an1733

Application Note 1733
ISL97694AIRT-EVZ Evaluation Board User Guide
The ISL97694A is Intersil’s highly integrated 6-channel LED
driver for display backlighting. This part maximizes battery life
by featuring only 1mA quiescent current and by operating
down to 2.4V input voltage, with no need for higher voltage
supplies. The ISL97694A provides 8-, 10- or 12-bit PWM
dimming with adjustable dimming frequency up to 30kHz,
7.5kHz, or 1.875kHz, respectively, controlled with I2C or
PWM input.
Start Guide for I2C Interface
If using the I2C interface, please follow these instructions and
see Figures 1, 2 and 7:
1. Please download from
http://www.intersil.com/en/products/audiovideo/displayics/led-backlight-drivers/ISL97694A.html and install
interface software onto the computer from the Intersil web
site.
2. Run the I2C interface software. On Windows operating
systems, this is usually found through the Start menu under
Intersil → ISL97694A HID → ISL97694A Evaluation
Software.
3. Once the application window (see Figure 1) appears, click
the green “Connect” button then click the “Read All” button
beside it. The control fields should be updated with values
read from the ISL97694A unit. If an error occurs, confirm
the setup and click “Read All” again.
4. From the power supply, connect the positive terminal from
the power supply to the VIN and the negative terminal of
the power supply to PGND on the eval board. A voltmeter
can be used to sense the voltage at the pin VIN on the eval
board in Figure 2.
5. The switch on the evaluation board allows the user to
enable or disable the part. To enable the ISL97694A, move
the SW_EN switch to “H” and to disable it, move it to the “L”
position.
6. Once the power supplies are hooked up to the ISL97694A
eval board and the USB cable is connected to the I2C
interface board, turn on the power supply.
7. Go to “ISL97694A Evaluation Software”, click on “READ
ALL REGISTERS”. The brightness bits (BRT11 to BRT0) are
all green and have “1” as the default value in the box. The
brightness control registers are 0x00 for 8-bit and 0x02 for
12-bit resolution. The default brightness resolution is 8-bit.
All of the bits in the Device Control register 0x01 should be
low as default.
10. To control the LED current, a potentiometer is placed
between ISET and GND. Please see ISL97694A datasheet
on how to set the LED string current.
11. To reduce the brightness, select the bit code under
“BRT_MSB @ reg addr 0x00” and click “WRITE”.
12. To enable more brightness bits, select “EN10BIT” or
“EN12BIT” under the register “DEVCTL @ reg addr 0x01”. If
“EN10BIT” is selected, “BRT3” and “BRT2” under the
register “BRT_LSB @ reg addr 0x02” is included in the
brightness control. If “EN12BIT” is selected, “BRT3”,
“BRT2”, “BRT1” and “BRT0” under the register “BRT_LSB @
reg addr 0x02” is included in the brightness control.
13. To adjust the dimming frequency to the LED strings, a 2kΩ
resistor in series with the potentiometer FPWM_R is placed
on the ISL97694AIRT-EVZ evaluation board. Adjust the
potentiometer for desirable dimming frequency. Please
refer to Equations 1, 2 and 3 for 8-bit, 10-bit and 12-bit
dimming frequency (fPWM) setting. ISL97694A is defaulted
to 8-Bit for PWM Max Dimming Frequency. Please see Table
1 in the ISL97694A datasheet.
6
58.1  10
R FPWM = ---------------------------f PWM
(EQ. 1)
6
14.5  10
R FPWM = --------------------------f PWM
(EQ. 2)
6
3.63  10
R FPWM = --------------------------f PWM
(EQ. 3)
14. To adjust switching frequency of the boost, a 27kΩ resistor
in series with potentiometer FSW_R is placed on the eval
board. Please adjust the switching frequency with
potentiometer to optimize the inductor ripple current and
the efficiency in each load condition.
References
ISL97694A Datasheet
Ordering Information
PART NUMBER
ISL97694AIRT-EVZ
DESCRIPTION
ISL97694AIRT-EVZ Evaluation Board
8. Since the brightness is set to 8 bits by default, the register
“BRT_LSB @ reg addr 0x02” does not affect the brightness
when the 8-bit option is being used.
9. To turn on the LEDs, select “BL_CTL” to “1” under the
register “DEVCTL @ reg addr 0x01” and select “WRITE” on
the right hand side. To enable phase shift, select “PS_EN”
to “1”. (The “PS_EN” is the “Phase Shift” option for the
ISL97694A.)
June 30, 2015
AN1733.1
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CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.
1-888-INTERSIL or 1-888-468-3774 | Copyright Intersil Americas LLC 2012, 2015. All Rights Reserved
Intersil (and design) is a trademark owned by Intersil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Application Note 1733
FIGURE 1. ISL97694AIRT-EVZ INTERFACE SOFTWARE
USB TO I2C INTERFACE BOARD
NON JUMP FOR I2C AND JUMP FOR PWM
PWM DIMMING FREQUENCY SETTING
LED CURRENT SETTING
SWITCHING FREQUENCY SETTING
FIGURE 2. PICTURE OF ISL97694AIRT-EVZ EVALUATION BOARD. PICTURE OF ISL97694AIRT-EVZ AND ISLUSBADAPT-EVZ
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Application Note 1733
Start Guide for PWM Interface
The ISL97694A supports the PWM interface and these
instructions should be followed for setup:
1. From the power supply, connect the positive terminal from the
power supply to the VIN and the negative terminal of the
power supply to PGND on the eval board. A voltmeter can be
used to sense the voltage at the pin VIN on the evaluation
board in Figure 2.
2. In order to select the PWM interface option, please Jump
JP_GND_CLK pin to be GND. The PWM signal should be
applied to the SDA/PWMI pin for brightness control. When
using the PWMI pin to dim, there are two options on how the
LEDs are dimmed:
- Encoded PWM dimming: The incoming PWM provides only
dimming duty cycle information and the frequency is not
directly applied to the LED strings. Phase shift is enabled
with this option. To adjust the dimming frequency, use a
potentiometer FPWM_R. Please refer to the ISL97694A
datasheet for more details on phase shift.
- Direct PWM dimming: The second option is to apply a direct
PWM signal to the SDA/PWMI pin so the LEDs follow the
PWMI frequency and pulse width input signal from a
function generator. To do this, connect the FPWM pin to the
VIN pin. With this option, phase shift is disabled.
3. Boost Switching Frequency Adjustment: Currently the
evaluation board has the potentiometer FSW_R for the boost
switching frequency adjustment.
4. Dimming Frequency Adjustment: Use the potentiometer
FPWM_R for the dimming frequency adjustment.
5. LED Peak Current Adjustment: Adjust the LED peak current
with change to the resistance of the potentiometers, ISET_R.
6. OVP Threshold Setting: The OVP level can be set based on
Equation 4. The boost can regulate down to 30% of OVP. The
OVP level should be considered max forward voltage of
strings and margin of low temperature start-up.
OVP = 1.21V   R UPPER + R LOWER   R LOWER
(EQ. 4)
Please refer to the ISL97694A datasheet for detailed
switching and regulation adjustment.
Using the above concept, DC dimming (also called analog
dimming) can be done by applying a DC voltage VDIM to the ISET
pin via a resistor as shown in Figure 3.
VISET:0.9V
ISET
VDIM
R DIM
R ISET
FIGURE 3. ANALOG DIMMING CONFIGURATION
If the VDIM is above VISET = 0.9V, the brightness will reduce and
vice versa.
**Note: The LED driver calibrates itself in start-up, so it is
important that the control voltage be set to the maximum
brightness level when the ISL97694A is enabled, even if the
LEDs are not lit at this point.
**Note: To configure analog dimming, pull down the SCL pin to
GND and pull up the FPWM pin to VIN. This needs to be done
prior to applying VIN to the IC.
How to Set Up the ISL97694A to
Run 2-Cell Battery in Series
1. It is important that VIN stay below the absolute rating of 5.5V
(see Figure 4).
2. Remove the jumper on JP_IC_VIN on the left of inductor and
open R1 resistor.
3. Using two power supplies, connect one of the power supply
positive terminals to VIN and the negative terminal to PGND
and the second power supply positive terminal to the pin
VIN_IC and the negative supply to AGND.
4. Remember that the IC can be damaged if VIN_IC > 5.5V.
5. With this configuration, the first power supply that is
connected to the VIN can go above 5.5V and is capable of
running a 2S battery configuration.
L1
VBATT: 2.4V~26V
LED Current Setting and Analog
Dimming
4.7µF
2.4V~5.5V
10µH
VIN
The max LED current is set by using a resistor on the ISET pin.
This resistor RSET is calculated per Equation 5:
1066
I LEDmax = --------------R SET
(EQ. 5)
- RISET: Resistance from ISET pin to GND (Ohm)
- ILEDmax: Peak current set by resistor RSET (A)
For example, if the required max LED current (ILEDmax) is
20mA, then the RSET value needed is:
FIGURE 4. 2-CELL BATTERY SUPPLY CONFIGURATION
RSET = 1066/0.02 = 53.3kΩ
Choose nearest standard resistor: 53.3kΩ, 0.1%
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Application Note 1733
Configuration and Operation of
the Charge Pump
The ISL97694AIRT-EVZ evaluation board can be optionally
configured with the charge pump to run 8 LEDs. The typical output
voltage of the 8 LEDs will be about 26V and absolute maximum
rating of ISL97694A is 28V. In the worst case of LEDs forward
mismatch and lower temperature start-up condition, a certain
amount of transient voltage possibly applied to the LX node and
damaging the boost FET. The charge pump can be configured as
shown in the evaluation board schematic in Figure 7 with
populating diodes D1, D2 and capacitor C3 and removing diode
D3. This configuration of the charge pump circuit always disables
the boost FET to see higher voltage than VOUT - VIN.
The configured charge pump will work as follows and refer to the
circuit diagram in Figure 5.
a) When the FET is ON, there are two current paths that sum to the
LX node. One path is through the inductor and the other path is
through D1 Schottky diode and CC capacitor. A voltage VC
across to the CC is VIN -Vd and inductor voltage VL will be VIN.
b) When the FET is OFF, LX goes high and generates an output
voltage VOUT equal to VIN -2Vd+1/(1-D)*VIN.
c) Therefore, the LX node will see VOUT -VIN -2Vd so it will be safe
even with 8 LEDs driving with VOUT : 26V.
d) The charge pump configured circuit limits VIN to be lower than
VOUT/2 because the charge pump itself will step up about
2 times of VIN. The boost converter will not have any
headroom to control if VIN is higher than VOUT/2.
D2
D1
CC
L1
VIN
+
V_L -
+
- Vc
LX
VOUT
Vc = VIN-Vd
V_L = VIN
V_LX = 0
D2
D1
CC
L1
+ V_L
-
+
- Vc
LX
Figures 8 and 9 show the evaluation board PCB layout example
of the ISL97694A. This type of layout is particularly important for
this type of product, resulting in high current flow in the main
loops traces. Careful attention should be focused in the following
layout details:
1. Boost input capacitors, output capacitors, inductor and
Schottky diode should be placed together in a nice tight
layout. Keeping the grounds of the input and output
connected with low impedance and wide metal, is very
important to keep these nodes closely coupled.
VOUT
3. For optimum load regulation and true VOUT sensing, the OVP
resistors should be connected independently to the top of the
output capacitors and away from the higher dv/dt traces. The
OVP connection then needs to be as short as possible to the
pin. The AGND connection of the lower OVP components is
critical for good regulation.
4. The COMP network and the rest of the analog components
(on ISET, FPWM, FSW, etc.) should be referenced to AGND.
FET: OFF
VOUT = V_LX+Vc-Vd
V_LX = VOUT –Vc+Vd
V_LX = 1/(1-D)*VIN
VOUT = VIN-2Vd+1/(1-D)*VIN
FIGURE 5. CHARGE PUMP OPERATION
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Great care is needed in designing a PC board for stable
ISL97694A operation. As shown in Figure 7, the separation of
PGND and AGND is essential, keeping the AGND referenced only
local to the chip. This minimizes switching noise injection to the
feedback sensing and analog areas, as well as eliminating DC
errors form high current flow in resistive PC board traces. PGND
and AGND should be on the top and bottom layers, respectively,
in the two layers of the PCB. A star ground connection should be
formed by connecting the LED ground return and AGND pins to
the thermal pad with vias. The ground connection should be into
this ground net, on the top plane. The bottom plane then forms a
quiet analog ground area that both shields components on the
top plane, as well as providing easy access to all sensitive
components. For example, the ground side of the FSW and ISET
resistor can be dropped to the bottom plane, providing a very low
impedance path back to the AGND pin, which does not have any
circulating high currents to interfere with it. The bottom plane
can also be used as a thermal ground, so the AGND area should
be sized sufficiently large to dissipate the required power. For
multilayer boards, the AGND plane can be the second layer. This
provides easy access to the AGND net, but allows a larger
thermal ground and main ground supply to come up through the
thermal vias from a lower plane.
2. If possible, try to maintain central ground node on the board
and use the input capacitors to avoid excessive input ripple for
high output current supplies. The filtering capacitors should
be placed close to the VIN pin.
FET: ON
VIN
PCB Layout with TQFN Package
4
5. The heat of the chip is mainly dissipated through the exposed
thermal pad, so maximizing the copper area around it is a
good idea. A solid ground is always helpful for the thermal
and EMI performance.
The inductor and input and output capacitors should be mounted
as tight as possible, to reduce the audible noise and inductive
ringing.
AN1733.1
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Application Note 1733
General Power PAD Design
Considerations
Figure 6 shows an example of how to use vias to remove heat
from the IC. We recommend you fill the thermal pad area with
vias. A typical via array would be to fill the thermal pad footprint
with vias spaced such that the center-to-center spacing is three
times the radius of the via. Keep the vias small, but not so small
that their inside diameter prevents solder wicking through the
holes during reflow.
FIGURE 6. EXAMPLE OF POWER PAD
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JP_CH6
JP_SH6
LED6_1
LED6_2
LED6_3
JP_SH5
JP_CH5
LED5_1
LED5_2
LED5_3
LED4_1
JP_SH4
LED4_2
LED4_3
JP_SH3
JP_CH4
JP_CH3
LED3_1
LED3_2
LED3_3
JP_SH2
JP_CH2
LED2_1
JP_SH1
11
2
19
CH4
FPW M
R10
10
FPWM
0
R8
2k
CH3
LED6_5
LED6_6
LED5_5
LED5_6
LED4_5
LED2_5
LED3_5
LED3_6
LED4_6
LED6_7
CH3
CH5
COMP
500k
18
LED6_8
R7
NC
CH6
20
1
CH5
CH6
R11
NC
C14
15nF
3
Hi
FPWM_R
0
CH2
FSW
CH4
R9
17
LED5_7
0
R5
27k
CH2
14
LED5_8
R6
LED4_7
254k
CH1
LED4_8
FSW
FSW_ R
16
LED3_7
CH1
LED3_8
R2
15k
LED2_6
ISET
R4
NC
LED2_7
4
0
LED2_8
R3
LED1_5
254k
LED1_6
ISET
ISET_R
JP_GND_CLK
LED1_7
4
C9
C15
SCL
LED6_4
AGND
LED5_4
SCL
LED4_4
5
2
12
LED1_4
PGND
3
LED3_4
SDA/PWMI
C11
7
C12
1
LED2_4
1
LED2_2
R14
24k
C8
2.2nF
SDA/PWMI
JP_CH1
15
LED1_8
JP1
OVP
EN
C10
SCL
8
R13
511k
C16
GND
EN
2
VIN
C13
NC
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R12
12k
FIGURE 7. SCHEMATIC OF ISL97694A EVALUATION BOARD
Application Note 1733
GND
9
C7
100pF
ISL97694A
SDA/PWMI
4.7µF
D3
PMEG3020
LED2_3
3
6
SW_EN
C5
4.7µF
U1
C2
1µF/6.3V
VIN_IC
I2C INTERFACE
L1
10µH
C4
LED1_1
R1
10
NC
LX
JP_IC VIN
C1
4.7µF/6.3V
JP_IOUT
LED1_2
C3
(1µF/25V)
VOUT
LED1_3
VIN
(2.4~5.5V)
D1
NC
(PMEG3020)
(C9-C12: 4.7NF/50VV)
D2
NC
(PMEG3020)
Hi
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CHARGE PUMP CONFIGURATION
Application Note 1733
ISL97694AIRT-EVZ Evaluation Board Layout
FIGURE 8. PCB LAYOUT (TOP LAYER) OF ISL97694A EVALUATION BOARD
FIGURE 9. PCB LAYOUT (BOTTOM LAYER) OF ISL97694A EVALUATION BOARD
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Application Note 1733
Bill of Materials for ISL97694A Evaluation Board
PART TYPE
DESIGNATOR
FOOTPRINT
0Ω
R3, R6, R9, R10
402
1µF/6.3V
C2
402
2.2nF
C8
402
4.7nF
C9, C10, C11
402
4.7nF
C12, C15, C16
402
4.7µF
C4, C5
805
4.7µF/6.3V
C1
603
10Ω
R1
402
12kΩ
R12
402
15kΩ
R2
402
15nF
C14
402
10µH
L1
Refer to PIMB061H-100MS datasheet
24kΩ
R14
402
27kΩ
R5
402
2kΩ
R8
402
100pF
C7
402
500kΩ
FPWM_R
POT
254kΩ
ISET_R, FSW_R
POT
511kΩ
R13
402
LED-SMT
All LEDS
Refer to LW_Y87C datasheet
PMEG3020
D3
Refer to SOD-123W datasheet
ISL97694AIRT-EVZ
U1
Refer to LPP20.3X4 datasheet
Intersil Corporation reserves the right to make changes in circuit design, software and/or specifications at any time without notice. Accordingly, the reader is
cautioned to verify that the document is current before proceeding.
For information regarding Intersil Corporation and its products, see www.intersil.com
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