MAXIM AN1782

POWER-SUPPLY CIRCUITS
Nov 11, 2002
Small Footprint, 10us Response Time, 10mV
Output Ripple, 1MHz, 6A Step-Down Regulator
One benefit of high-frequency switching is the fast loop response. This translates to smaller
footprint and lower cost, because the ceramic capacitors can be used. The MAX1945 internal
switch step-down regulator is designed for high-frequency switching. It can be switched at
1MHz. Its peak current mode control architecture allows simple Type II compensation (R2 and
C2) to achieve high bandwidth, further reducing the external component count.
As shown in Figure 1, for 6A output, only two 1210 footprint ceramic capacitors are needed to
meet the 50% step load change, thus greatly reducing the output capacitor size when compared
to switching at 500kHz or less. A second benefit is due to the low ESR of the ceramic
capacitors. Large inductor ripple current is allowed to achieve the 1% ripple voltage
requirement.The value of the output inductor is 0.68uH, resulting in a footprint of 8.2mm x
8.2mm for 6A output current, further reducing buck converter size.
Figure 1. Schematic of the MAX1945 for 1MHz all ceramic capacitor application.
In Figure 1, the output inductor is the largest external component with the footprint of 8.2mm x
8.2mm. However, with the new developments at TOKO and Sumida we expect the inductor size
to be reduced to 7.2mm x 7.2mm, further reducing the regulator footprint size.
Figure 2 shows the output ripple voltage, whose peak-to-peak value is less than 10mV for 1.8V
output, well less than 1%.
Figure 2. Output ripple voltage and LX switching waveforms.
Figure 3 shows the load transient response. With two 47uF ceramic output capacitors, the
maximum output voltage deviation can meet ±5% for 50% step load change (3A). In addition,
the transient response finishes within 10us. Table 1 lists the bill of materials.
Figure 3. Step load transient response: output current from 1A to 4.2A back to 1A. The output
voltage back to regulation within 10us for 50% step load change.
Table 1. Bill of Materials
Component
Function
Part Number
Vender
L1
Output inductor
0.68uH/12A, 6m ESR max,
4783-T007
Sumida
C1
Input filtering cap.
2 x 22uF/6.3V ceramic caps.
20m max each cap.
LMK325BJ226MM
Taiyo Yuden
C2
Loop compensation
capacitor
100pF/10V, X7R ceramic
capacitor
C3
Bootstrap cap.
0.1uF/10V, X7R ceramic capacitor
C4
Reference bypass cap.
0.22F/6.3V, X7R ceramic
capacitor
2 x 47uF/6.3V ceramic caps.
20m max each cap.
JMK325BJ476
C5
Output filtering cap.
C6
Input filtering cap
0.1uF/10V, X7R ceramic capacitor
R1
Vcc filtering resistor
10 , 5%
R2
Loop compensation
resistor
100k, 1%
D1
Bootstrap diode
BAT54A, Shorttky diode
Central
Semiconductor
IC1
6A step-down
regulator
MAX1945R
MAXIM
Taiyo Yuden
November 2002