-400
11011000
D8
11011001
D9
1.330
2.660
-195
-390
11011010
DA
1.335
2.670
-190
-380
11011011
DB
1.340
2.680
-185
-370
11011100
DC
1.345
2.690
-180
-360
1.350
2.700
-175
-350
-170
-340
11011101
DD
11011110
DE
1.355
2.710
11011111
DF
1.360
2.720
-165
-330
11100000
E0
1.365
2.730
-160
-320
1.370
2.740
-155
-310
11100001
E1
11100010
E2
1.375
2.750
-150
-300
11100011
E3
1.380
2.760
-145
-290
11100100
E4
1.385
2.770
-140
-280
11100101
E5
1.390
2.780
-135
-270
11100110
E6
1.395
2.790
-130
-260
11100111
E7
1.400
2.800
-125
-250
11101000
E8
1.405
2.810
-120
-240
11101001
E9
1.410
2.820
-115
-230
11101010
EA
1.415
2.830
-110
-220
11101011
EB
1.420
2.840
-105
-210
11101100
EC
1.425
2.850
-100
-200
11101101
ED
1.430
2.860
-95
-190
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Load-line Regulation
Some applications require a precisely controlled output
resistance. This dependence of output voltage on load current is
often termed “droop” or “load-line” regulation. By adding a well
controlled output impedance, the output voltage can effectively
be level shifted in a direction, which works to achieve the
load-line regulation required by these manufacturers.
In other cases, the designer may determine that a more
cost-effective solution can be achieved by adding droop. Droop
can help to reduce the output-voltage spike that results from fast
load-current demand changes.
The magnitude of the spike is dictated by the ESR and ESL of the
output capacitors selected. By positioning the no-load voltage level
near the upper specification limit, a larger negative spike can be
sustained without crossing the lower limit. By adding a well
controlled output impedance, the output voltage under load can
effectively be level shifted down so that a larger positive spike can
be sustained without crossing the upper specification limit.
As shown in Figure 11, a current proportional to the average
current of all active channels, IAVG, flows from FB through a
load-line regulation resistor RFB, i.e., R1. The resulting voltage
drop across RFB is proportional to the output current, effectively
creating an output voltage droop with a steady-state value
defined, as shown in Equation 10:
V DROOP = I AVG  R
FB
(EQ. 10)
Page 23 of 57
ISL6398
The regulated output voltage is reduced by the droop voltage
VDROOP. The output voltage as a function of load current is
derived by combining Equation 10 with the appropriate sample
current expression defined by the current sense method
employed, as shown in Equation 11:
 I LOAD R X

- ------------------ R FB
V OUT = V REF –  ---------------R ISEN
 N

(EQ. 11)
where VREF is the reference voltage (DAC), ILOAD is the total
output current of the converter, RISEN is the sense resistor
connected to the ISEN+ pin, and RFB is the feedback resistor, N is
the active channel number, and RX is the DCR, or RSENSE
depending on the sensing method.
Therefore, the equivalent loadline impedance, i.e. Droop
impedance, is equal to Equation 12:
R FB R X
R LL = ----------------------------N R ISEN
(EQ. 12)
The major regulation error comes from the current sensing
elements. To improve load-line regulation accuracy, a tight DCR
tolerance of inductor or a precision sensing resistor should be
considered.
In addition, the overall load-line can be programmed to fit the
application needed by the PMBus registers: B0h[7:0] for
Load-Line and E4h[9:5] for DC offset. Curve 3 shown in Figure 13,
makes a steeper load line than the target to fully utilize the total
tolerance band, reduce the output capacitor count and cost.
VOUT (V)
OFFSET = R1* {I(E4h[9:5])-* I(E4h[4:0])}*D3[0]
VOUT_MAX
2
4
1
OFFSET + LLTARGET
R1 = LLTARGET
3
VOUT_MIN
OFFSET + (> LLTARGET)
R1 > LLTARGET
LOAD (A)
FIGURE 13. PROGRAMMABLE LOAD-LINE REGULATION
Dynamic VID
Some applications need to make changes to their voltage as part
of normal operation. They direct the core-voltage regulator to do
this by making changes to the VID during regulator operation.
The power management solution is required to monitor the DAC
and respond to on-the-fly VID changes in a controlled manner.
Supervising the safe output voltage transition within the DAC
range of the load without discontinuity or disruption is a
necessary function of the voltage regulator.
Sixteen different slew rates can be selected for soft-start and
during Dynamic VID (DVID) transition for VR.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
TABLE 5. SLEW RATE OPTIONS
DVID
F6h[4:0]
DVID SLEW RATE
(MINIMUM RATE)
(mV/µs)
DVID
F6h[4:0]
DVID SLEW RATE
(MINIMUM RATE)
(mV/µs)
0h
0.315
8h
4.0
1h
0.625
9h
4.44
2h
1.25
Ah
5.0
3h
2.5
Bh
5.6
4h
2.85
Ch
6.66
5h
3.07
Dh
8.0
6h
3.33
Eh
10
7h
3.63
Fh
13.25
During dynamic VID transition and VID step up, the overcurrent
trip point increases by 140% to avoid falsely triggering OCP
circuits, while the overvoltage trip point will follow the DAC+OVP
level, programmable via PMBus (D8h[2:0]).
Operation Initialization
Prior to converter initialization, proper conditions must exist on
the enable inputs and VCC. When the conditions are met, the
controller begins soft-start. Once the output voltage is within the
proper window of operation, VR_RDY asserts logic high.
Enable and Disable
While in shutdown mode, the PWM outputs are held in a
high-impedance state (or pulled to 40% of VCC) to assure the
drivers remain off. The following input conditions must be met
before the ISL6398 is released from shutdown mode.
1. The bias voltage applied at VCC must reach the internal
power-on reset (POR) rising threshold. Once this threshold is
reached, proper operation of all aspects of the ISL6398 is
guaranteed. Hysteresis between the rising and falling
thresholds assure that once enabled, ISL6398 will not
inadvertently turn off unless the bias voltage drops
substantially (see “Electrical Specifications” on page 10).
2. The ISL6398 features an enable input (EN_PWR_CFP) for
power sequencing between the controller bias voltage and
another voltage rail. The enable comparator holds the
ISL6398 in shutdown until the voltage at EN_PWR_CFP rises
above 0.85V. The enable comparator has about 100mV of
hysteresis to prevent bounce. It is important that the drivers
reach their POR level before the ISL6398 becomes enabled.
The schematic in Figure 14 demonstrates sequencing the
ISL6398 with ISL99140 DrMOS and the ISL66xx family of
Intersil MOSFET drivers.
3. The voltage on TM_EN_OTP must be higher than 1.08V
(typically) to enable the controller. This pin is typically
connected to the output of VTT VR. However, since the
TM_EN_OTP pin is also used for thermal monitoring, it will
assert SM_PMALERT# pin low due to thermal alert prior to
start-up, therefore, it needs to use CLEAR_FAULT (03h)
command to clear the SM_PMALERT# pin and
STATUS_BYTE (78h) after power-up. There is no effect on
normal operation if SM_PMALERT# and STATUS_BYTE are not
used.
Page 24 of 57
ISL6398
When all conditions previously mentioned are satisfied, the
ISL6398 begins the soft-start and ramps the output voltage to
the Boot Voltage set by hard-wired “BT” registers. After remaining
at the boot voltage for some time, the ISL6398 reads the VID
code. If the VID code is valid, ISL6398 will regulate the output to
the final VID setting. If the VID code is “OFF” code, ISL6398 will
remain shut down.
ISL6398
EXTERNAL CIRCUIT
VCC
POR
CIRCUIT
ENABLE
COMPARATOR
V VID – V BOOT
t D4 = ----------------------------------------  s 
DVID RATE
(EQ. 15)
For example, when the VBOOT is set at 1.1V and DVID slew rate is
set at 5mV/µs, the first soft-start ramp time tD2 will be around
220µs and the second soft-start ramp time tD4 will be at
maximum of 80µs if an SET_VID command for 1.5V is received
after tD3.
+12V
100kΩ
EN_PWR_CFP
+
-
9.09kΩ
VCC
1kΩ
VR_Ready
-
6.8kΩ
FIGURE 15. SOFT-START WAVEFORMS
NTC
Current Sense Output
1.08V
The current flowing out of the IMON pin is equal to the sensed
average current inside the ISL6398. In typical applications, a
resistor is placed from the IMON pin to GND to generate a
voltage, which is proportional to the load current and the resistor
value, as shown in Equation 16:
SOFT-START
AND
FAULT LOGIC
FIGURE 14. POWER SEQUENCING USING THRESHOLD-SENSITIVE
ENABLE (EN) FUNCTION
Soft-start
The ISL6398 based VR has 4 periods during soft-start, as shown in
Figure 15. After VCC, TM_EN_OTP and EN_PWR_CFP reach their
POR/enable thresholds and the NVM_BANK loading time (typically
16ms, and worst case 20ms) expired, the controller will have a fixed
delay period tD1. After this delay period, the VR will begin first softstart ramp until the output voltage reaches the VBOOT voltage at a
fixed slew rate, as in Table 5. Then, the controller will regulate the VR
voltage at VBOOT for another period tD3 until PMBus sends a new
VID command. If the VID code is valid, ISL6398 will initiate the
second soft-start ramp at a slew rate, set by DVID command in
Table 5, until the voltage reaches the new VID voltage. The soft-start
time is the sum of the 4 periods, as shown in Equation 13.
(EQ. 13)
tD1 is a fixed delay with the typical value as 20µs. tD3 is determined
by the time to obtain a new valid VID voltage from PMBus. If the VID
is valid before the output reaches the boot voltage, the output will
turn around to respond to the new VID code.
During tD2 and tD4, the ISL6398 digitally controls the DAC
voltage change at 5mV per step. The soft-start ramp time tD2
and tD4 can be calculated based on Equations 14 and 15:
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
tD3 tD4
TM_EN_OTP
+
V BOOT
t D2 = --------------------------------  s 
DVIDRATE
tD2
TM_EN_OTP
0.85V
t SS = t D1 + t D2 + t D3 + t D4
tD1
R IMON R X
- ------------------ I LOAD
V IMON = ------------------N
R ISEN
(EQ. 16)
where VIMON is the voltage at the IMON pin, RIMON is the resistor
between the IMON pin and GND, ILOAD is the total output current
of the converter, RISEN is the sense resistor connected to the
ISEN+ pin, N is the active channel number, and RX is the DC
resistance of the current sense element, either the DCR of the
inductor or RSENSE depending on the sensing method.
The resistor from the IMON pin to GND should be chosen to
ensure that the voltage at the IMON pin is typically 2.5V at the
maximum load current, typically corresponding to the ICCMAX
register. The IMON voltage is linearly digitized every 88µs and
stored in the READ_IOUT register (8Ch). When the IMON voltage
reaches 2.5V or higher, the digitized IOUT will reach the
maximum value of ICCMAX and the SM_PMALERT# pin is pulled
low.
2.5V R ISEN
N
R IMON = ------------------------------- -------------------------------------RX
I CC_MAX_21h
(EQ. 17)
A small capacitor can be placed between the IMON pin and GND
to reduce the noise impact and provide averaging. If this pin is
not used, tie it to GND.
(EQ. 14)
Page 25 of 57
ISL6398
To deal with layout and design variation of different platforms,
the ISL6398 is intentionally trimmed to negative range at no
load, thus, an offset can easily be added to calibrate the digitized
IMON reading (8Ch in PMBus) whenever needed by PMBus (E4h)
or the external pull-up resistor in Figure 16. Hence, the slope on
the IMON pin is set by the equivalent impedance of
RMON1//RMON2 =RIMON. Additional offset can be added by
IOUT_CAL_OFFSET (E5h).
V CC R IMON
R MON2 = -------------------------------------------------------------------------V IMON_OFFSET_DESIRED
(EQ. 18)
R IMON2 R IMON
R MON1 = -------------------------------------------------R IMON2 – R IMON
ISL6398
EXTERNAL CIRCUIT
VCC
Two actions are taken by ISL6398 to protect the load when an
overvoltage condition occurs.
At the inception of an overvoltage event, all PWM outputs are
commanded low instantly. This causes the Intersil drivers to turn on
the lower MOSFETs and pull the output voltage below a level to avoid
damaging the load. When the output voltage falls below the DAC
plus 100mV, PWM signals enter a high-impedance state. The Intersil
drivers respond to the high-impedance input by turning off both
upper and lower MOSFETs. If the overvoltage condition reoccurs, the
ISL6398 will again command the lower MOSFETs to turn on. The
ISL6398 will continue to protect the load in this fashion as long as
the overvoltage condition occurs.
Once an overvoltage condition is detected, the respective VR
ceases the normal PWM operation and pulls its VR_Ready low
until the ISL6398 is reset. Cycling the voltage VCC below the
POR-falling threshold will reset the controller. Cycling
EN_PWR_CFP or TM_EN_OTP will NOT reset the controller.
RMON 2 = #MΩ
VR_RDY
IMON
PMBus DIGITIZED IOUT (8Ch)
VSEN
RMON1 = #kΩ
FIGURE 16. IMON NO LOAD OFFSET CALIBRATION
In addition, if the IMON pin voltage is higher than 3.0V,
overcurrent shutdown will be triggered, as described in
“Overcurrent Protection” on page 27.
VR_Ready Signal
The VR_RDY pin is an open-drain logic output which indicates
that the soft-start period is complete and the output voltage is
within the regulated range. The VR_RDY is pulled low during
shutdown and releases high after a successful soft-start. VR_RDY
will be pulled low when an fault (OCP, OTP, UVP, or OVP) condition
is detected, or the controller is disabled by a reset from
EN_PWR_CFP, TM_EN_OTP, POR, or VID OFF-code.
OC
-
IAVG
SOFT-START, FAULT
AND CONTROL LOGIC
VSEN_OVP
Fault Monitoring and Protection
The ISL6398 actively monitors output voltage and current to detect
fault conditions. Fault monitors trigger protective measures to
prevent damage to a microprocessor load. One common
power-good indicator (VR_RDY) is provided for linking to external
system monitors. The schematic in Figure 17 outlines the
interaction between the fault monitors and the VR_RDY signal.
100µA*F4[3:0]
+
OPEN SENSE
RGND PROTECTION
+
+
OV
OC
-
PRE_OVP
D8[4:3]
VID + OVP
D8[2:3]
3.0V
IMON
ISL6398
FIGURE 17. VR_RDY AND PROTECTION CIRCUITRY
In addition, the ISL6398 features open sensing protection to
detect an open of the output voltage sensing as an OVP event,
which suspends the controller operation. Without this protection,
the VR can regulate up to maximum duty cycle and damage the
load and power trains when the output sensing is broken open.
Furthermore, since the regulation loop is sensed via the VSEN pin
and the OVP is sensed via the VSEN_OVP pin, they are
independent paths to keep output within target and below OVP
level, respectively. Thus, the ISL6398 protects against a single
point of failure.
Overvoltage Protection
Regardless of the VR being enabled or not, the ISL6398
overvoltage protection (OVP) circuit will be active after its POR. The
OVP thresholds are different under different operation conditions.
When VR is not enabled and during the soft-start intervals tD1, the
OVP threshold is programmable via PMBus (D8h[4:3]). Once the
VR completes the soft-start, the OVP trip point will change to a
tracking level of DAC+OVP, programmable via PMBus (D8h[2:0]).
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 26 of 57
ISL6398
VCC
VOUT
VSEN_OVP
+
OV
-
VOUT
DAC + OVP
A. INCREASED OVP
VSEN_OVP
+
OV
-
DAC + OVP
B. REDUCED OVP
FIGURE 18. EXTERNAL PROGRAMMABLE OVP
Furthermore the regulation loop (VSEN pin) and the OVP sense
(VSEN_OVP) are separated paths, the OVP level can be
programmed higher or lower than the target, as in Figure 18. The
OVP level cannot be scaled too close to DAC to ensure that the
OVP is not triggered during transient response and start-up.
In addition, the ISL6398 also provides early OVP warning; when it
is triggered, it asserts STATUS_WORD (79h Upper Byte, Bit7) and
SM_PMALERT#. It however does not shutdown the system,
assert STATUS_BYTE, or pull VR_RDY low. Disregard this if both
STATUS_WORD and SM_PMALERT# are not used or disable OVP
Warning as needed via DFh.
the average current is measured. The average current is
continually compared with a reference current (typically 100µA,
programmable via F2[2:0]), as shown in Figure 17. Once the
average current exceeds the reference current, a comparator
triggers the converter to shut down. In addition, the current out of
the IMON pin is equal to the sensed average current IAVG. With a
resistor from IMON to GND, the voltage at IMON will be
proportional to the sensed average current and the resistor value.
The ISL6398 continuously monitors the voltage at the IMON pin. If
the voltage at the IMON pin is higher than 3.0V, a precision
comparator triggers the overcurrent shutdown. Since the internal
current comparator has wider tolerance than the voltage
comparator, the IMON voltage comparator is the preferred one for
OCP trip. Therefore, the resistor between IMON and GND can be
scaled such that the overcurrent protection threshold is tripping
lower than 100µA. For example, the overcurrent threshold for the
sensed average current IAVG can be set to 95µA by using a 31.5k
resistor from IMON to GND. Thus, the internal 100µA comparator
might only be triggered at its lower corner. However, IMON OCP trip
should NOT be too far away from 125µA, which is used for
cycle-by-cycle protection and inductor saturation.
OUTPUT CURRENT
Undervoltage Protection
When the output voltage drops below a level programmed by
PMBus (E1[3:0]), the VR_RDY is pulled low. The controller can
respond to UVP with two different options programmed by
PMBus (E1[6]): 1) acts as a OCP event, hiccup the output with
9ms duration and pull VR_RDY low; or 2) acts like a PGOOD, pull
VR_RDY low, monitor only. To avoid faulty triggering at
transient/DVID events, the UVP delay is programmable by
E1[5:4]. Furthermore, the UVP is not enabled during soft-start
and also can be disabled by DF[5]. The ISL6398 also provides
early UVP warning; when it is triggered, it asserts STATUS_WORD
(79h Upper Byte, Bit7) and SM_PMALERT#. It however does not
shutdown the system, assert STATUS_BYTE or pull VR_RDY low.
Disregard this if both STATUS_WORD and SM_PMALERT# are not
used or disable UVP Warning as needed via DFh.
Overcurrent Protection
The ISL6398 has two levels of overcurrent protection. Each phase
is protected from a sustained overcurrent condition by limiting its
peak current, while the combined phase currents are protected on
an instantaneous basis.
For the individual channel overcurrent protection, the ISL6398
continuously compares the sensed peak current (~50ns filter)
signal of each channel with the reference current (ICL, typically
125µA, programmable via F4[5:3] and F3[2:0]). If one channel
current exceeds the reference current, the ISL6398 will pull PWM
signal of this channel to low for the rest of the switching cycle.
This PWM signal can be turned on next cycle if the sensed
channel current is less than the reference current. The peak
current limit of individual channels will only use cycle-by-cycle
current limiting and will not trigger the converter to shut down.
In instantaneous protection mode, the ISL6398 utilizes the
sensed average current IAVG to detect an overcurrent condition.
Refer to “Current Sensing” on page 18 for more details on how
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
0A
OUTPUT VOLTAGE
0V
2ms/DIV
FIGURE 19. OVERCURRENT BEHAVIOR IN HICCUP MODE
FSW = 500kHz
At the beginning of overcurrent shutdown, the controller places all
PWM signals in a high-impedance state, commanding the Intersil
MOSFET driver ICs to turn off both upper and lower MOSFETs. The
system remains in this state a period of 9ms. If the controller is still
enabled at the end of this wait period, it will attempt a soft-start. If
the fault remains, the trip-retry cycles will continue indefinitely
(as shown in Figure 19) until either controller is disabled or the fault
is cleared. Note that the energy delivered during trip-retry cycling is
much less than during full-load operation, so there is no thermal
hazard during this kind of operation.
Thermal Monitoring (VR_HOT#)
VR_HOT# indicates the temperature status of the voltage
regulator. VR_HOT# is an open-drain output, and an external
pull-up resistor is required. This signal is valid only after the
controller is enabled.
The VR_HOT# signal can be used to inform the system that the
temperature of the voltage regulator is too high.
Page 27 of 57
ISL6398
The block diagram of thermal monitoring function is shown in
Figure 20. One NTC resistor should be placed close to the
respective power stage of the voltage regulator VR to sense the
operational temperature, and pull-up resistors are needed to form
the voltage dividers for the TM pins. As the temperature of the
power stage increases, the resistance of the NTC will reduce,
resulting in the reduced voltage at the TM pin. Figure 21 shows the
TM voltage over the temperature for a typical design with a
recommended 6.8k NTC (P/N: NTHS0805N02N6801 from
Vishay, b = 3477) and 1k resistor RTM. It is recommended to use
those resistors for the accurate temperature compensation since
the internal thermal digital code is developed based upon these
two components. If a different value is used, the temperature
coefficient must be close to 3477 and RTM must be scaled
accordingly. For instance, NTC = 10k (b = 3477), then RTM
should be 10k/6.8k*1k = 1.47k.
V CC
THERMAL TRIP POINT
LOOKUP TABLE
(+90 TO +1200C)
oc
VR_HOT#
TMAX
+
-
R NTC1
ISL6398
NTC BETA ~ 3477
FIGURE 20. BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THERMAL MONITORING
FUNCTION
39.12%*VCC
VR_HOT#
TEMPERATURE
T1
T2
FIGURE 22. VR_HOT# SIGNAL (TMAX = +100°C) vs TM VOLTAGE
Based on the NTC temperature characteristics and the desired
threshold of the VR_HOT# signal, the pull-up resistor RTM of TM
pin is given by Equation 19:
(EQ. 19)
RNTC(T2) is the NTC resistance at the VR_HOT# threshold
temperature T2. The VR_HOT# is de-asserted at temperature T1,
as shown in Table 6. The NTC directly senses the temperature of
the PCB and not the exact temperature of the hottest component
on the board due to airflow and varied thermal impedance.
Therefore, the user should select a lower TMAX number,
depending upon the mismatch between NTC and the hottest
components, than such component to guarantee a safe
operation.
TABLE 6. VR_HOT# TYPICAL TRIP POINT AND HYSTERESIS
TMAX
(°C)
VR_HOT# LOW (°C;
T2, %VCC)
VR_HOT# OPEN
(°C; T1, %VCC)
HYSTERESIS
(°C)
85
83.1; 48.94%
80.3; 51.04%
2.7
90
88.6; 45.52%
85.9; 47.56%
2.7
95
94.3; 42.26%
91.4; 44.20%
2.9
100
100.0; 39.12%
97.1; 40.98%
2.9
105
106.1; 36.14%
103.0; 37.92%
3.1
90
110
109.1; 33.32%
106.1; 35.00%
3.0
80
115
115.5; 30.68%
112.3; 32.24%
3.2
70
120
118.7; 28.24%
115.5; 29.7%
3.2
There is a comparator with hysteresis to compare the TM pin
voltage to the threshold set by the TMAX register (programmable
via PMBus E8[2:0]) for VR_HOT# signal. With TMAX set at
+100°C, the VR_HOT# signal is pulled to GND when TM voltage is
lower than 39.12% of VCC voltage, and is open (pulled high
through TM) when TM voltage increases to above 40.98% of VCC
voltage. The comparator trip point will be programmable by
TMAX values. Figure 21 shows the operation of those signals.
100
VTM/VCC (%)
40.98%*VCC
R TM = 1.557xR NTC  T2 
R TM
TM
TM
60
In addition, as the temperature increase, the voltage on the TM
pin drops. The controller is disabled when the TM pin voltage drops
below 0.95 (typically) and becomes active again when it is above
1.05V (typically).
50
40
30
20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
TEMPERATURE (°C)
FIGURE 21. THE RATIO OF TM VOLTAGE TO NTC TEMPERATURE
WITH RECOMMENDED PARTS
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Temperature Compensation
The ISL6398 supports inductor DCR sensing, or resistive sensing
techniques. The inductor DCR has a positive temperature
coefficient, which is about +0.385%/°C. Since the voltage across
the inductor is sensed for the output current information, the
sensed current has the same positive temperature coefficient as
the inductor DCR. n order to obtain the correct current
information, there should be a way to correct the temperature
impact on the current sense component.
Page 28 of 57
ISL6398
Integrated Temperature Compensation
The ISL6398 utilizes the voltage at the TM pin and “TCOMP”
register to compensate the temperature impact on the sensed
current. The block diagram of this function is shown in Figure 23.
VCC
CHANNEL
CURRENT
SENSE
R TM
TM
o
c
Isen4
Isen3
Isen2
Isen1
ISL6398
NON-LINEAR
A/D
R
I4
I3
I2
I1
NT C
D/A
PLACE NTC
CLOSE TO
CHANNEL 1
4-BIT
A/D
ki
DROOP AND
OVERCURRENT
PROTECTION
that, the NTC should be placed in proximity to the channel 1 and
the output rail; DON’T place it close to the MOSFET side, which
generates much more heat.
The ISL6398 multiplexes the “TCOMP” value with the TM digital
signal to obtain the adjustment gain to compensate the
temperature impact on the sensed channel current. The
compensated channel current signal is used for droop and
overcurrent protection functions.
TABLE 7. “TCOMP” VALUES
E9h
TCOMP (°C)
E9h
TCOMP (°C)
0h
OFF
8h
16
1h
-2.5
9h
18.9
2h
0
Ah
21.6
3h
2.5
Bh
24.3
4h
5
Ch
27
5h
7
Dh
29.7
6h
10
Eh
32.4
7h
13
Fh
35.1
TCO MP
FIGURE 23. BLOCK DIAGRAM OF INTEGRATED TEMPERATURE
COMPENSATION
When the NTC is placed close to the current sense component
(inductor), the temperature of the NTC will track the temperature
of the current sense component. Therefore, the TM voltage can
be utilized to obtain the temperature of the current sense
component. Since the NTC could pick up noise from phase node,
a 0.1µF ceramic decoupling capacitor is recommended on the
TM pin in close proximity to the controller.
Based on the VCC voltage, the ISL6398 converts the TM pin
voltage to a 6-bit TM digital signal for temperature
compensation. With the non-linear A/D converter of ISL6398, the
TM digital signal is linearly proportional to the NTC temperature.
For accurate temperature compensation, the ratio of the TM
voltage to the NTC temperature of the practical design should be
similar to that in Figure 21.
NTC
VOUT
OUTPUT INDUCTOR
PHASE1
POW ER
STAGE
When a different NTC type or different voltage divider is used for
the TM function, the TCOMP voltage can also be used to
compensate for the difference between the recommended TM
voltage curve in Figure 21 and that of the actual design. If the
same type NTC ( = 3477) but different value is used, the pull-up
resistor needs to be scaled, as shown in Equation 20:
1k  R NTC_NEW
R TM = ----------------------------------------------6.8k
(EQ. 20)
Design Procedure
1. Properly choose the voltage divider for the TM pin to match
the TM voltage vs temperature curve with the recommended
curve in Figure 21.
2. Run the actual board under the full load and the desired
cooling condition.
3. After the board reaches the thermal steady state, record the
temperature (TCSC) of the current sense component (inductor
or MOSFET) and the voltage at TM and VCC pins.
4. Use Equation 21 to calculate the resistance of the NTC, and
find out the corresponding NTC temperature TNTC from the
NTC datasheet or using Equation 22, where b is equal to 3477
for recommended NTC.
V TM xR
TM
R NTC  T NTC  = ----------------------------V CC – V
(EQ. 21)

T NTC = ------------------------------------------------------------------------- – 273.15
RTM
 ln  ------------------------------------ + ----------------R
 298.15
NTC  T NTC 
(EQ. 22)
TM
FIGURE 24. RECOMMENDED PLACEMENT OF NTC
Since the NTC attaches to the PCB, but not directly to the current
sensing component, it inherits high thermal impedance between
the NTC and the current sensing element. The “TCOMP” register
values can be utilized to correct the temperature difference
between NTC and the current sense component. Figure 24 shows
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
5. In Intersil design worksheet, choose a number close to the
result as in Equation 23 in the “TCOMP” cell to calculate the
needed resistor network for the register “TCOMP” pin.
Note: for worksheet, please contact Intersil Application
support at www.intersil.com/design.
Page 29 of 57
ISL6398
T COMP = T CSC – T NTC
(EQ. 23)
6. Run the actual board under full load again with the proper
resistors connected to the “TCOMP” pin.
7. Record the output voltage as V1 immediately after the output
voltage is stable with the full load. Record the output voltage
as V2 after the VR reaches the thermal steady state.
8. If the output voltage increases over 3mV as the temperature
increases, i.e. V2 - V1 > 3mV, reduce “TCOMP” value; if the
output voltage decreases over 3mV as the temperature
increases, i.e. V1 - V2 > 3mV, increase “TCOMP” values.
Dynamic VID Compensation (DVC)
During DVID transitions, extra current builds up in the output
capacitors due to the C*dv/dt. The current is sensed by the
controller and fed across the feedback resistor creating extra
droop (if enabled) and causing the output voltage not properly
tracking the DAC voltage. An independent compensation for
DVID up and DVID down are implemented to optimize the DVID
transition (Patent Pending), programmable by D7 and D9,
respectively.
Programmable Compensation
The ISL6398 controller utilizes Intersil’s proprietary Advanced Linear
EAPP Digital control scheme that is the best modulation scheme in
the industry to achieve linear response for both transient and
current balance and can process voltage and current information in
real time for fast control and high speed protection and realize
digital power management capability and flexibility and. The digital
compensation covers a wide range of poles and zeros, as in
Figure 25, suitable for computing, networking, ASIC, and many
general purpose applications. Refer ISL6398 GUI on Table 16 for
more details and advanced features.
Catastrophic Fault Protection
A catastrophic failure is a failure that will result in an exothermic
event if the power source is not removed. A predominate
catastrophic failure is a high-side FET shorting, which can cause
either output overvoltage or input overcurrent event. When the
ISL6398 detects either event, an internal switch is turned on to pull
the EN_PWR_CFP pin to VCC, as an indication of a component
failure in the regulator’s power train. As shown in Figure 26, a CFP
fault signal can be generated by using a resistor divider on this pin.
To be able to apply the signal to the PS_ON# switch of an ATX power
supply or a simply external switch (2N7002), the CFP fault signal
should be lower than 0.8V at maximum input voltage, VIN(max) and
higher than 3V at lowest normal operational VCC (4.5V) when the
input voltage (VIN) is removed. Given such conditions, the equivalent
(in parallel) impedance of the upper leg (RUP) and lower leg
(RDW = RDW1 + RDW1) should be higher than 1k. For instance, if
we select the total lower leg impedance (RDW) as 9.39k, then the
RUP is calculated as in Equation 25, 100k for a maximum POR of
10.72V, The lower leg impedance is then calculated by 2.74k and
6.65k, as in Equations 26 and 27, respectively.
R DW = R DW1 + R DW2
(EQ. 24)
VIN  POR max  – 0.92V
R UP = -------------------------------------------------------------------  R DW
0.92V
(EQ. 25)
VIN  max 
R DW1 = ----------------------------   R UP + R DW 
0.8V
(EQ. 26)
R DW2 = R DW – R DW1
(EQ. 27)
VCC
VIN
CFP
RUP
EN_PWR_CFP
EN_PWR
RDW1
RESET
CFP
RDW2
ISL6375, ISL6376
FIGURE 26. BI-DIRECTIONAL EN_PWR_CFP
Prior to an exothermic event, the fault signal (CFP) should be used
on the platform to remove the power source either by firing a
shunting SCR to blow a fuse or by turning off the AC power supply.
Input Current Sensing
FIGURE 25. TYPE III Compensation Poles and Zero Range
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
The input current sensing uses Intersil patented technique to
overcome the high common-mode input requirement challenge.
An R-C network with thermal compensation across the inductor
(LIN) extracts the DCR voltage, as shown in Figure 27, while the C
might need to be split into 2, one close the LIN and one close to
the controller. The input inductor can be used for current sensing
and has benefit of isolating noise from the rest of the board.
However, when there are insufficient bulk capacitors on the
power-stage side, a resonant tank can be formed by input
Page 30 of 57
ISL6398
ceramic capacitors and the inductor, yielding oscillation or audio
noise during audio frequency range of heavy load transient. In
addition, since ZNTC network steals portion of sensed current
from RIN1, input current reading will have offset.
VIN_HS_MOSFET
In many cases, a narrow input-rail PCB trace (but wide enough to
carry DC current) is sufficient to serve as the isolation path. Thus,
the input current sensing can simply be realized with a dedicated
power resistor, as shown in Figure 28.
LIN
50nH
VIN_HS_MOSFET
Z NTC
165 R IN1
Rsn
215
PLACE NTC
CLOSE TO
LIN
NTC
2k
Rpn
10.2k
1.8µF
0.1µF
402R IN2
PLACE CLOSE
TO THE
CONTROLLER
10nF
ISENIN(PIN 1)
ISENIN+
(PIN 2)
FIGURE 27. INPUT DCR-SENSING CONFIGURATION
The full scale of input current sensing is 10µA, read 1Fh with
READ_IIN(89h), via PMBus, while the input over-current trip point
is at 15µA (Programmable via F6[6:5]). A greater than 40µs time
constant [C*RIN1*RIN2)/(RIN1+RIN2)] might be needed if the
average input current reporting is preferred; and it also reduces
chance to trigger CFP during heavy load transient depending
upon the input filter. A design worksheet to select these
components is available for use. Please contact Intersil
Application support at www.intersil.com/design.
499k
ISENIN(PIN 1)
DCR
0.3m 
V IN
PLACE CLOSE
TO THE
CONTROLLER
1.5M
0.1µF
ISENIN+
(PIN 2)
FIGURE 29. DISABLE PIN AND IIN CONFIGURATION
Auto-phase Shedding
The ISL6398 incorporates auto-phase shedding feature to
improve light to medium load range. The phase current dropping
threshold is programmable with the resistor on auto pin. The
efficiency-optimized current trip point (I1) from 1-Phase to
2-Phase operation is approximated with Equation 28, which is kx
larger than the efficiency-optimized current trip step
(dI = I3 - I2) in between from 2-phase to 3-phase (I2) and from
3-phase to 4-phase (I3). The optimized-efficiency current trip
point difference between phases remain constant I1/k, as
expressed in Equation 29 and Figure 30
2   P QG + P CORE + P COSS 
I1  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------ESR IN  D + R ON + L DS  F SW
(EQ. 28)
R ON = D  r DS  ON _UP +  1 – D   r DS  ON _LOW + DCR
where PQG is the per-phase gate charge loss, PCORE is the
inductor core loss, PQOSS is the sum of high-side and low-side
MOSFETs’ output charge loss.
I2
I3
I4
I5
VIN
43.2 R IN1
562 R IN2
L R_SENIN
0.3m
1nH
0.1µF C
ISENIN(PIN 1)
VIN_HS_MOSFET
0.1µF
10nF
PLACE CLOSE
TO THE
CONTROLLER
EFFICIENCY (%)
I1
R SENIN
ISENIN+
(PIN 2)
FIGURE 28. INPUT R-SENSING CONFIGURATION
When not used, connect ISENIN+ to VIN and a resistor divider
with a ratio of 1/3 on ISENIN± pin, say 499k Ohm in between
ISENIN± pins and then 1.5MΩ from ISENIN- to ground
(see Figure 29).
LOAD (A)
FIGURE 30. EFFICIENCY VS. PHASE NUMBER
64  D CR  I1
I IMON_OPTIMIZED_1_PHASE  -----------------------------------N MAX  R
(EQ. 29)
1.2V
R AUTO = --------------------------------------------------------------------------I IMON_OPTIMIZED_1_PHASE
(EQ. 30)
SET
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 31 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 8. PHASE DROPPING SEQUENCE
1.2V  N MAX  R
SET
R AUTO  -----------------------------------------------------64  D CR  I1
(EQ. 31)
1
I  N   I1   1 + ----   N – 1 


K
(EQ. 32)
PWM# TIED TO VCC
(VCORE)
PHASE SEQUENCE
6
NONE
6-3-5-2-4-1
5
PWM6
5-4--2-3-1
4
PWM5
4-2-3-1
3
PWM4
3-2-1
2
PWM3
2-1
N
Equations 30 and 31 helps approximate the AUTO resistor, while
the trip point hysteresis can be programmed via PMBus D1[5:4].
Typically, the higher the inductor ripple current, the higher
percentage of hysteresis and k it requires. Following is an easy
way to estimate RAUTO value:
1. Before AUTO trip point tuning, calibrate IMON current close to
zero with PMBus E4[4:0].
2. Disable AUTO mode via D4[2] or by tying AUTO pin GND
3. Obtain efficiency curve for 1- to 6-phase, programmed via
D0,with appropriate load (~25A/Phase. 0.5A step); and APA
disabled via D4h as needed.
4. Determine I1 from the above test result.
5. Short AUTO pin to ground with a current meter to measure the
IMON current (IIMON_OPTIMIZED_1_PHASE) when VR is at I1 load.
6. Calculate RAUTO as in Equation 31.
7. Solder down RAUTO and enable AUTO mode.
8. Take efficiency curve and compare it with the 1-to 6-Phase
Efficiency Curves.
9. Tweak RAUTO and D1 (k, I1, Hysteresis) as needed for optimal
Efficiency performance at targeted operating input and
output voltage as well as airflow.
To ensure dropped phases have sufficient energy to turn on
high-side MOSET and sustain instant load apply after VR0 staying
in light load condition for a long time (hours to days), a
boot-refresh circuit turns on Low-side MOSFET of each dropped
phase to refresh the boot capacitor at a rate of slightly above
20kHz. The boot-fresh circuit is automatically turned off to boot
efficiency when DAC drops to 0.60V.
Resistor Reader (Patented)
Intersil has developed a high resolution ADC using a patented
technique with simple 1%, 100ppm/k or better temperature
coefficient resistor divider. The same type of resistors are
preferred so that it has similar change over-temperature. In
addition, the divider is compared to the internal divider off VCC
and GND nodes and therefore must refer to VCC and GND pins,
not through any RC decoupling network.
ISL6398
10. Obtain efficiency curve for couple boards and tweak RAUTO to
re-center overall efficiency of these boards.
REGISTER
TABLE
ISL6398
EXTERNAL CIRCUIT
PHASE
SHEDDING
CURRENT
THRESHOLD
SELECTION
AUTO
EXTERNAL CIRCUIT
VCC
RUP
ADC
RDW
RAUTO
FIGURE 32. SIMPLIFIED RESISTOR DIVIDER ADC
FIGURE 31. SIMPLIFIED AUTO-PHASE SHEDDING CIRCUIT
In addition, the SMBus, PMBus, or I2C gives flexibility to program
Auto K-factor (D1[3:2]), hysteresis (D1[5:4]), I1 (D1[7:6]), and
number of operating phases after soft-start and when auto mode
is disabled by D4[2]. However, all phases will be added back
when APA is triggered; and if APA is disabled, all phase are
added back only after reset or OCP retry.
The minimum of auto-phase shedding is defaulted by NPSI in
PSI1 mode and can also be programmed by the bus command
code D1h[1:0], as in Table 14. The phase dropping sequence is
summarized in Table 8.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
NVM_BANK_BT pin is designed to allow the user to select
different NVM Banks (Pre-configured IC) and/or Boot Voltage
Level even without PMBus communications; while VRSEL_ADDR
is to select different operation mode (5mV or 10mV), indirectly
control Boot Voltage Level and DAC resolution, and PMBus
Addresses. The programmed values of resistor reader are stored
in DC and DD of PMBus.
As an example, Table 9 shows the RUP and RDW values of each
pin for a specific system design; DATA for corresponding registers
can be read out via PMBus commands (DC and DD). In addition,
some tie-high and tie-low options are available for easy
programming (save resistor dividers) and can also be used to
validate the VR operation during In-Circuit Test (ICT). For instance,
when the system boot voltage is required at 0V, the
NVM_BANK_BT pin can be set to different voltage level, prior to
power-up, to get a known boot voltage to check VR operation with
ICT. Resistor reader calculator is available, please contact Intersil
Application support at www.intersil.com/design.
Page 32 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 9. PMBus (DC) RESISTOR READER EXAMPLE
TABLE 10. PMBus (DD) RESISTOR READER EXAMPLE (Continued)
RUP
(kΩ
RDW
(kΩ
PMBus
8-Bit ADDRESS
RECOMMENDED
APPLICATIONS
PMBus (DD)
RUP
PMBus (DC)
(kΩ
RDW
(kΩ
NVM
BT
00h
OPEN
10
80
10mV/Step
32h
40.2
45.3
NVM1
01h
49.9
12.4
82
10mV/Step
0.9V, 5mV/Step
1.8V, 10mV/Step
02h
45.3
12.7
84
10mV/Step
55h
59
84.5
NVM2
1.0V, 5mV/Step
2.0V, 10mV/Step
03h
43.2
13.3
86
10mV/Step
79h
78.7
163
NVM3
08h
29.4
15
C0
10mV/Step
1.2V, 5mV/Step
2.4V, 10mV/Step
09h
28
15.4
C2
10mV/Step
9Fh
95.3
367
NVM4
1.5V, 5mV/Step
2.0V, 10mV/Step
0Ch
24.3
17.4
C8
10mV/Step
B2h
196
226
NVM5
1.8V, 10mV/Step
0Dh
23.2
17.8
CA
10mV/Step
DAh
215
475
NVM6
2.5V, 10mV/Step
10h
20
19.6
E0
10mV/Step
11h
19.6
20.5
E2
10mV/Step
14h
17.4
23.2
E8
10mV/Step
15h
16.9
24.3
EA
10mV/Step
80h
OPEN
499
80
5mV/Step
81h
374
93.1
82
5mV/Step
82h
340
95.3
84
5mV/Step
83h
316
100
86
5mV/Step
88h
221
113
C0
5mV/Step
89h
210
115
C2
5mV/Step
8Ch
182
130
C8
5mV/Step
The ISL6398 has 8 memory banks to store up
(STORE_USER_ALL, 15h) to 8 different configurations, selectable
via PMBus (DEh) or resistor to GND on the NVM_BANK pin, as in
Table 11. No decoupling capacitor is allowed on the pin. Prior to
the soft-start, the selection of memory bank is stored in the data
registers of PMBus (DDh). They are reset by VCC POR. In addition,
the selected memory bank can be overridden by PMBus (DEh).
Only the selected memory bank’s configuration is loaded
(RESTORE_USER_ALL,16h) into the operating memory to have
control on the VR system prior to issuing soft-start.
8Dh
174
133
CA
5mV/Step
TABLE 11. MEMORY BANK (PMBus, DD)
90h
150
147
E0
5mV/Step
DEh
MEMORY BANK NAME
91h
147
154
E2
5mV/Step
00h
USER_NVM0
94h
130
174
E8
5mV/Step
01h
USER_NVM1
95h
127
182
EA
5mV/Step
02h
USER_NVM2
03h
USER_NVM3
04h
USER_NVM4
05h
USER_NVM5
06h
USER_NVM6
07h
USER_NVM7
TABLE 10. PMBus (DD) RESISTOR READER EXAMPLE
PMBus (DD)
(kΩ
RUP
RDW
(kΩ
NVM
BT
00h
OPEN
10
NVM0
NVM_BT
20h
118
26.1
NVM1
NVM_BT
40h
196
43.2
NVM2
NVM_BT
60h
294
64.9
NVM3
NVM_BT
80h
422
93.1
NVM4
NVM_BT
A0h
590
130
NVM5
NVM_BT
C0h
825
182
NVM6
NVM_BT
E0h
OPEN
499
NVM7
NVM_BT
01h
49.9
12.4
NVM0
0.0V
10h
20
19.6
NVM0
1.7V, 10mV/Step
09h
28
15.4
NVM0
0.6V, 5mV/Step
1.2V, 10mV/Step
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
NOTE: More options in resistor reader calculator. NVM_BT = Boot Voltage
Loaded from the Bank, not fixed by resistor reader.
Memory Banks
Other than device’s PMBus Addresses and VR operation mode,
all system design parameters are programmed by PMBus, as
summarized in Table 12 and detailed in Table 14.
Page 33 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 12. SYSTEM PARAMETER SUMMARY
PMBus
REG
DESCRIPTION
RANGE
D6
LOCK_VID_OFFSET
0h to 3h
DA
Set_VID
up to 3.04V
DB
Set_OFFSET
up to 1.270V
D3
Droop Enable
Enable or Disable
D3
Negative Droop
100% to 5%
D3
Positive Droop
0mV, 4mV to 32mV
E4
IDROOP_TRIM
-4µA to +3.75µA
E4
Output Offset Trim
-4µA to +3.75µA
D0
NPHASE
1 TO 6-PHASE
D1
AUTO_K
1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.7
D1
AUTO_HYS
12.5, 16.6, 25, 50%
D1
AUTO_I1
80, 90, 100, 110%
D1
Minimum Phase
1 TO 4-PHASE
D2
AUTO Blanking
0.6ms to 4.6ms
136mV to 549mV
D2
APA Time Constant
tsw/8 to tsw
Maximum Output Voltage
Up to 3.11V
D2
APA_Stackup_Delay
0 to 300ns
DF
PROTECTION_DISABLE
All Faults
D4
APA LEVEL
10 to 70mV
F6
INPUT OCP
100% to 130%
D4
BOOT REFRESH
Enable or Disable
E9
Thermal APA
75% to 100%
D4
AUTO Enable
Enable or Disable
F4
AVG_OCP
CYCLE_LIMITING
1.0 TO 1.6
125% to 70%
99
MFR_ID
2 BYTES
9A
MFR_MODEL
2 BYTES
F7-FC
Current Balance
-12% to +9%
9B
MFR_REV
2 BYTES
E4
IMON_TRIM
-4µA to +3.75µA
9D
MFR_DATE
3 BYTES
E5
IOUT_CAL_OFFSET
-4h to 3h
D8
UP Ramp Amplitude
0.75, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5V
DE
NVM_BANK
Up to 8 Banks
D4
Dither Enable
Enable or Disable
E9
Mismatching Temperature
Compensation between
sensing element and NTC
OFF, -2.5°C to
+35.1°C
E2
PS Mode Transition
Compensation
PS Mode Transition
E2, E3
High Frequency Transient
Compensation
E2[4:3]: 20m- 80mV
E3: Phase Count
Original Speedup
F5
SET_FREQ
120k TO 2.025MHz
B0-BF
COMPENSATION
R1-R3 and C1-C3
F3
SP_VdBand_K
Original, 2p-16pF
25mV - 200mV
0 to 0.75, Disable
CODE
PMBus
REG
DESCRIPTION
RANGE
PM_ADDR
N/A
PMBus Address
80-8E, C0-CE,
E0-EE, F0-FE
VR_MODE
N/A
By “VRSEL” pin
5mV or 10mVstep
5m Step Boot Voltage
0, 0.25 to 1.52V
10mV Step Boot Voltage
0, 0.5, 0.51 to 3.04V
F6
DVID Slew Rate
0.315 to 13.25mV/µs
D7
DVID UP Compensation
Offset, Gain, Slope
D9
DVID Down Compensation
Offset, Gain, Slope
TMAX
E8
Maximum Operating
Temperature
+85°C to +120°C
(5°C/Step)
IMAX
EA
ICCMAX of Platforms
0-255A, 1A/LSB
NPSI
D2
Minimum Number of
Operational Phases in Auto
SI1, SI2, CI1, CI2
D2
Frequency Limiter
2FSW, 1.5FSW, Infinity
E1
SET_UV
105mV to 402mV
D8
SET_OV
24
BT
DVID
Protection
DIGITAL
IOUT (8Ch)
TABLE 12. SYSTEM PARAMETER SUMMARY (Continued)
E6
LOOP
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
CODE
Output
Voltage
Regulation
AUTO
USER
Page 34 of 57
ISL6398
SMBus, PMBus and I2C Operation
before the NVM configuration is loaded completely, the controller
will issue soft-start 16ms (typically, worst case 20ms) after VCC
above its POR.
There are 32 PMBus address, which can be programmed by a
resistor divider on VRSEL_ADDR pin, as shown in Figure 32 and
summarized in Table 13.
88h-8Eh are two-byte word read with PEC (if applicable), while
78h, F2h, and other write command codes are one-byte word
read with PEC (if applicable).
The ISL6398 features SMBus, PMBus and I2C with
programmable address via VRSEL_ADDR pin, as in Table 13,
while SMBus/PMBus includes an Alert# line and Packet Error
Check (PEC) to ensure data properly transmitted. In addition, the
output voltage, droop slope, enable, operating phase number,
and overvoltage setpoint can be written and read via this bus, as
summarized in Table 14. Input, output, fault, and temperature
telemetries can be read as summarized in Table 15. For proper
operation, users should follow the SMBus, PMBus, and I2C
protocol, as shown Figure 36. Note that STOP (P) bit is NOT
allowed before the repeated START condition when “reading”
contents of register, as shown in Figure 36.
When PMBus is not used, simply leave the respective pull-up on
their pins and not connect to the bus..
TABLE 13. SMBus/PMBus/I2C 8-BIT AND 7-BIT FORMAT ADDRESS (HEX)
The supported SMBus/PMBus/I2C addresses are in 8-bit format
(including write and read bit): 80-8E, E0- EE, C0-CE, F0-FE. The
least significant bit of the 8-bit address is for write (0h) and read
(1h). For reference purposes, the 7-bit format addresses are also
summarized in Table 13. There are a series set of read and write
commands as summarized in Tables 14 and 15, respectively. The
SMBus/PMBus/I2C allows to program the registers as in
Table 12, except for SMBus/PMBus/I2C addresses, 16ms
(typically, worst case 20ms) after VCC above POR and prior to
Enable pins (EN_PWR_CFP) high. The bus can also program
default content during this period. If all Enable pins are high
8-BIT
7-BIT
8-BIT
7-BIT
8-BIT
7-BIT
80/81
82/83
40
C8/C9
64
F0/F1
78
41
CA/CB
65
F2/F3
79
84/85
42
CC/CD
66
F4/F5
7A
86/87
43
CE/CF
67
F6/F7
7B
88/89
44
E0/E1
70
F8/F9
7C
8A/8B
45
E2/E3
71
FA/FB
7D
8C/8D
46
E4/E5
72
FC/FD
7E
8E/8F
47
E6/E7
73
FE/FF
7F
C0/C1
60
E8/E9
74
C2/C3
61
EA/EB
75
C4/C6
62
EC/ED
76
CE/CF
63
EE/EF
77
5V
V CC
VCC POR
TIMEOUT
5 MS
READER
DONE
1 MS
LOAD NVM
CONFIGURATION
10MS
WRITE AND READ
WRITE AND READ
CONFIGURATION
CONFIGURATION
0MS TO INFINITY
WRITE AND READ
CONFIGURATION
WRITE AND READ
CONFIGURATION
0MS TO INFINITY
ENABLE
PMBUS COMMUNICATION NOT ACTIVATED
PMBUS
COMMAND
PMBUS
COMMAND
PMBUS
COMMAND
PMBUS
COMMAND
VBOOT
0V
V OUT
FIGURE 33. SIMPLIFIED SMBus/PMBus/I2C INITIALIZATION TIMING DIAGRAM
5V
V CC
VCC POR
TIMEOUT
5 MS
READER
DONE
1 MS
LOAD NVM
CONFIGURATION
WRITE AND READ
CONFIGURATION
WRITE AND READ
CONFIGURATION
WRITE AND READ
CONFIGURATION
10MS
0MS TO INFINITY
ENABLE
PMBUS
COMMAND
PMBUS COMMUNICATION NOT ACTIVATED
PMBUS
COMMAND
PMBUS
COMMAND
VBOOT
V OUT
0V
FIGURE 34. SIMPLIFIED SMBus/PMBus/I2C INITIALIZATION TIMING DIAGRAM WITH ENABLE HIGH BEFORE COMPLETING NVM LOADING
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 35 of 57
ISL6398
S: Start Condition
1. Send Byte Protocol
A: Acknowledge (“0”)
1
S
7+1
Slave Address_0
1
8
1
8
1
1
A
Command Code
A
PEC
A
P
N: Not Acknowledge (“1”)
W: Write (“0”)
RS: Repeated Start Condition
R: Read (“1”)
Optional 9 Bits for SMBus/PMBus
NOT used in I2C
PEC: Packet Error Checking
P: Stop Condition
Example command: 03h Clear Faults
(This will clear all of the bits in Status Byte for the selected Rail)
Acknowledge or DATA from Slave,
ISL6398
Not Used for One Byte Word
2. Write Byte/Word Protocol
1
S
7+1
Slave Address_0
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
1
A
Command Code
A
Low Data Byte
A
High Data Byte
A
PEC
A
P
Optional 9 Bits for SMBus/PMBus
NOT used in I2C
Example command: DAh SET_VID (one word, High Data Byte and ACK are not used)
3. Read Byte/Word Protocol
1
7+1
S
Slave Address_0
1
8
1
A
Command Code
A
1
RS
7+1
Slave Address_1
Not Used for One Byte Word Read
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
1
A
Low Data Byte
A
High Data Byte
A
PEC
N
P
Optional 9 Bits for SMBus/PMBus
NOT used in I2C
Example command: 8B READ_VOUT (Two words, read voltage of the selected rail).
NOTE: All Writable commands are read with one byte word protocol.
STOP (P) bit is NOT allowed before the repeated START condition when “reading” contents of a register.
4. Block Write Protocol
1
S
7+1
Slave Address_0
1
8
1
8
A
Command Code
A
Byte Count = N
1
8
A Lowest Data Byte
1
8
1
8
1
1
A
Data Byte N
A
PEC
A
P
1
A
8
1
Data Byte 2
A
Optional 9 Bits for SMBus/PMBus
NOT used in I2C
Example command: 9Dh MFR_DATA (3 Data Byte)
FIGURE 35. SMBus/PMBus/I2C PROTOCOL
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 36 of 57
ISL6398
5. Block Read Protocol
1
S
7+1
1
Slave Address_0
A
8
Command Code
1
1
A
RS
1
7+1
1
Slave Address_1
A
8
1
Data Byte 2
A
8
A
1
8
Byte Count = N
Data Byte N
8
Lowest Data Byte
A
1
8
1
1
A
PEC
N
P
Optional 9 Bits for SMBus/PMBus
NOT used in I2C
Example command: 8B READ_VOUT (Two words, read voltage of the selected rail).
NOTE: All Writable commands are read with one byte word protocol.
STOP (P) bit is NOT allowed before the repeated START condition when “reading” contents of a register.
6. Group Command Protocol - No more than one command can be sent to the same Address
1
7+1
S
Slave ADDR1_0
1
7+1
RS
Slave ADDR2_0
1
7+1
RS
Slave ADDR3_0
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
A
Command Code
A
Low Data Byte
A
High Data Byte
A
PEC
A
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
A
Command Code
A
A
PEC
A
Data Byte
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
8
1
1
A
Command Code
A
Low Data Byte
A
High Data Byte
A
PEC
A
P
Optional 9 Bits for SMBus/PMBus
NOT used in I2C
7. Alert Response Address (ARA, 0001_1001, 25h) for SMBus and PMBus, not used for I2C
1
S
7+1
ALERT Addr_1
1
A
7+1
Slave_Address_1
1
8
1
1
A
PEC
A
P
Optional 9 Bits for SMBus/PMBus
NOT used in I2C
FIGURE 36. SMBus/PMBus/I2C PROTOCOL
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 37 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 14. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C WRITE AND READ REGISTERS
ACCESS
WRITE
PROTECT
LEVEL
DEFAULT
COMMAND NAME
R/W
40h
EN pin
OPERATION (or ENABLE)
10h[7:5]
R/W
NOT
80h
WRITE_PROTECT_ISL
80h = Disable all standard writes (including send bytes) except
for WRITE_PROTECT_ISL command.
40h = Disable all standard writes (including send bytes), all
compensation registers and some Intersil defined commands,
BUT not WRITE_PROTECT, OPERATION, CLEAR_FAULT, and some
Intersil defined commands.
20h = Disable all standard writes, all compensation registers
and some Intersil defined commands, BUT NOT
WRITE_PROTECT, OPERATION, CLEAR_FAULT and some Intersil
defined commands: LOCK_VID_OFFSET, SET_VID, SET_OFFSET.
10h = Disable all compensation registers and some Intersil
defined commands, BUT not WRITE_PROTECT, OPERATION,
CLEAR_FAULT and some Intersil defined commands (at WRITE
PROTECTION LEVEL OF 20h): LOCK_VID_OFFSET, Set_VID,
Set_OFFSET, Configurations (UVP, OVP, OCP, CFP, IMAX, TMAX,
AUTO, NPHASE, BAL_XX, FREQ, BOOT_VOLTAGE, etc).
00h = Enable all write commands.
Reject all command code except for 80h, 40h, 20h, 10h, 0h
Not support PAGE and ON_OFF_CONFIG; Equivalent
VOUT_COMAND is Set_VID, Set_OFFSET, LOCK_VID_OFFSET.
“WRITE PROTECT LEVEL” = ANYTHING SPECIFIED IN THIS LEVEL
OR BELOW IS ALLOWED TO BE WRITTEN.
15h
SEND
00h
N/A
STORE_USER_ALL
Store user configuration (operating memory) into selected
USER_NVM#. The device will declare busy at the assertion of this
command, a new command addressed to this device should be
sent 300ms afterward.
16h
SEND
00h
N/A
RESTORE_USER_ALL
Restore user configuration (USER_NVM#) into operating
memory. The device will declare busy at the assertion of this
command, a new command addressed to this device should be
sent 6ms afterward.
24h[8:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
VOUT_MAX
Set maximum output voltage that VR can command
(VOUT_MAX = VID+OFFSET > BOOT_Voltage).
5mV Mode: Up to 2.155 (H Byte: 01h; L Byte 7Eh, see Table 18);
10mV Mode: Up to 3.11V (High Byte: 01h; Low Byte 06h).
99[15:0]
BLOCK
R/W
00h
MFR_ID
9A[15:0]
BLOCK
R/W
00h
MFR_MODEL
9B[15:0]
BLOCK
R/W
00h
MFR_REVISION
9D[23:0]
BLOCK
R/W
00h
MFR_DATE
AD[15:0]
BLOCK R
N/A
IC_DEVICE_ID
AE[15:0]
BLOCK R
N/A
IC_DEVICE_REV
Intersil Device Revision: Silicon revision (upper byte, hardcoded)
+ ISL configuration revision (lower byte).
D0h[2:0]
R/W
00h
OPERATE_PHASE_NUMBER
0h = 7h = NMAX; 1h=1 Phase;2h = 2 Phases; 3h = 3 Phases;
4h = 4 Phases; 5h = 5 Phases; 6h = 6 Phases. NMAX set by PWMx
hard wired; for instance if PWM6 = VCC, NMAX = 5 Phases. D0
should NOT be written until 50ms after soft-start and re-written
after DVID. When AUTO (R to GND, not shorted to GND) function
is enabled, D0h cannot use to program phase number but it
reports the operating phase number.
COMMAND
CODE
01h[2:0]
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
NPHASE By
Pin
DESCRIPTION
Bit[7]: 0 = OFF (0-F); 1 = ON (80-8Fh)
Bit[6:4] = 0;
Bit[3:0] = Don’t care
User stores ID.
User stores model number.
User stores board and/or configuration revision number.
User stores date.
Intersil Device ID: product ID (update byte, hardcoded) + ISL
configuration revision (lower byte).
Page 38 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 14. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C WRITE AND READ REGISTERS
ACCESS
WRITE
PROTECT
LEVEL
DEFAULT
COMMAND NAME
DESCRIPTION
D1h[7:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
NMIN_AUTOK_HYS_I1
Bit[1:0] - Minimum Number of Auto Phase Shedding
0h = 1-Phase;1h = 2-Phase; 2h = 3-Phase; 3h = 4-Phase; Default
by NPSI
Bit[3:2] - AUTO Mode K Factor:
0h = 1.25; 1h = 1.5; 2h = 1.75; 3h = 1.0; Default by AUTO pin
Bit[5:4] - AUTO Mode Hysteresis Factor
0h = 50%; 1h = 25%; 2h = 16.6%; 3h = 12.5%; Default by AUTO pin
Bit[7:6] - AUTO Mode I1 Factor:
0h = 100%; 1h = 80%; 2h = 90%; 3h = 110% of AUTO pin
D2h[9:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK NPSI_AUTOBLK_FLIMITER_APATC Bit[1:0] - Lower Power Phase Number:
0h = SI1, 1-Phase;
1h = SI2, 2-Phase;
2h = CI1, 1-Phase;
3h = CI2, 2-Phase;
Bit[3:2] - Time between subsequent phase drops:
0h = 4.6ms; 1h = 2.3ms; 2h = 1.2ms; 3h = 0.6ms, Default 0h
Bit[5:4] - Maximum PWM frequency under repetitive Load:
0h = 2 FSW; 1h = 3/2 FSW; 2h = 3h = Infinity; Default 0h
Bit[7:6] - APA Time Constant:
0h = Tsw; 1h = Tsw/2; 2h = Tsw/4; 3h = Tsw/8. Default 3h
Bit[9:8] - APA Stackup Delay:
0h = 0ns; 1h=100ns; 2h = 200ns; 3h = 300ns
D3h[6:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
D4h[6:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
D5h[1:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
PWMTRI-LEVEL
D6h[1:0]
R/W
20h
00h
LOCK_VID_OFFSET
D7h[13:0]
BLOCK
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
DVID_UP_OS_GAIN_SLP
COMMAND
CODE
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
NEGLL_POSLL
Bit[0] - Droop Enable:
0h = Disabled, 1h = Enabled;
Bit[3:1] Droop Trim (NEGLL) of Full Scale:
0h = 100%, 1h = 75%, 2h =5 0%, 3h = 25%, 4h = 5%
Adjust R1 for finer resolution
Bit[4]: Positive Load Line Enable:
0h = Disabled; 1h = Enabled
Bit[6:5]: Positive Load Line Range (POSLL):
0h = 4mV, 1h = 8mV; 2h = 16mV, 3h = 32mV at IMON Full Scale
BTR_DE_AUTO_DITHER_APALVL Bit[0] - Boot-Refresh Enable:
0h = Disabled; 1h = Enabled. Boot refresh circuits is
automatically turned off when DAC is lower than 0.605V
Bit[1] - Diode Emulation Enable
0h = Disabled; 1h = Enabled
Bit[2] - AUTO Enable:
0h = Disabled; 1h = Enabled
Bit[3] - DITHER Enable:
0h = OFF, 1h = -15kHz, 0, 15kHz
Bit[6:4] - APA Level:
0h = Disable; 1h = 10mV; 2h = 20mV; 3h = 30mV; 4h = 40mV;
5h = 50mV; 6h = 60mV; 7h = 70mV
Bit[0] - PWM Support: 0h = Compatible with 3.3V PWM Tri-State
(Mid) Level (PWM High is still VCC, 5V); 1h = Compatible with
5.0V PWM Tri-State (Mid) Level. 5.0V PWM Driver is also
compatible with “0h”, but not vice versa.
Secondary output voltage control protection:
0h= VID and OFFSET NOT CONTROLLABLE
1h = Program Small OFFSET, not VID allowed
2h = Program Large OFFSET, not VID allowed
3h = VID and OFFSET CONTROLLABLE
(see Table 16 for details)
BIT[5:0] - DVID_UP_OFFSET
00h = 0mV
01h = 5mV
02h = 10mV
…
Page 39 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 14. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C WRITE AND READ REGISTERS
COMMAND
CODE
ACCESS
WRITE
PROTECT
LEVEL
DEFAULT
COMMAND NAME
D7h[13:0]
BLOCK
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
DVID_UP_OS_GAIN_SLP
D8h[6:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
SET_OV_VRAMP
D9h[13:0]
BLOCK
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
DVID_DW_OS_GAIN_SLP
DAh[7:0]
R/W
20h
00h
SET_VID
DESCRIPTION
3Fh = 315mV
BIT[8:6] - DVID_UP_GAIN
00 = deltavid*0
01h = deltavid/32
02h = deltavid/16
...
07h = deltavid * 7/32
BIT[13:9] - DVID_UP_SLOPE
00h = every 4 clocks(125ns per step - 40mV/µs)
01h = every 8 clocks(250ns per step - 20mV/µs)
...
1Fh = every 128 clocks (4µs per step - 1.25mV/µs)
Bit[2:0] - OVP above VID during normal operation:
0h = 135mV, 1h = 177mV, 2h = 218V, 3h = 260mV, 4h = 342mV,
5h = 425mV, 6h = 460mV, 7h = 549mV; OVP = VID+Bit[2:0] with
hysteresis of 83mV. OVP_WARNING = VID+Bit[2:0]-80mV with
hysteresis of 42mV (see Electrical Specification on Page 10 for
more details). OVP and OVP Warning can be disabled via DFh.
Bit [4:3], soft-start OVP (with 110mV Hysteresis):
0h = 1.58V, 1h = 1.86V; 2h = 2.29V; 3h = 3.32V
Bit[6:5] - VRAMP
0h = 0.75V; 1h = 1.0V; 2h = 1.2V; 3h = 1.5V
BIT[5:0] - DVID_DW_OFFSET
00h = 0mV
01h = 5mV
02h = 10mV
…
3Fh = 315mV
BIT[8:6] - DVID_DW_GAIN
00 = deltavid*0
01h = deltavid/32
02h = deltavid/16
...
07h = deltavid * 7/32
BIT[13:9] - DVID_DW_SLOPE
00h = every 4 clocks(125ns per step - 40mV/µs)
01h = every 8 clocks(250ns per step - 20mV/µs)
...
1Fh = every 128 clocks(4us per step - 1.25mV/µs)
PMBus VID Code (See Table 4)
DBh[7:0]
R/W
20h
NVM_BANK
SET_OFFSET
PMBus OFFSET Code (See Table 4)
DCh[4:0]
R
N/A
PIN
Config Registers
Reference to Resistor Reader. DC
DDh[7:0]
R
N/A
PIN
Config Registers
Reference to Resistor Reader. DD
DEh[2:0]
R/W
20h
PIN
NVM_BANK
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Bit[2:0]:
0h = USER_NVM#0
1h = USER_NVM#1
2h = USER_NVM#2
3h = USER_NVM#3
4h = USER_NVM#4
5h = USER_NVM#5
6h = USER_NVM#6 (Copy of NVM#0, otherwise, overwritten)
7h = USER_NVM#7 (Copy of NVM#1, otherwise, overwritten)
Select which memory bank to store or load the configurations
Page 40 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 14. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C WRITE AND READ REGISTERS
ACCESS
WRITE
PROTECT
LEVEL
DEFAULT
COMMAND NAME
DFh[8:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
PROTECTION_DISABLE
[UV_WARN, OV_WARN,OTP, UVP, IPH_LIMIT, OCP_V, OCP_I,
IIN_OCP, OVP]; OCP_V = IMON_3V Trip; OCP_I = 100uA trip;
IIN_OCP = input OCP; OVP = Output overvoltage trip;
IPH_LIMIT = Phase Current Limiting; UVP = Undervoltage
Protection; OTP = TMAX Trip; OV_WARN = Overvoltage
Warning; UV_WARN = Undervoltage warning.
E1h[6:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
SET_UVP_DLY_ACTION
Bit[3:0] - Output Under-voltage Protection Level:
0h = 105mV, 1h = 141mV; 2h = 178mV; 3h = 214mV;
4h = 252mV; 5h = 291mV; 6h = 328V; 7h = 402mV;
UVP = DAC - UVP Level with 19mV hysteresis;
UVP_WARNING = DAC-UVP+66mV (or higher) with 17mV
Hysteresis (see Electrical Specification on Page 10 for more
details). UVP and UVP Warning can be disabled via DFh.
Bit[5:4]: Output Under-voltage Protection delay:
0h = 10µs, 1h = 20µs, 2h= 40µs, 3h = 120µs
Bit[6] - UVP_Actions:
0h= Monitor Only; 1h = Hiccup (same as OCP timing)
E2[11:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
ADVANCED_PSCOMP_CONFIG
COMMAND
CODE
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
DESCRIPTION
Bit[2:0] PS2 to PS1/0 DCM OFFSET, but make PS0/1 to 2
transition worse, which can help with Bit[8:6]. C2_pop1
momentarily offsets it back up so no dip if C2_pop1 > = bit[2:0]
(NOT USED).
0h = 0mV, 1h = 20mV…….7h = 140mV.
Bit[4:3]: High-Frequency Transient VCOMP Bottom Clamp; the
lower the better.
0h = 20mV, 1h = 40mV, 2h = 60mV, 3h = 80mV
Bit[5] - DECAY_COMP_OFFSET, higher is better (NOT USED))
0h = 100mV, 1h = 200mV
Bit[8:6] - PS0/1 to PS2 Offset (C2_pop1), This likely will take the
same value as Bit[2:0] or higher. This improve PS0/1 to PS2
transition, no affect on PS2 to PS1/0.
0h = 0mV, 1h = 20mV…….7h = 140mV
Bit[10:9] PS1 to PS0 Offset (C2_pop2), no affect on other
transitions.
0h = 0, 1h = 20mv, 2h = 40mV, 3h = 60mV
NOTE:
PS2: Diode Emulation (DE) Operation (Not used)
PS1: 1-Phase or 2-Phase Operation in Auto Based Upon NPSI
PS0: > NSPI Operation Phase
Page 41 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 14. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C WRITE AND READ REGISTERS
ACCESS
WRITE
PROTECT
LEVEL
DEFAULT
COMMAND NAME
DESCRIPTION
E3[13:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
ADVANCED_MOD_CONFIG
Use these registers to Optimize High Frequency Transient
Response at Different Phase Count with Original Speed up
(F3[2:0] = 0h = Original)
Bit[0]: 1 PHASE dBAND;
0h = normal dBand; 1h = reduced dBand (faster);
Bit[2:1]: 1 PHASE SPEEDUP
0h = 3h = 1/2 decay; 1h = normal decay; 2h = 1/4 decay (faster);
Bit[3]: 2 PHASE dBAND;
0h = normal dBand; 1h = reduced dBand (faster);
Bit[5:4]: 2 PHASE SPEEDUP
0h = 3h = 1/2 decay; 1h = normal decay; 2h = 1/4 decay (faster);
Bit[6]: 3+ PHASE dBAND;
0h = normal dBand; 1h = reduced dBand (faster);
Bit[8:7]: 3+ PHASE SPEEDUP
0h =3h = 1/2 decay; 1h = normal decay; 2h = 1/4 decay (faster);
Bit[10:9]: Peak-Detect CAP
0h = 1pF, 1h = 2pF, 2h = 3pF; 3h = 4pF (smaller cap is less
sensitive)
Bit[12:11]: High-pass CAP
0h = 1pF, 1h = 2pF, 2h = 3pF; 3h = 4pF (bigger cap, more
sensitive)
Bit[13]: High-Frequency Balance Gain
0h = 1x; 1h= 2x gain
E4[9:0]
R/W
20h
NVM_BANK
IMON_IDROOP_TRIM
Bit[4:0] - No Load IMON Trim (-4.0 µA to 3.75µA), add current
through R1 at droop enabled and out of IMON pin together
0h = 0µA......................................10h = -0.25µA
E4[9:0]
R/W
20h
NVM_BANK
IMON_IDROOP_TRIM
1h = 0.25µA................................11h = -0.50µA
2h = 0.50µA................................12h = -0.75µA
3h = 0.75µA................................13h = -1.00µA
4h = 1.00µA................................14h = -1.25µA
5h = 1.25µA................................15h = -1.50µA
6h = 1.50µA................................16h = -1.75µA
7h = 1.75µA................................17h = -2.00µA
8h = 2.00µA................................18h = -2.25µA
9h = 2.25µA................................19h = -2.50µA
Ah = 2.50µA................................1Ah = -2.75µA
Bh = 2.75µA................................1Bh = -3.00µA
Ch = 3.00µA................................1Ch = -3.25µA
Dh = 3.25µA................................1Dh = -3.50µA
Eh = 3.50µA.................................1Eh = -3.75µA
Fh = 3.75µA.................................1Fh = -4.00µA
Bit[9:5] - No Load IDROOP Trim (-4.0 µA to 3.75µA), add current
through R1 regardless droop enabled or disabled; use it to fine
tune DC offset
0h = 0µA .....................................10h = -0.25µA
1h = 0.25µA................................11h = -0.50µA
2h = 0.50µA................................12h = -0.75µA
3h = 0.75µA................................13h = -1.00µA
4h = 1.00µA................................14h = -1.25µA
5h = 1.25µA................................15h = -1.50µA
6h = 1.50µA................................16h = -1.75µA
7h = 1.75µA................................17h = -2.00µA
8h = 2.00µA................................18h = -2.25µA
9h = 2.25µA................................19h = -2.50µA
Ah = 2.50µA................................1Ah = -2.75µA
Bh = 2.75µA................................1Bh = -3.00µA
Ch = 3.00µA................................1Ch = -3.25µA
Dh = 3.25µA................................1Dh = -3.50µA
Eh = 3.50µA.................................1Eh = -3.75µA
Fh = 3.75µA.................................1Fh = -4.00µA
COMMAND
CODE
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 42 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 14. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C WRITE AND READ REGISTERS
ACCESS
WRITE
PROTECT
LEVEL
DEFAULT
COMMAND NAME
DESCRIPTION
E5[8:0]
R/W
20h
NVM_BANK
IOUT_CAL_OFFSET
OFFSETfor PMBus READ_IOUT (8Ch):
Bit[2:0] 1-Phase: 0h = 0h; 1h = 1h; 2h = 2h; 3h = 3h; 4h = -4h;
5h = -3h; 6h = -2h; 7h = -1h;
Bit[5:3] 2-Phase = 0h = 0h; 1h = 1h; 2h = 2h; 3h = 3h; 4h = -4h;
5h = -3h; 6h = -2h; 7h = -1h;
Bit[8:6] 3-6Phase = 0h = 0h; 1h = 1h; 2h = 2h; 3h = 3h; 4h = -4h;
5h = -3h; 6h = -2h; 7h = -1h;
E6[7:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
B00T_Voltage
E7[7:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
E8[6:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
TMAX_IINMAX
E9[5:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
THERMAL_TCOMP_APA
EA[7:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
IMAX
COMMAND
CODE
F3h[8:0]
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
10mV: 0, 0.5V, 0.51 to 3.04V;
5mV: 0, 0.25, 0.255 To1.52V (see Table 4).
The data in this register does not represent the boot voltage
programmed by “BT” pin, which can be read via SET_VID.
Reserved_RSET
SPUP_dBAND_K
Bit[2:0] - Tmax:
0h: 100°C
1h: 105°C
2h: 110°C
3h: 115°C
4h: 120°C
5h: 85°C
6h: 90°C
7h: 95°C
Bit[5:3] - IINMAX (Scale IIN_READ):
0h = 31A; 1h = 15A; 2h = 7A; 3h = 3A; 4h = 1A
Bit[3:0] - Thermal Compensation Offset:
0h: OFF
1h: -2.5°C
2h: 0.0°C
3h: 2.5°C
4h: 5.0°C
5h: 7.0°C
6h: 10.0°C
7h: 13.0°C
8h: 16.0°C
9h: 18.9°C
Ah: 21.6°C
Bh: 24.3°C
Ch: 27.0°C
Dh: 29.7°C
Eh: 32.4°C
Fh: 35.1°C
Bit[5:4]- Thermal APA:
0h = 75%; 1h = 82%; 2h = 91%;3h = 100% of TMAX
Scale READ_IOUT (IMON = 2.5V will read IMAX)
[0h, 1h:FFh] = [0A, 1A: 255A], 1A/step
For Advanced User ONLY. Speedup (other than Bit[2:0] = Original)
will disable frequency limiter so the switching frequency could
increase with the load repetitive rate. The higher the
capacitance, the faster the speed, which could lead to PSI1/2 to
PS0 transition oscillation. Use with caution.
Bit[2:0] Speed UP
0h = Original; 1h = 2pF; 2h = 4pF; 3h = 6pF; 4h = 8pF; 5h = 10pF;
6h = 12pF; 7h = 16pF
Bit[5:3] VCOMP-dBand
0h = 25mV; 1h = 50mV; 2h = 75mv; 3h = 100mV; 4h = 125mV;
5h = 150mV; 6h = 175mV; 7h = 200mV;
Bit[7:6] K-Factor
0h = 0; 1h = 0.25; 2h = 0.5; 3h = 0.75
Bit[8] K-Disabled in DCM
0h = Enable; 1h = Disable
Page 43 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 14. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C WRITE AND READ REGISTERS
ACCESS
WRITE
PROTECT
LEVEL
DEFAULT
COMMAND NAME
DESCRIPTION
F4[5:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
OCP_ICL_TRIM
Bit [3:0]- OCP Level (IOCP_AVG and ICL):
0h = 1.0, 1h = 1.1, 2h = 1.2; 3h = 1.4, 4h = 1.5, 5h = 1.6 of IMON
Bit [5:4]- Output Current Cycle Limiting (ICL):
0h = 125%, 01h = 110%, 2h = 100%; 3h = 95%, 4h = 0%,
5h = 85%, 6h = 80%, 7h = 70%
F5h[6:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
SET_FREQ
0h- 7Fh = 120kHz to 2025kHz, 15kHz/Step
F6h[6:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
DVID_CFP
Bit[4:0] - Soft-Start and DVID Rate
0h = 0.315mV/µs; 1h = 0.625mV/µs; 2h = 1.25mV/µs;
3h = 2.5mV/µs; 4h = 2.85mV/µs; 5h = 3.07mV/µs;
6h = 3.33mV/µs; 7h = 3.63mV/µs, 8h = 4.0mV/µs,
9h = 4.44 mV/µs; Ah = 5.0mV/µs; Bh = 5.6mV/µs;
Ch = 6.66mV/µs; Dh = 8.0mV/µs; Eh = 10mV/µs;
Fh = 13.25mV/µs
Bit[6:5] - IN_OCP
0h = 100%, 1h = 110%, 2h = 120%,3h = 130%
F7h[2:0]
F8h[2:0]
F9h[2:0]
FAh[2:0]
FBh[2:0]
FCh[2:0]
R/W
10h
NVM_BANK
F7 = BAL_TRIM_PHASE1
F8 = BAL_TRIM_PHASE2
F9 = BAL_TRIM_PHASE3
FA = BAL_TRIM_PHASE4
FB = BAL_TRIM_PHASE5
FC = BAL_TRIM_PHASE6
FD[15:0]
R
N/A
CHECK_SUM
03h
W
ARA
R
COMMAND
CODE
40h
CLEAR_FAULTS
ALERT_RESPONSE_ADDRESS
0h = -12% of full scale
1h = -9% of full scale
2h = -6% of full scale
3h = -3% of full scale
4h = No Offset
5h = +3% of full scale
6h = +6% of full scale
7h = +9% of full scale
Read Calculated CheckSum for individual NVM Bank checksum
10ms after execute EEh(80h) command and 60ms for the total
checkSum after execute EEh(40h).
Clear “Latched” Fault Registers in 78h For Selected Rail
8-bit Address: 0001_1001, 19h; 7-bit Address: 0C
COMPENSATION REGISTERS
B0h[7:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
R1
250 Steps: 1.01018x
00h = 599.0
01h = 605.1
...
F9h = 7471
B1h[4:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
R2
30 Steps: 1.1x
00h = 2k
01h = 2.2
...
1Dh = 32K
B2h[4:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
R3_6PHASE
B3h[4:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
R3_5PHASE
B4h[4:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
R3_4PHASE
B5h[4:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
R3_3PHASE
B6h[4:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
R3_2PHASE
B7h[4:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
R3_1PHASE
B8h[5:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
C1
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
30 Steps: 1.1x
00h = 50k
01h= 55
...
1Dh =790
B2 = 1Fh, will Remove R3/C3 for all Phase Count.
Larger R3 and/or smaller C3 help reduce output noise coupling.
Recommend to keep R3/C3 the same values for highest phase
count (Nmax) and Nmax-1 Phase count for smoother transition.
42 Steps: 1.1x
00h = 10pF
01h = 11pF
...
29h = 500pF
Page 44 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 14. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C WRITE AND READ REGISTERS
ACCESS
WRITE
PROTECT
LEVEL
DEFAULT
COMMAND NAME
B9h[5:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
C2
42 Steps: 1.1x
00h = 330pF
01h = 363pF
...
29h = 16.4nF
BAh[5:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
C3_6PHASE
BBh[5:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
C3_5PHASE
BCh[5:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
C3_4PHASE
BDh[5:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
C3_3PHASE
42 Steps: 1.1x
00h = 100pF
01h = 110pF
...
29h = 5.0nF
BEh[5:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
C3_2PHASE
BFh[5:0]
R/W
00h
NVM_BANK
C3_1PHASE
COMMAND
CODE
DESCRIPTION
DIRECT ACCESS TO EEPROM (ADVANCED USER AND TEST MODE ONLY)
EC[7:0]
R/W
00h
00h
EEP_ADDR_REG
Give user access to EEPROM Address
ED[31:0]
BLOCK
R/W
00h
ALL ZEROs
EEP_DATA_REG
User Write 4-bytes (32-bits) of data into called address by EC
EE[7:0]
R/W
00h
0000h
EEP_ACTIVATE
EEPROM Control Register
Bit[0] = 1h, Start EEPROM Read Procedure
Bit[1] = 1h, Start EEPROM Write Procedure
Bit[5:2] - Reserved
Bit[6] = 1h, Generate Total Checksum (FD data).
Bit[7] = 1h, Generate Individual NVM BANK Checksum (FD data).
The device will declare busy at the assertion of this command, a
new command addressed to this device should be sent 300ms
afterward
When the controller is reset by the Enable pins (TM_EN_OTP or EN_PWR_CFP), not VCC, the programmed registers will be stored in operating memory.
TABLE 15. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C TELEMETRIES
CODE
WORD LENGTH
(BYTE)
COMMAND NAME
88h[15:0]
TWO
READ_VIN
DESCRIPTION
Input Voltage (25.5V = FF)
Formula: HEX2DEC(Readout)*0.1V
TYPICAL RESOLUTION
8-BIT, 100mV
89h[15:0]
TWO
READ_IIN
Input Current (1Fh = 10µA)
5-BIT, IIN_FULL/31
8Bh[15:0]
TWO
READ_VOUT
VR Output Voltage (HEX2DEC(Readout)*0.05V)
10-BIT, 5mV
8Ch[15:0]
TWO
READ_IOUT
VR Output Current (2.5V IMON = ICCMAX)
HEX2DEC(Readout)*ICCMAX/255
8-BIT,~1A
8Dh[15:0]
TWO
96h[15:0]
TWO
97h[15:0]
TWO
READ_PIN
78h[8:0]
ONE
STATUS_BYTE
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
8-BIT, ~1°C*
READ_TEMPERATURE_1 TM Temperature (see Table 17)
Approximation Formula for Table 19
(T in °C): -0.0000221*T3 + 0.0094935*T2 - 1.876*T + 213.75
READ_POUT
Output Power
~ 2W (~1A LSB @ 2V)
Input Power
~12W (~1A LSB @ 12V)
Fault Reporting;
Bit7 = Busy
Bit6 = 0
Bit5 = OverVoltage;
Bit4 = OverCurrent, IMAX;
Bit3 = 0
Bit2 = Over-Temperature, TMAX;
Bit1 = PMBus Communication Error
Bit0 = 0
[BUSY, 0, OV, OC, 0, OT,
CML, 0]
Page 45 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 15. SMBus, PMBus, AND I2C TELEMETRIES
CODE
WORD LENGTH
(BYTE)
COMMAND NAME
79h[15:0]
TWO
STATUS_WORD
DESCRIPTION
Lower Byte Fault Reporting (= 78h);;
Bit7 = Busy
Bit6 = 0
Bit5 = OverVoltage;
Bit4 = OverCurrent, IMAX;
Bit3 = 0
Bit2= Over-Temperature, TMAX;
Bit1 = PMBus Communication Error
Bit0 = 0
TYPICAL RESOLUTION
Upper Byte: [VOUT, IOUT,
IIN_OCP, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
Lower Byte: [BUSY, 0, OV,
OC, 0, OT, CML, 0]
Upper Byte Fault Reporting;
Bit7 = VOUT OV, UV, and OV/UV Warning
Bit6 = IOUT OC
Bit5 = INPUT OCP >= 1F;
Bit[4:0] = 0
NOTE: 88h-8Eh are two bytes word, while all others are one byte word.
TABLE 16. LOCK_VID_OFFSET
D6h
SET_VID
SET_OFFSET
FINAL DAC
TARGETED APPLICATIONS
00h
Not
Not
VBOOT
01h
Not
Yes
VBOOT+OFFSET
Small offset for compensation
02h
Not
Yes
VBOOT + OFFSET
Large Offset for Voltage Margining
03h
Yes
Yes
VID + OFFSET
Not output voltage managed needed
Dynamic VID Operation Needed
NOTE: The ISL6398 is designed to provide secondary output voltage control protection. When D6-0h, it keeps output voltage the same as boot up voltage.
When operating in 01h option, SMBus/PMBus/I2C’s OFFSET should only adjust slightly higher or lower (say ±20mV, but IC does not limit the range) for
PCB loss compensation. To program full range of OFFSET, the user should select 02h or 03h options. 03h option gives users full control of the output
voltage (VID+OFFSET) via SMBus/PMBus/I2C, commonly used in over-clocking applications. Prior to a successful written PMBus VID or OFFSET, the
controller will continue stay at boot up level.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 46 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 17. TYPICAL TEMPERATURE (8Dh and 8Eh) (Continued)
TABLE 17. TYPICAL TEMPERATURE (8Dh and 8Eh)
TEMPERATURE V TM(S) OF
(°C)
VCC (%)
CODE TEMPERATURE V TM(S) OF CODE
VCC (%)
(HEX)
(°C)
(HEX)
TEMPERATURE V TM(S) OF
(°C)
VCC (%)
CODE TEMPERATURE V TM(S) OF CODE
VCC (%)
(HEX)
(°C)
(HEX)
0
95.0
F2
71
58.9
96
39
80.2
CC
110
33.3
54
1
94.8
F1
72
58.2
94
40
79.7
CB
111
32.8
53
2
94.6
F1
73
57.5
92
41
79.1
C9
112
32.2
52
3
94.4
F0
74
56.7
90
42
78.5
C8
113
31.7
50
4
94.1
F0
75
56.0
8E
43
77.9
C6
114
31.2
4F
5
93.9
EF
76
55.3
8D
44
77.3
C5
115
30.7
4E
6
93.6
EE
77
54.6
8B
45
76.7
C3
116
30.2
4D
7
93.4
EE
78
53.9
89
46
76.1
C2
117
29.7
4B
8
93.1
ED
79
53.2
87
47
75.5
C0
118
29.2
4A
9
92.8
EC
80
52.4
85
48
74.8
BE
119
28.7
49
10
92.6
EC
81
51.7
83
49
74.2
BD
120
28.2
48
11
92.3
EB
82
51.0
82
50
73.5
BB
121
27.8
46
12
92.0
EA
83
50.3
80
51
72.9
B9
122
27.3
45
13
91.6
E9
84
49.6
7E
52
72.2
B8
123
26.9
44
14
91.3
E8
85
48.9
7C
53
71.6
B6
124
26.4
43
15
91.0
E7
86
48.2
7B
54
70.9
B4
125
26.0
42
16
90.7
E7
87
47.6
79
55
70.2
B3
126
25.5
41
17
90.3
E6
88
46.9
77
56
69.5
B1
127
25.1
40
18
89.9
E5
89
46.2
75
57
68.8
AF
128
24.7
3E
19
89.6
E4
90
45.5
74
58
68.2
AD
129
24.3
3D
20
89.2
E3
91
44.9
72
59
67.5
AC
130
23.9
3C
21
88.8
E2
92
44.2
70
60
66.8
AA
131
23.5
3B
22
88.4
E1
93
43.5
6F
61
66.1
A8
132
23.1
3A
23
88.0
E0
94
42.9
6D
62
65.4
A6
133
22.7
39
24
87.6
DF
95
42.3
6B
63
64.6
A4
134
22.3
38
25
87.2
DE
96
41.6
6A
64
63.9
A3
135
21.9
37
26
86.7
DD
97
41.0
68
65
63.2
A1
136
21.6
36
27
86.3
DC
98
40.4
66
66
62.5
9F
137
21.2
36
28
85.8
DA
99
39.7
65
67
61.8
9D
138
20.8
35
29
85.4
D9
100
39.1
63
68
61.1
9B
139
20.5
34
30
84.9
D8
101
38.5
62
69
60.3
99
140
20.1
33
31
84.4
D7
102
37.9
60
70
59.6
98
32
83.9
D6
103
37.3
5F
33
83.4
D4
104
36.7
5D
34
82.9
D3
105
36.1
5C
35
82.4
D2
106
35.5
5A
36
81.9
D0
107
35.0
59
37
81.3
CF
108
34.4
57
38
80.8
CD
109
33.9
56
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 47 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 18. VOUT_MAX (24h) in 5MV/STEP MODE (Continued)
TABLE 18. VOUT_MAX (24h) in 5MV/STEP MODE
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
0.000
0
0.885
80
1.525
100
0.440
27
1.080
A7
1.720
127
0.250
1
0.890
81
1.530
101
0.445
28
1.085
A8
1.725
128
0.255
2
0.895
82
1.535
102
0.450
29
1.090
A9
1.730
129
0.260
3
0.900
83
1.540
103
0.455
2A
1.095
AA
1.735
12A
0.265
4
0.905
84
1.545
104
0.460
2B
1.100
AB
1.740
12B
0.270
5
0.910
85
1.550
105
0.465
2C
1.105
AC
1.745
12C
0.275
6
0.915
86
1.555
106
0.470
2D
1.110
AD
1.750
12D
0.280
7
0.920
87
1.560
107
0.475
2E
1.115
AE
1.755
12E
0.285
8
0.925
88
1.565
108
0.480
2F
1.120
AF
1.760
12F
0.290
9
0.930
89
1.570
109
0.485
30
1.125
B0
1.765
130
0.295
A
0.935
8A
1.575
10A
0.490
31
1.130
B1
1.770
131
0.300
B
0.940
8B
1.580
10B
0.495
32
1.135
B2
1.775
132
0.305
C
0.945
8C
1.585
10C
0.500
33
1.140
B3
1.780
133
0.310
D
0.950
8D
1.590
10D
0.505
34
1.145
B4
1.785
134
0.315
E
0.955
8E
1.595
10E
0.510
35
1.150
B5
1.790
135
0.320
F
0.960
8F
1.600
10F
0.515
36
1.155
B6
1.795
136
0.325
10
0.965
90
1.605
110
0.520
37
1.160
B7
1.800
137
0.330
11
0.970
91
1.610
111
0.525
38
1.165
B8
1.805
138
0.335
12
0.975
92
1.615
112
0.530
39
1.170
B9
1.810
139
0.340
13
0.980
93
1.620
113
0.535
3A
1.175
BA
1.815
13A
0.345
14
0.985
94
1.625
114
0.540
3B
1.180
BB
1.820
13B
0.350
15
0.990
95
1.630
115
0.545
3C
1.185
BC
1.825
13C
0.355
16
0.995
96
1.635
116
0.550
3D
1.190
BD
1.830
13D
0.360
17
1.000
97
1.640
117
0.555
3E
1.195
BE
1.835
13E
0.365
18
1.005
98
1.645
118
0.560
3F
1.200
BF
1.840
13F
0.370
19
1.010
99
1.650
119
0.565
40
1.205
C0
1.845
140
0.375
1A
1.015
9A
1.655
11A
0.570
41
1.210
C1
1.850
141
0.380
1B
1.020
9B
1.660
11B
0.575
42
1.215
C2
1.855
142
0.385
1C
1.025
9C
1.665
11C
0.580
43
1.220
C3
1.860
143
0.390
1D
1.030
9D
1.670
11D
0.585
44
1.225
C4
1.865
144
0.395
1E
1.035
9E
1.675
11E
0.590
45
1.230
C5
1.870
145
0.400
1F
1.040
9F
1.680
11F
0.595
46
1.235
C6
1.875
146
0.405
20
1.045
A0
1.685
120
0.600
47
1.240
C7
1.880
147
0.410
21
1.050
A1
1.690
121
0.605
48
1.245
C8
1.885
148
0.415
22
1.055
A2
1.695
122
0.610
49
1.250
C9
1.890
149
0.420
23
1.060
A3
1.700
123
0.615
4A
1.255
CA
1.895
14A
0.425
24
1.065
A4
1.705
124
0.620
4B
1.260
CB
1.900
14B
0.430
25
1.070
A5
1.710
125
0.625
4C
1.265
CC
1.905
14C
0.435
26
1.075
A6
1.715
126
0.630
4D
1.270
CD
1.910
14D
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 48 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 18. VOUT_MAX (24h) in 5MV/STEP MODE (Continued)
TABLE 18. VOUT_MAX (24h) in 5MV/STEP MODE (Continued)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
VOUT (V)
Code
(HEX)
0.635
4E
1.275
CE
1.915
14E
0.830
75
1.470
F5
2.110
175
0.640
4F
1.280
CF
1.920
14F
0.835
76
1.475
F6
2.115
176
0.645
50
1.285
D0
1.925
150
0.840
77
1.480
F7
2.120
177
0.650
51
1.290
D1
1.930
151
0.845
78
1.485
F8
2.125
178
0.655
52
1.295
D2
1.935
152
0.850
79
1.490
F9
2.130
179
0.660
53
1.300
D3
1.940
153
0.855
7A
1.495
FA
2.135
17A
0.665
54
1.305
D4
1.945
154
0.860
7B
1.500
FB
2.140
17B
0.670
55
1.310
D5
1.950
155
0.865
7C
1.505
FC
2.145
17C
0.675
56
1.315
D6
1.955
156
0.870
7D
1.510
FD
2.150
17D
0.680
57
1.320
D7
1.960
157
0.875
7E
1.515
FE
2.155
17E
0.685
58
1.325
D8
1.965
158
0.880
7F
1.520
FF
0.690
59
1.330
D9
1.970
159
0.695
5A
1.335
DA
1.975
15A
0.700
5B
1.340
DB
1.980
15B
0.705
5C
1.345
DC
1.985
15C
0.710
5D
1.350
DD
1.990
15D
0.715
5E
1.355
DE
1.995
15E
0.720
5F
1.360
DF
2.000
15F
0.725
60
1.365
E0
2.005
160
Power Stages
0.730
61
1.370
E1
2.010
161
0.735
62
1.375
E2
2.015
162
0.740
63
1.380
E3
2.020
163
0.745
64
1.385
E4
2.025
164
0.750
65
1.390
E5
2.030
165
0.755
66
1.395
E6
2.035
166
0.760
67
1.400
E7
2.040
167
0.765
68
1.405
E8
2.045
168
0.770
69
1.410
E9
2.050
169
0.775
6A
1.415
EA
2.055
16A
0.780
6B
1.420
EB
2.060
16B
0.785
6C
1.425
EC
2.065
16C
The first step in designing a multiphase converter is to determine
the number of phases. This determination depends heavily upon
the cost analysis, which in turn depends on system constraints
that differ from one design to the next. Principally, the designer
will be concerned with whether components can be mounted on
both sides of the circuit board; whether through-hole components
are permitted; and the total board space available for power
supply circuitry. Generally speaking, the most economical
solutions are those in which each phase handles between 15A
and 25A. All surface mount designs will tend toward the lower
end of this current range. If through-hole MOSFETs and inductors
can be used, higher per-phase currents are possible. In cases
where board space is the limiting constraint, current can be
pushed as high as 40A per phase, but these designs require heat
sinks and forced air to cool the MOSFETs, inductors and heat
dissipating surfaces.
0.790
6D
1.430
ED
2.070
16D
0.795
6E
1.435
EE
2.075
16E
0.800
6F
1.440
EF
2.080
16F
0.805
70
1.445
F0
2.085
170
0.810
71
1.450
F1
2.090
171
0.815
72
1.455
F2
2.095
172
0.820
73
1.460
F3
2.100
173
0.825
74
1.465
F4
2.105
174
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
General Design Guide
This design guide is intended to provide a high-level explanation of
the steps necessary to create a multiphase power converter. It is
assumed that the reader is familiar with many of the basic skills
and ‘techniques referenced in the following. In addition to this
guide, Intersil provides complete reference designs, which include
schematics, bills of materials, and example board layouts for
multi-phase VR applications.
MOSFETs
The choice of MOSFETs depends on the current each MOSFET will
be required to conduct; the switching frequency; the capability of
the MOSFETs to dissipate heat; and the availability and nature of
heat sinking and air flow.
Page 49 of 57
ISL6398
LOWER MOSFET POWER CALCULATION
The calculation for heat dissipated in the lower MOSFET is
simple, since virtually all of the heat loss in the lower MOSFET is
due to current conducted through the channel resistance
(rDS(ON)). In Equation 33, IM is the maximum continuous output
current; IP-P is the peak-to-peak inductor current (see Equation 1
on page 15); d is the duty cycle (VOUT/VIN); and L is the
per-channel inductance.
2
 I M 2 I p-p
P LOW 1 = r DS  ON   ----- + ----------   1 – d 
12
 N
(EQ. 33)
An additional term can be added to the lower MOSFET loss
equation to account for additional loss accrued during the dead
time when inductor current is flowing through the lower MOSFET
body diode. This term is dependent on the diode forward voltage
at IM, VD(ON); the switching frequency, FSW; and the length of
dead times, td1 and td2, at the beginning and the end of the
lower MOSFET conduction interval respectively.
commutation is t1 and the approximated associated power loss
is PUP,1.
I M I p-p  t 1 
P UP,1  V IN  -----  ----  F
 N- + -------2   2  SW
(EQ. 36)
At turn on, the upper MOSFET begins to conduct and this
transition occurs over a time t2. In Equation 37, the approximate
power loss is PUP,2.
I M I p-p  t 2 
P UP, 2  V IN  -----  ----  F
 N- – -------2   2  SW
(EQ. 37)
A third component involves the lower MOSFET’s reverse-recovery
charge, Qrr. Since the inductor current has fully commutated to the
upper MOSFET before the lower MOSFET’s body diode can draw all
of Qrr, it is conducted through the upper MOSFET across VIN. The
power dissipated as a result is PUP,3 and is approximated in
Equation 38:
(EQ. 38)
P UP,3 = V IN Q rr F SW
The resistive part of the upper MOSFET’s is given in Equation 33
as PUP,4.
2
I

IM I 
M I p-p
p-p- t
P LOW 2 = V D  ON  F SW  ----d1 +  ------ – --------- t d2
 N- + -------2 
N
2 
(EQ. 34
(EQ. 39)
Equation 40 accounts for some power loss due to the drainsource parasitic inductance (LDS, including PCB parasitic
inductance) of the upper MOSFETs, although it is not the exact:
I p-p
I
M + -------P UP,5  L DS  -----
2 
N
Finally, the power loss of output capacitance of the lower
MOSFET is approximated in Equation 35:
2
1.5  C
P LOW ,3  ---  V IN
OSS_LOW  V DS_LOW  F SW
3
 I M
I p-p2
P UP,4  r DS  ON   ----- + ----------  d
12
 N
(EQ. 35)
where COSS_LOW is the output capacitance of lower MOSFET at the
test voltage of VDS_LOW. Depending on the amount of ringing, the
actual power dissipation will be slightly higher than this.
Thus the total maximum power dissipated in each lower MOSFET is
approximated by the summation of PLOW,1, PLOW,2 and PLOW,3.
UPPER MOSFET POWER CALCULATION
In addition to rDS(ON) losses, a large portion of the upper MOSFET
losses are due to currents conducted across the input voltage (VIN)
during switching. Since a substantially higher portion of the upper
MOSFET losses are dependent on switching frequency, the power
calculation is more complex. Upper MOSFET losses can be divided
into separate components involving the upper-MOSFET switching
times; the lower MOSFET body-diode reverse-recovery charge, Qrr;
and the upper MOSFET rDS(ON) conduction loss.
When the upper MOSFET turns off, the lower MOSFET does not
conduct any portion of the inductor current until the voltage at
the phase node falls below ground. Once the lower MOSFET
begins conducting, the current in the upper MOSFET falls to zero
as the current in the lower MOSFET ramps up to assume the full
inductor current. In Equation 36, the required time for this
2
(EQ. 40)
Finally, the power loss of output capacitance of the upper
MOSFET is approximated in Equation 41:
2
1.5  C
P UP,6  ---  V IN
OSS_UP  V DS_UP  F SW
3
(EQ. 41)
where COSS_UP is the output capacitance of lower MOSFET at
test voltage of VDS_UP. Depending on the amount of ringing, the
actual power dissipation will be slightly higher than this.
The total power dissipated by the upper MOSFET at full load can
now be approximated as the summation of the results from
Equations 36 to 41. Since the power equations depend on
MOSFET parameters, choosing the correct MOSFETs can be an
iterative process involving repetitive solutions to the loss
equations for different MOSFETs and different switching
frequencies.
Current Sensing Resistor
The resistors connected to the ISEN+ pins determine the gains in
the load-line regulation loop and the channel-current balance
loop as well as setting the overcurrent trip point. Select values for
these resistors by using Equation 42:
RX
I OCP
R ISEN = -------------------------- ------------–6 N
100 10
(EQ. 42)
where RISEN is the sense resistor connected to the ISEN+ pin, N
is the active channel number, RX is the resistance of the current
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 50 of 57
ISL6398
sense element, either the DCR of the inductor or RSENSE
depending on the sensing method, and IOCP is the desired
overcurrent trip point. Typically, IOCP can be chosen to be 1.2
times the maximum load current of the specific application.
where N is the active channel number, RISEN is the sense resistor
connected to the ISEN+ pin, and RX is the resistance of the
current sense element, either the DCR of the inductor or RSEN
depending on the sensing method.
With integrated temperature compensation, the sensed current
signal is independent of the operational temperature of the
power stage, i.e. the temperature effect on the current sense
element RX is cancelled by the integrated temperature
compensation function. RX in Equation 42 should be the
resistance of the current sense element at the room
temperature.
If one or more of the current sense resistors are adjusted for
thermal balance (as in Equation 43), the load-line regulation
resistor should be selected based on the average value of the
current sensing resistors, as given in Equation 46:
When the integrated temperature compensation function is
disabled by selecting “OFF” TCOMP code, the sensed current will
be dependent on the operational temperature of the power
stage, since the DC resistance of the current sense element may
be changed according to the operational temperature. RX in
Equation 42 should be the maximum DC resistance of the
current sense element at the all operational temperature.
where RISEN(n) is the current sensing resistor connected to the
nth ISEN+ pin.
In certain circumstances, especially for a design with an
unsymmetrical layout, it may be necessary to adjust the value of
one or more ISEN resistors for VR. When the components of one
or more channels are inhibited from effectively dissipating their
heat so that the affected channels run cooler than the average,
choose new, larger values of RISEN for the affected phases (see
the section entitled “Current Sensing” on page 18). Choose
RISEN,2 in proportion to the desired increase in temperature rise
in order to cause proportionally more current to flow in the cooler
phase, as shown in Equation 43:
T
R ISEN,2 = R ISEN ----------2
T 1
(EQ. 43)
R ISEN = R ISEN,2 – R ISEN
In Equation 43, make sure that T2 is the desired temperature rise
above the ambient temperature, and T1 is the measured
temperature rise above the ambient temperature. Since all
channels’ RISEN are integrated and set by one RSET, a resistor
(RISEN) can be in series with the cooler channel’s ISEN+ pin to
raise this phase current. However, the ISL6398 can adjust the
thermal/current balance of the VR via registers F7 to FC.
Load-line Regulation Resistor
The load-line regulation resistor is labelled RFB in Figure 11. Its
value depends on the desired loadline requirement of the
application.
The desired loadline can be calculated using Equation 44:
V DROOP
R LL = -----------------------I FL
(EQ. 44)
where IFL is the full load current of the specific application, and
VRDROOP is the desired voltage droop under the full load
condition.
Based on the desired loadline RLL, the loadline regulation
resistor can be calculated using Equation 45:
N  R ISEN  R LL
R FB = ----------------------------------------RX
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
(EQ. 45)
R LL
R FB = ---------RX
 RISEN  n 
(EQ. 46)
n
Output Filter Design
The output inductors and the output capacitor bank together to
form a low-pass filter responsible for smoothing the pulsating
voltage at the phase nodes. The output filter also must provide
the transient energy until the regulator can respond. Because it
has a low bandwidth compared to the switching frequency, the
output filter necessarily limits the system transient response. The
output capacitor must supply or sink load current while the
current in the output inductors increases or decreases to meet
the demand.
In high-speed converters, the output capacitor bank is usually the
most costly (and often the largest) part of the circuit. Output filter
design begins with minimizing the cost of this part of the circuit.
The critical load parameters in choosing the output capacitors are
the maximum size of the load step, DI; the load-current slew rate,
di/dt; and the maximum allowable output-voltage deviation under
transient loading, DVMAX. Capacitors are characterized according
to their capacitance, ESR, and ESL (equivalent series inductance).
At the beginning of the load transient, the output capacitors supply
all of the transient current. The output voltage will initially deviate by
an amount approximated by the voltage drop across the ESL. As the
load current increases, the voltage drop across the ESR increases
linearly until the load current reaches its final value. The capacitors
selected must have sufficiently low ESL and ESR so that the total
output-voltage deviation is less than the allowable maximum.
Neglecting the contribution of inductor current and regulator
response, the output voltage initially deviates by an amount, as
shown in Equation 47:
di
V   ESL  ----- +  ESR  I
dt
(EQ. 47)
The filter capacitor must have sufficiently low ESL and ESR so
that V < VMAX.
Most capacitor solutions rely on a mixture of high-frequency
capacitors with relatively low capacitance in combination with
bulk capacitors having high capacitance but limited high
frequency performance. Minimizing the ESL of the high
frequency capacitors allows them to support the output voltage
as the current increases. Minimizing the ESR of the bulk
capacitors allows them to supply the increased current with less
output voltage deviation.
The ESR of the bulk capacitors also creates the majority of the
output-voltage ripple. As the bulk capacitors sink and source the
Page 51 of 57
ISL6398
(EQ. 48)
PP MAX 
Since the capacitors are supplying a decreasing portion of the
load current while the regulator recovers from the transient, the
capacitor voltage becomes slightly depleted. The output
inductors must be capable of assuming the entire load current
before the output voltage decreases more than DVMAX. This
places an upper limit on inductance.
Equation 49 gives the upper limit on L for the cases when the
trailing edge of the current transient causes a greater outputvoltage deviation than the leading edge. Equation 50 addresses
the leading edge. Normally, the trailing edge dictates the
selection of L because duty cycles are usually less than 50%.
Nevertheless, both inequalities should be evaluated, and L
should be selected based on the lower of the two results. In each
equation, L is the per-channel inductance, C is the total output
capacitance, and N is the number of active channels.
2  N  C  V OUT
L  ---------------------------------------- V MAX – I  ESR
 I  2
1.25  N  C- V


L  ---------------------------MAX – I  ESR  V IN – V OUT
 I  2
Switching Frequency Selection
There are a number of variables to consider when choosing the
switching frequency, as there are considerable effects on the upperMOSFET loss calculation. These effects are outlined in “MOSFETs”
on page 49, and they establish the upper limit for the switching
frequency. The lower limit is established by the requirement for fast
transient response and small output-voltage ripple as outlined in
“Output Filter Design” on page 51. Choose the lowest switching
frequency that allows the regulator to meet the transient-response
and output-voltage ripple requirements.
Input Capacitor Selection
0.1
IL(P-P) = 0
IL(P-P) = 0.5 IO
IL(P-P) = 0.75 IO
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
DUTY CYCLE (VOUT/VIN)
0.8
1.0
FIGURE 37. NORMALIZED INPUT-CAPACITOR RMS CURRENT vs
DUTY CYCLE FOR 2-PHASE CONVERTER
For a 2-phase design, use Figure 37 to determine the input capacitor
RMS current requirement given the duty cycle, maximum sustained
output current (IO), and the ratio of the per-phase peak-to-peak
inductor current (IL(P-)P) to IO. Select a bulk capacitor with a ripple
current rating which will minimize the total number of input
capacitors required to support the RMS current calculated. The
voltage rating of the capacitors should also be at least 1.25 times
greater than the maximum input voltage.
(EQ. 49)
(EQ. 50)
0.2
0
0.3
INPUT-CAPACITOR CURRENT (IRMS/IO)
V OUT  K
RCM
L  ESR  ---------------------------------------------------------F SW  V IN  V
0.3
INPUT-CAPACITOR CURRENT (IRMS/IO)
inductor AC ripple current (see “Interleaving” on page 15 and
Equation 2), a voltage develops across the bulk-capacitor ESR
equal to Ic(p-p) (ESR). Thus, once the output capacitors are
selected, the maximum allowable ripple voltage, VP-P(MAX),
determines the lower limit on the inductance, as shown in
Equation 48.
IL(P-P) = 0
IL(P-P) = 0.5 IO
IL(P-P) = 0.25 IO
IL(P-P) = 0.75 IO
0.2
0.1
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
DUTY CYCLE (VOUT/VIN)
0.8
1.0
FIGURE 38. NORMALIZED INPUT-CAPACITOR RMS CURRENT vs
DUTY CYCLE FOR 3-PHASE CONVERTER
The input capacitors are responsible for sourcing the AC
component of the input current flowing into the upper MOSFETs.
Their RMS current capacity must be sufficient to handle the AC
component of the current drawn by the upper MOSFETs which is
related to duty cycle and the number of active phases. The input
RMS current can be calculated with Equation 51.
I IN RMS =
2
2
2
2
K IN
 CM  Io + K RAMP CM  I Lo p-p
(EQ. 51)
K IN CM =
--------------------------------------------------------------------------N  D – m + 1    m – N  D N2
(EQ. 52)
K RAMP CM =
2  N  D – m + 1 3 +  m – 1 2 m – N  D 3
m
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12N 2 D 2
(EQ. 53)
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 52 of 57
ISL6398
INPUT-CAPACITOR CURRENT (IRMS/IO)
0.3
IL(P-P) = 0
IL(P-P) = 0.25 IO
Layout and Design Considerations
IL(P-P) = 0.5 IO
IL(P-P) = 0.75 IO
The following layout and design strategies are intended to minimize
the noise coupling, the impact of board parasitic impedances on
converter performance and to optimize the heat-dissipating
capabilities of the printed-circuit board. This section highlights some
important practices which should be followed during the layout
process. A layout check list is available for use.
0.2
Pin Noise Sensitivity, Design and Layout
Consideration
0.1
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
DUTY CYCLE (VOUT/VIN)
0.8
1.0
FIGURE 39. NORMALIZED INPUT-CAPACITOR RMS CURRENT vs
DUTY CYCLE FOR 4-PHASE CONVERTER
Figures 38 and 39 provide the same input RMS current
information for 3 and 4-phase designs respectively. Use the
same approach to selecting the bulk capacitor type and number
as previously described.
Table 19 shows the noise sensitivity of each pin and their design
and layout consideration. All pins and external components
should not be across switching nodes and should be placed in
general proximity to the controller.
TABLE 19. PIN DESIGN AND/OR LAYOUT CONSIDERATION
PIN NAME
NOISE
SENSITIVE
ISENIN-
Yes
Low capacitance, high-frequency ceramic capacitors are needed
in addition to the bulk capacitors to suppress leading and falling
edge voltage spikes. The result from the high current slew rates
produced by the upper MOSFETs turn on and off. Select low ESL
ceramic capacitors and place one as close as possible to each
upper MOSFET drain to minimize board parasitic impedances
and maximize noise suppression.
INPUT-CAPACITOR CURRENT (IRMS/IO)
0.6
[C*RIN1*RIN2)/(RIN1+RIN2)] might
be needed if the average input
current reporting is preferred; and it
also reduces chance to trigger CFP
during heavy load transient.
0.4
ISENIN+
Yes
Connects to the Drain of High-side
MOSFET side of the input inductor or
resistor pin. A local 0.1µF ceramic
capacitor is recommended. When not
used, connect ISENIN+ to VIN and a
resistor divider with a ratio of 1/3 on
ISENIN± pin, say 499kΩ in between
ISENIN± pins and then 1.5MΩ from
ISENIN- to ground (see Figure 29). The
voltage of this pin is used feed-forward
compensation.
EN_PWR_CFP
Yes
There is an internal 1µs filter. Decoupling
capacitor is NOT needed, but if needed,
use a low time constant one to avoid too
large a shut-down delay. It will also be the
output of CFP function: 34 strong
pull-up. 25 mils spacing from other
traces.
RGND
Yes
Pair up (within 20 mils) with the positive
rail remote sensing line that connected to
FB resistor, and routing them to the load
sensing points.
VSEN
Yes
Pair up (within 20 mils) with the negative
rail of remote sensing line that connected
to RGND, and route them to the load
sensing points.
0.2
IL(P-P) = 0
IL(P-P) = 0.5 IO
IL(P-P) = 0.75 IO
0
DESCRIPTION
Connect to input supply side of the input
inductor or resistor pin with L/DCR or
ESL/R matching network in close
proximity to the controller. Place NTC in
the close proximity to input inductor for
thermal compensation. A local 10nF
decoupling capacitor between ISENIN+
and ISENIN- is preferred. DCR sensing
with thermal compensation will yield no
load offset reading. Resistor sensing is
preferred for accurate input current
reporting. > 40 µs time constant
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
DUTY CYCLE (VOUT/VIN)
0.8
1.0
FIGURE 40. NORMALIZED INPUT-CAPACITOR RMS CURRENT vs
DUTY CYCLE FOR SINGLE-PHASE CONVERTER
MULTIPHASE RMS IMPROVEMENT
Figure 40 is provided as a reference to demonstrate the dramatic
reductions in input-capacitor RMS current upon the
implementation of the multiphase topology. For example,
compare the input RMS current requirements of a 2-phase
converter versus that of a single phase. Assume both converters
have a duty cycle of 0.25, maximum sustained output current of
40A, and a ratio of IL,PP to IO of 0.5. The single phase converter
would require 17.3ARMS current capacity while the 2-phase
converter would only require 10.9ARMS. The advantages become
even more pronounced when output current is increased and
additional phases are added to keep the component cost down
relative to the single phase approach.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 53 of 57
ISL6398
TABLE 19. PIN DESIGN AND/OR LAYOUT CONSIDERATION (Continued)
TABLE 19. PIN DESIGN AND/OR LAYOUT CONSIDERATION (Continued)
PIN NAME
NOISE
SENSITIVE
DESCRIPTION
PIN NAME
NOISE
SENSITIVE
VSEN_OVP
Yes
Used for Overvoltage protection sensing.
VCC
Yes
VRSEL_ADDR
No
Register setting is locked prior to softstart. Since the external resistor-divider
ratio compares with the internal resistor
ratio of the VCC, their rail should be
exactly tied to the same point as VCC pin,
not through an RC filter. DON’T use
decoupling capacitors on these pins.
Place a high quality ceramic capacitor
(~ 1µF) in close proximity to the
controller.
PWM1-6
NO
Open drain and high dv/dt pin. Avoid its
pull-up higher than VCC. Tie it to ground
when not used.
Avoid the respective PWM routing across
or under other phase’s power
trains/planes and current sensing
network. Don’t make them across or
under external components of the
controller. Keep them at least 20mils
away from any other traces.
ISEN[6:1]+
Yes
Connect to the output rail side of the
respective channel’s output inductor or
resistor pin. Decoupling is optional and
might be required for long sense traces
and a poor layout.
ISEN[6:1]-
Yes
Connect to the phase node side of the
respective channel’s output inductor or
resistor pin with L/DCR or ESL/RSEN
matching network in close proximity to
the ISEN± pins of VR. Differentially
routing back to the controller by paring
with respective ISEN+; at least 20 mils
spacing between pairs and away from
other traces. Each pair should not cross or
go under the other channel’s switching
nodes [PHASE, UGATE, LGATE] and power
planes even though they are not in the
same layer.
GND
Yes
This EPAD is the return of PWM output
drivers and PMBus. Use 4 or more vias to
directly connect the EPAD to the power
ground plane. Avoid using only single via
or 0Ω resistor connection to the power
ground plane. Also connect pins 13, 14
and 15 to ground plane.
NVM_BANK_BT
VR_RDY
No
IMON
Yes
Refer to GND, not RGND. Place R and C in
general proximity to the controller. The
time constant of RC should be sufficient,
typically 200µs, as an averaging function
for the digital IOUT.
VR_HOT#
No
Open drain and high dv/dt pin during
transitions. Avoid its pull-up rail higher
than VCC . 30 mils spacing from other
traces.
SM_PM_I2CL
SM_PM_I2DA
Yes
50kHz to 1.5MHz signal when the SMBus,
PMBus, or I2C is sending commands,
pairing up with PMALERT# and routing
carefully back to SMBus, PMBus or I2C.
20 mils spacing within I2DATA,
PMALERT#, and I2CLK; and more than 30
mils to all other signals. Refer to the
SMBus, PMBus or I2C design guidelines
and place proper terminated (pull-up)
resistance for impedance matching.
Ground them when not used.
PMALERT#
No
Open drain and high dv/dt pin during
transitions. Route it in the middle of
I2DATA and I2LK. Also see above. Leave it
open or tie it ground when not used.
BUF_COMP
Yes
Buffer output of internal Comp Signal.
TM_EN_OTP
Yes
Place NTC in close proximity to the output
inductor of Channel 1 and to the output
rail, not close to MOSFET side (see Figure
24); the return trace should be 25 mils
away from other traces. Place 1k pullup and decoupling capacitor (typically
0.1µF) in close proximity to the controller.
The pull-up resistor should be exactly tied
to the same point as VCC pin, not through
an RC filter. If not used, connect this pin to
1M /2M  resistor divider, or tie to VCC .
AUTO
Yes
Program AUTO phase shedding threshold
a resistor from this pin to GND. AUTO
phase shedding is disabled when this pin
tied to GND.
RSET
Yes
Place the R in close proximity to the
controller. DON’T use decoupling
capacitor on this pin.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
General
Comments
DESCRIPTION
The layer next to the Top or Bottom layer
is preferred to be ground players, while
the signal layers can be sandwiched in
the ground layers if possible.
Page 54 of 57
ISL6398
Component Placement
Sometimes the gate might measure short due to residual
gate charge. Therefore, a measured short gate with
ohmmeter cannot validate if the MOSFET is damaged unless
the Drain to Source is also measured short.
Within the allotted implementation area, orient the switching
components first. The switching components are the most critical
because they carry large amounts of energy and tend to generate
high levels of noise. Switching component placement should take
into account power dissipation. Align the output inductors and
MOSFETs such that space between the components is minimized
while creating the PHASE plane. Place the Intersil MOSFET driver
IC as close as possible to the MOSFETs they control to reduce the
parasitic impedances due to trace length between critical driver
input and output signals. If possible, duplicate the same
placement of these components for each phase.
Next, place the input and output capacitors. Position the high
frequency ceramic input capacitors next to each upper MOSFET
drain. Place the bulk input capacitors as close to the upper
MOSFET drains as dictated by the component size and
dimensions. Long distances between input capacitors and
MOSFET drains result in too much trace inductance and a
reduction in capacitor performance. Locate the output capacitors
between the inductors and the load, while keeping ceramic
capacitors in close proximity to the microprocessor socket.
To improve the chance of first pass success, it is very important
to take time to follow the above outlined design guidelines and
Intersil generated layout check list, see more details in
“Voltage Regulator (VR) Design Materials” on page 55. Proper
planning for the layout is as important as designing the circuits.
Running things in a hurry, you could end up spending weeks and
months to debug a poorly-designed and improperly laid out
board.
Powering Up And Open-Loop Test
The ISL6398 features very easy debugging and powering up. For
first-time powering up, an open-loop test can be done by applying
sufficient voltage (current limiting to 0.25A) to VCC, signal high to
TM_EN_OTP (>1.05V) and EN_PWR_CFP (>0.9V and less than
3.5V) pins with the input voltage (VIN) disconnected.
6. When re-work is needed for the L/DCR matching network, use
an ohmmeter across the C to see if the correct R value is
measured before powering the VR up; otherwise, the current
imbalance due to improper re-work could damage the power
trains.
7. After everything is checked, apply low input voltage (1-5V)
with appropriate current limiting (~0.5A). All phases should
be switching evenly when AUTO disabled.
8. Remove the pull-up from EN_PWR_CFP pin, using bench
power supplies, power-up VCC with current limiting
(typically ~ 0.25A if 5V drivers included) and slowly increase
Input Voltage with current limiting. For typical application, VCC
limited to 0.25A, VIN limited to 0.5A should be safe for
powering up with no load. High core-loss inductors likely need
to increase the input current limiting. All phases should be
switching evenly.
Voltage Regulator (VR) Design
Materials
To support VR design and layout, Intersil also developed a set of
worksheets and evaluation boards, as listed in Tables 20 and 21,
respectively. The tolerance band calculation (TOB) worksheets for
VR output regulation and IMON have been developed using the
Root Sum Squared (RSS) method with 3 sigma distribution point
of the related components and parameters. Note that the
“Electrical Specifications” table beginning on page 10 specifies
no less than 6 sigma distribution point, not suitable for RSS TOB
calculation. Contact Intersil’s local office or field support for the
latest available information.
TABLE 20. AVAILABLE DESIGN ASSISTANCE MATERIALS
ITEM
1. Each PWM output should operate at maximum duty cycle and
correct switching frequency.
2. Read data in DC and DD of PMBus to confirm its proper
setting.
DESCRIPTION
0
Design and Validation
1
Design Worksheet for Compensation and Component
Selection
2
SMBus/PMBus/I2C Communication Tool with Software
3. If 5V drivers are used and share the same rail as VCC, the
proper switching on UGATEs and LGATEs should be seen.
3
Resistor Register Calculator
4. If 12V drivers are used and can be disconnected from VIN and
sourced by an external 12V supply, the proper switching on
UGATEs and LGATEs should be observed.
4
Layout Design Guidelines
5
Evaluation Board Schematics in OrCAD Format and Layout in
Allegro Format
5. If the above is not properly operating, you should check
soldering joint, resistor register setting, Power Train
connection or damage, i.e, shorted gates, drain and source.
NOTE: For worksheets, please contact Intersil Application support
at www.intersil.com/design/.
TABLE 21. AVAILABLE EVALUATION BOARDS
PACKAGE
ISL6398EVAL1Z
5x5 40Ld
3-Phase POL with ISL99140, 6x6 DrMOS
Digital Compensation with NVM
Yes
93%, 1.2V@40A
100A
ISL6398EVAL2Z
5x5 40Ld
6-Phase with ISL99140, 6x6 DrMOS
Digital Compensation with NVM
Yes
94%, 1.8V@50A
215A
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
TARGETED APPLICATIONS
SMBus/PMBus/I2C
EVALUATION BOARDS
PEAK EFFICIENCY ICCMAX (A)
Page 55 of 57
ISL6398
Revision History
The revision history provided is for informational purposes only and is believed to be accurate, but not warranted. Please go to web to make sure you
have the latest revision.
DATE
REVISION
CHANGE
August 13, 2015
FN8575.1
Updated “SMBus/PMBus/I2C” section of Electrical Specification table on page 13.
-Added PMBus specs Signal Input Low Voltage, Signal Input High Voltage and Signal Output Low Voltage.
-Added min/max Time-out spec
-Changed the Time-out typical from “35” to “30”.
Updated the second sentence under “Soft-start” on page 25.
Updated Table 9 on page 33 by splitting PMBus (DC) and PMBus (DD) (now Table 10) into two different tables,
also updated RDW value for 80h from “10” to “499”.
Updated third paragraph under “SMBus, PMBus and I2C Operation” on page 35.
Updated Figure 33 on page 35.
Updated Figure 35 on page 36.
Updated Figure 36 on page 37.
Updated DFh[8:0] description in Table 14 on page 41 and changed bit from “[7:0]” to “[8:0]”.
Updated POD to current revision. Changes from revision 1 to revision 2 are as follows:
Added tolerance ± values.
April 18, 2014
FN8575.0
Initial release
About Intersil
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For the most updated datasheet, application notes, related documentation and related parts, please see the respective product
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FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 56 of 57
ISL6398
Package Outline Drawing
L40.5x5
40 LEAD THIN QUAD FLAT NO-LEAD PLASTIC PACKAGE
Rev 2, 7/14
5.00 ± 0.05
4x3.60
A
B
36x0.40
6
PIN #1 INDEX AREA
(4X)
3.50
5.00 ± 0.05
6
PIN 1
INDEX AREA
0.15
40x0.4 ± 0.1
TOP VIEW
BOTTOM VIEW
0.20
b
4
0.10 M C A B
PACKAGE OUTLINE
0.40
0.750 ± 0.10
3.50
5.00
0.050
SEE DETAIL “X”
SIDE VIEW
// 0.10 C
C
BASE PLANE
SEATING PLANE
0.08 C
(36x0.40)
0.2 REF
(40x0.20)
C
(40x0.60)
5
0.00 MIN
0.05 MAX
TYPICAL RECOMMENDED LAND PATTERN
DETAIL "X"
NOTES:
1.
Dimensions are in millimeters.
Dimensions in ( ) for Reference Only.
2.
Dimensioning and tolerancing conform to AMSE Y14.5m-1994.
3.
Unless otherwise specified, tolerance: Decimal ± 0.05
4.
Dimension b applies to the metallized terminal and is measured
between 0.15mm and 0.27mm from the terminal tip.
5.
Tiebar shown (if present) is a non-functional feature.
6.
The configuration of the pin #1 identifier is optional, but must be
located within the zone indicated. The pin #1 identifier may be
7.
JEDEC reference drawing: MO-220WHHE-1
either a mold or mark feature.
FN8575 Rev 1.00
Aug 13, 2015
Page 57 of 57
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