STMICROELECTRONICS L6919CD

L6919C
5 BIT PROGRAMMABLE DUAL-PHASE CONTROLLER
WITH DYNAMIC VID MANAGEMENT
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2 PHASE OPERATION WITH
SYNCRHONOUS RECTIFIER CONTROL
ULTRA FAST LOAD TRANSIENT RESPONSE
INTEGRATED HIGH CURRENT GATE
DRIVERS: UP TO 2A GATE CURRENT
TTL-COMPATIBLE 5 BIT PROGRAMMABLE
OUTPUT FROM 0.800V TO 1.550V WITH
25mV STEPS
DYNAMIC VID MANAGEMENT
0.6% OUTPUT VOLTAGE ACCURACY
10% ACTIVE CURRENT SHARING ACCURACY
DIGITAL 2048 STEP SOFT-START
OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION
OVERCURRENT PROTECTION REALIZED
USING THE LOWER MOSFET'S R dsON OR A
SENSE RESISTOR
OSCILLATOR EXTERNALLY ADJUSTABLE
AND INTERNALLY FIXED AT 200kHz
POWER GOOD OUTPUT AND INHIBIT
FUNCTION
REMOTE SENSE BUFFER
PACKAGE: SO-28
SO-28
ORDERING NUMBERS:L6919CD
L6919CDTR
DESCRIPTION
The device is a power supply controller specifically designed to provide a high performance DC/DC conversion for high current microprocessors. The device
implements a dual-phase step-down controller with a
180° phase-shift between each phase. A precise 5-bit
digital to analog converter (DAC) allows adjusting the
output voltage from 0.800V to 1.550V with 25mV binary
steps managing On-The-Fly VID code changes.
The high precision internal reference assures the selected output voltage to be within ±0.6%. The high
peak current gate drive affords to have fast switching
to the external power mos providing low switching
losses.
The device assures a fast protection against load
over current and load over/under voltage. An internal
crowbar is provided turning on the low side mosfet if
an over-voltage is detected. In case of over-current,
the system works in Constant Current mode.
APPLICATIONS
■ POWER SUPPLY FOR SERVERS AND
WORKSTATIONS
■ POWER SUPPLY FOR HIGH CURRENT
MICROPROCESSORS
■ DISTRIBUTED POWER SUPPLY
BLOCK DIAGRAM
O SC / I N H
S GN D
VC C D R
C U R R EN T
C OR R EC TI ON
VCC
D AC
I FB
PG N D
PG N DS2
CU R REN T
REA DIN G
CH2
O CP
P W M2
R EMO TE
BU FFE R
ERR OR
A MPL IF IER
V SEN
December 2002
PG N DS1
ISE N2
3 2k
3 2k
FB
LGAT E1
ISE N1
L OG IC PW M
A DA PT IV E A N T I
CR OSS C ON DU CT IO N
FB R
LS
C H 2 OC P
C H 1 OC P
3 2k
U
GA T E1
PH AS E1
CU R REN T
REA DIN G
TO TA L
C U R R EN T
32 k
FB G
CH1
O CP
HS
VCC DR
C U R R EN T
C OR R EC TI ON
VID 4
VID 3
VID 2
VID 1
VID 0
P W M1
C U R R EN T
AVG
LO G IC AN D
P RO TEC TIO N S
D IGITAL
SOF T-START
L OG IC PW M
A DA PT IV E A NT I
CRO SS CO ND UCT IO N
2 PH AS E
O SC IL LATO R
BO O T1
PG O O D
CO M P
Vc c
LS
LGAT E2
PH AS E2
HS
U GA TE2
BO O T2
V cc
1/32
L6919C
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
Symbol
Vcc, VCCDR
VBOOT-VPHASE
Parameter
to PGND
Boot Voltage
VUGATE1-VPHASE1
VUGATE2-VPHASE2
LGATE1, PHASE1, LGATE2, PHASE2 to PGND
Value
Unit
15
V
15
V
15
V
-0.3 to Vcc+0.3
V
VID0 to VID4
-0.3 to 5
V
All other pins to PGND
-0.3 to 7
V
26
V
Value
Unit
Thermal Resistance Junction to Ambient
60
°C/W
Maximum junction temperature
150
°C
-40 to 150
°C
0 to 125
°C
2
W
Vphase
Sustainable Peak Voltage t < 20ns @ 600kHz
THERMAL DATA
Symbol
Rth j-amb
Tmax
Tstorage
Tj
PMAX
Parameter
Storage temperature range
Junction Temperature Range
Max power dissipation at Tamb = 25°C
PIN CONNECTION
2/32
1
28
PGND
VCCDR
2
27
LGATE2
PHASE1
3
26
PHASE2
UGATE1
4
25
UGATE2
BOOT1
5
24
BOOT2
VCC
6
23
PGOOD
SGND
7
22
VID4
COMP
8
21
VID3
FB
9
20
VID2
L6919C
LGATE1
VSEN
10
19
VID1
FBR
11
18
VID0
FBG
12
17
OSC / INH / FAULT
ISEN1
13
16
ISEN2
PGNDS1
14
15
PGNDS2
L6919C
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
VCC = 12V ±10%, TJ = 0 to 70°C unless otherwise specified
Symbol
Parameter
Test Condition
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
Vcc SUPPLY CURRENT
Vcc supply current
HGATEx and LGATEx open
VCCDR=VBOOT=12V
7.5
10
12.5
mA
ICCDR
VCCDR supply current
LGATEx open; VCCDR=12V
2
3
4
mA
IBOOTx
Boot supply current
HGATEx open; PHASEx to PGND
VCC=VBOOT=12V
0.5
1
1.5
mA
ICC
POWER-ON
Turn-On VCC threshold
VCC Rising; VCCDR=5V
8
9.2
10.4
V
Turn-Off VCC threshold
VCC Falling; VCCDR=5V
6.5
7.5
8.5
V
Turn-On VCCDR
Threshold
VCCDR Rising
VCC=12V
4.2
4.4
4.6
V
Turn-Off VCCDR
Threshold
VCCDR Falling
VCC=12V
4.0
4.2
4.4
V
OSC = OPEN
OSC = OPEN; Tj=0°C to 125°C
185
180
200
215
220
kHz
kHz
RT to GND=74kΩ
360
400
440
kHz
OSCILLATOR/INHIBIT/FAULT
fOSC
Initial Accuracy
fOSC,Rosc Total Accuracy
INH
Inhibit threshold
ISINK=5mA
0.5
dMAX
Maximum duty cycle
OSC = OPEN; IFB = 0
75
80
%
OSC = OPEN; IFB = 60µA
38
46
%
1.8
2
2.2
V
OVP or UVP Active
4.75
5.0
5.25
V
Output Voltage
Accuracy
VID0, VID1, VID2, VID3, VID4
see Table1;
FBR = VOUT; FBG = GND
-0.6
-
0.6
%
VID pull-up Current
VIDx = GND
4
5
6
µA
VID pull-up Voltage
VIDx = OPEN
3.2
-
3.5
V
∆Vosc
Ramp Amplitude
FAULT
Voltage at pin OSC
V
REFERENCE AND DAC
IDAC
ERROR AMPLIFIER
DC Gain
SR
80
dB
15
V/µs
DC Gain
1
V/V
Common Mode Rejection Ratio
40
dB
15
V/µs
Slew-Rate
COMP=10pF
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER (REMOTE BUFFER)
CMRR
SR
Slew Rate
VSEN=10pF
3/32
L6919C
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS (continued)
VCC = 12V ±10%, TJ = 0 to 70°C unless otherwise specified
Symbol
Parameter
Test Condition
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
45
50
55
µA
DIFFERENTIAL CURRENT SENSING
IISEN1,
IISEN2
Bias Current
IPGNDSx
Bias Current
45
50
55
µA
Bias Current at
Over Current Threshold
80
85
90
µA
47.5
0
50
1
52.5
µA
µA
30
ns
IISEN1,
IISEN2
IFB
Active Droop Current
ILOAD = 0
ILOAD ≤ 0%
ILOAD = 100%
GATE DRIVERS
High Side
Rise Time
VBOOTx-VPHASEx=10V;
CHGATEx to PHASEx=3.3nF
15
IHGATEx
High Side
Source Current
VBOOTx-VPHASEx=10V
2
RHGATEx
High Side
Sink Resistance
VBOOTx-VPHASEx=12V;
Low Side
Rise Time
ILGATEx
RLGATEx
tRISE
HGATE
tRISE
LGATE
A
2
2.5
Ω
VCCDR=10V;
CLGATEx to PGNDx=5.6nF
30
55
ns
Low Side
Source Current
VCCDR=10V
1.8
Low Side
Sink Resistance
VCCDR=12V
0.7
1.1
1.5
Ω
1.5
A
PROTECTIONS
PGOOD
Upper Threshold
(VSEN/DAC Output)
VSEN Rising
108
112
116
%
PGOOD
Lower Threshold
(VSEN/DAC Output)
VSEN Falling
84
88
92
%
OVP
Over Voltage Threshold
(VSEN)
VSEN Rising
1.915
2.05
V
UVP
Under Voltage Trip
(VSEN/DAC Output)
VSEN Falling
65
70
75
%
PGOOD Voltage Low
IPGOOD = -4mA
0.3
0.4
0.5
V
VPGOOD
4/32
L6919C
Table 1. Voltage Identification (VID) Codes
VID4
VID3
VID2
VID1
VID0
Output
Voltage (V)
VID4
VID3
VID2
VID1
VID0
Output
Voltage (V)
0
0
0
0
0
1.550
1
0
0
0
0
1.150
0
0
0
0
1
1.525
1
0
0
0
1
1.125
0
0
0
1
0
1.500
1
0
0
1
0
1.100
0
0
0
1
1
1.475
1
0
0
1
1
1.075
0
0
1
0
0
1.450
1
0
1
0
0
1.050
0
0
1
0
1
1.425
1
0
1
0
1
1.025
0
0
1
1
0
1.400
1
0
1
1
0
1.000
0
0
1
1
1
1.375
1
0
1
1
1
0.975
0
1
0
0
0
1.350
1
1
0
0
0
0.950
0
1
0
0
1
1.325
1
1
0
0
1
0.925
0
1
0
1
0
1.300
1
1
0
1
0
0.900
0
1
0
1
1
1.275
1
1
0
1
1
0.875
0
1
1
0
0
1.250
1
1
1
0
0
0.850
0
1
1
0
1
1.225
1
1
1
0
1
0.825
0
1
1
1
0
1.200
1
1
1
1
0
0.800
0
1
1
1
1
1.175
1
1
1
1
1
Shutdown
Reference Schematic
Vin
GNDin
CIN
VCCDR
BOOT1
UGATE1
HS1
L1
PHASE1
LGATE1
LS1
ISEN1
2
6
5
24
4
25
3
26
1
27
13
16
14
L6919C 15
VCC
BOOT2
UGATE2
L2
LGATE2
LS2
COUT
LOAD
ISEN2
Rg
Rg
PGNDS1
Rg
28
S4
VID4
S3
VID3
S2
VID2
S1
VID1
S0
HS2
PHASE2
VID0
OSC / INH
SGND
22
23
21
10
20
PGNDS2
PGND
PGOOD
9
FB
17
RFB
RF
CF
7
11
FBR
PGOOD
VSEN
19
18
Rg
12
8
COMP
FBG
5/32
L6919C
PIN FUNCTION
N
Name
Description
1
LGATE1
Channel 1 low side gate driver output.
2
VCCDR
LS Mosfet driver supply. It can be varied from 5V to 12V.
3
PHASE1 This pin is connected to the source of the upper mosfet and provides the return path for the high
side driver of channel 1.
4
UGATE1 Channel 1 high side gate driver output.
5
BOOT1
6
VCC
Device supply voltage. The operative supply voltage is 12V.
7
GND
All the internal references are referred to this pin. Connect it to the PCB signal ground.
8
COMP
This pin is connected to the error amplifier output and is used to compensate the control
feedback loop.
9
FB
This pin is connected to the error amplifier inverting input and is used to compensate the voltage
control feedback loop.
A current proportional to the sum of the current sensed in both channel is sourced from this pin
(50µA at full load, 70µA at the 140% Constant Current threshold). Connecting a resistor between
this pin and VSEN pin allows programming the droop effect.
10
VSEN
Connected to the output voltage it is able to manage Over&Under-voltage conditions and the
PGOOD signal. It is internally connected with the output of the Remote Sense Buffer for Remote
Sense of the regulated voltage.
If no Remote Sense is implemented, connect it directly to the regulated voltage in order to
manage OVP, UVP and PGOOD.
11
FBR
Remote sense buffer non-inverting input. It has to be connected to the positive side of the load to
perform a remote sense.
If no remote sense is implemented, connect directly to the output voltage (in this case connect
also the VSEN pin directly to the output regulated voltage).
12
FBG
Remote sense buffer inverting input. It has to be connected to the negative side of the load to
perform a remote sense.
Pull-down to ground if no remote sense is implemented.
13
ISEN1
Channel 1 current sense pin. The output current may be sensed across a sense resistor or
across the low-side mosfet RdsON. This pin has to be connected to the low-side mosfet drain or to
the sense resistor through a resistor Rg in order to program the over current intervention for this
phase at 140% as follow:
35µA ⋅ Rg
IO CPx = --------------------------Rsense
Where 35µA is the current offset information relative to the Over Current condition (offset at OC
threshold minus offset at zero load).
The net connecting the pin to the sense point must be routed as close as possible to the
PGNDS1 net in order to couple in common mode any picked-up noise.
Channel 1 bootstrap capacitor pin. Through this pin is supplied the high side driver and the upper
mosfet. Connect through a capacitor to the PHASE1 pin and through a diode to Vcc (cathode vs.
boot).
14
PGNDS1 Channel 1 Power Ground sense pin. The net connecting the pin to the sense point must be
routed as close as possible to the ISEN1 net in order to couple in common mode any picked-up
noise.
15
PGNDS2 Channel 2 Power Ground sense pin. The net connecting the pin to the sense point must be
routed as close as possible to the ISEN2 net in order to couple in common mode any picked-up
noise.
6/32
L6919C
PIN FUNCTION (continued)
N
Name
Description
16
ISEN2
Channel 2 current sense pin. The output current may be sensed across a sense resistor or
across the low-side mosfet RdsON. This pin has to be connected to the low-side mosfet drain or to
the sense resistor through a resistor Rg in order to program the over current intervention for this
phase at 140% as follow:
35µA ⋅ Rg
IO CPx = --------------------------Rsense
Where 35µA is the current offset information relative to the Over Current condition (offset at OC
threshold minus offset at zero load).
The net connecting the pin to the sense point must be routed as close as possible to the
PGNDS2 net in order to couple in common mode any picked-up noise.
17
OSC/
INH/
FAULT
Oscillator switching frequency pin. Connecting an external resistor from this pin to GND, the
external frequency is increased according to the equation:
6
14.82 ⋅ 10
f S = 200kHz + ----------------------------R OS C ( kΩ )
Connecting a resistor from this pin to Vcc (12V), the switching frequency is reduced according to
the equation:
7
12.91 ⋅ 10
f S = 200kHz + ----------------------------R OS C ( kΩ )
If the pin is not connected, the switching frequency is 200KHz.
Forcing the pin to a voltage lower than 0.6V, the device stop operation and enter the inhibit state.
The pin is forced high when an Over/Under Voltage is detected. This condition is latched; to
recover it is necessary turn off and on VCC.
18-22
VID4-0
Voltage IDentification pins. These input are internally pulled-up and TTL compatible. They are
used to program the output voltage as specified in Table 1 and to set the power good thresholds.
Connect to GND to program a ‘0’ while leave floating to program a ‘1’.
23
PGOOD
This pin is an open collector output and is pulled low if the output voltage is not within the above
specified thresholds.
If not used may be left floating.
24
BOOT2
Channel 2 bootstrap capacitor pin. Through this pin is supplied the high side driver and the upper
mosfet. Connect through a capacitor to the PHASE2 pin and through a diode to Vcc (cathode vs.
boot).
25
UGATE2 Channel 2 high side gate driver output.
26
PHASE2 This pin is connected to the source of the upper mosfet and provides the return path for the high
side driver of channel 2.
27
LGATE2
28
PGND
Channel 2 low side gate driver output.
Power ground pin. This pin is common to both sections and it must be connected through the
closest path to the low side mosfets source pins in order to reduce the noise injection into the
device.
7/32
L6919C
DEVICE DESCRIPTION
The device is an integrated circuit realized in BCD technology. It provides complete control logic and protections
for a high performance dual-phase step-down DC-DC converter optimized for microprocessor power supply. It
is designed to drive N Channel MOSFETs in a dual-phase synchronous-rectified buck topology. A 180 deg
phase shift is provided between the two phases allowing reduction in the input capacitor current ripple, reducing
also the size and the losses. The output voltage of the converter can be precisely regulated, programming the
VID pins, from 0.800V to 1.550V with 25mV binary steps, with a maximum tolerance of ±0.6% over temperature
and line voltage variations. The device manages On-The-Fly VID Code changes stepping to the new configuration following the VID table with no need for external components. The device provides an average currentmode control with fast transient response. It includes a 200kHz free-running oscillator. The error amplifier features a 15V/µs slew rate that permits high converter bandwidth for fast transient performances. Current information is read across the lower mosfets R dsON or across a sense resistor in fully differential mode. The current
information corrects the PWM output in order to equalize the average current carried by each phase. Current
sharing between the two phases is then limited at ±10% over static and dynamic conditions. The device protects
against Over-Current, with an OC threshold for each phase, entering in constant current mode. Since the current
is read across the low side mosfets, the constant current keeps constant the bottom of the inductors current
triangular waveform. When an under voltage is detected the device latches and the FAULT pin is driven high.
The device performs also Over-Voltage protection that disables immediately the device turning ON the lower
driver and driving high the FAULT pin.
OSCILLATOR
The switching frequency is internally fixed to 200kHz. The internal oscillator generates the triangular waveform for the
PWM charging and discharging with a constant current an internal capacitor. The current delivered to the oscillator is
typically 17µA (Fsw=200KHz) and may be varied using an external resistor (ROSC) connected between OSC pin and
GND or Vcc. Since the OSC pin is maintained at fixed voltage (Typ. 1.235V), the frequency is varied proportionally to
the current sunk (forced) from (into) the pin considering the internal gain of 12KHz/µA.
In particular connecting it to GND the frequency is increased (current is sunk from the pin), while connecting ROSC
to Vcc=12V the frequency is reduced (current is forced into the pin), according to the following relationships:
6
1.237
kHz
14.82 ⋅ 10
R OS C vs. GND: f S = 200kH z + ------------------------------ ⋅ 12 ----------- = 200 kHz + -----------------------------( KΩ )
µA
R
( KΩ )
R
O SC
O SC
7
12 – 1.237
kHz
12.918 ⋅ 10
R OS C vs. 12V: f S = 200 kHz – ------------------------------ ⋅ 12 ----------- = 200kH z – -------------------------------( KΩ )
µA
R
( KΩ )
R
O SC
O SC
Note that forcing a 17µA current into this pin, the device stops switching because no current is delivered to the
oscillator.
Figure 1. ROSC vs. Switching Frequency
7000
1000
Rosc(KΩ) vs. GND
Rosc(KΩ) vs. 12V
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
800
600
400
200
1000
0
0
50
100
150
Frequency (KHz)
8/32
200
0
200
300
400
500
Frequency (KHz)
600
L6919C
DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTER
The built-in digital to analog converter allows the adjustment of the output voltage from 0.800V to 1.550V with
25mV as shown in the previous table 1. The internal reference is trimmed to ensure output voltage precision of
±0.6% and a zero temperature coefficient around 70°C. The internal reference voltage for the regulation is programmed by the voltage identification (VID) pins. These are TTL compatible inputs of an internal DAC that is
realized by means of a series of resistors providing a partition of the internal voltage reference. The VID code
drives a multiplexer that selects a voltage on a precise point of the divider. The DAC output is delivered to an
amplifier obtaining the VPROG voltage reference (i.e. the set-point of the error amplifier). Internal pull-ups are
provided (realized with a 5µA current generator up to 3.3V Typ); in this way, to program a logic "1" it is enough
to leave the pin floating, while to program a logic "0" it is enough to short the pin to GND. Programming the
"11111" code, the device enters the NOCPU mode: all mosfets are turned OFF and protections are diabled. The
condition is latched.
The voltage identification (VID) pin configuration also sets the power-good thresholds (PGOOD) and the Over
/ Under Voltage protection (OVP/UVP) thresholds.
DYNAMIC VID TRANSITION
The device is able to manage On-The-Fly VID Code changes that allow Output Voltage modification during normal device operation. The device checks every clock cycle (synchronously with the PWM ramp) for VID code
modifications. Once the new code is stable for more than one clock cycle, the reference steps up or down in
25mV increments every clock cycle until the new VID code is reached. During the transition, VID code changes
are ignored; the device re-starts monitoring VID after the transition has finished. PGOOD, signal is masked during the transition and it is re-activated after the transition has finished while OVP / UVP are still active.
Figure 2. Dynamic VID transition
VID
t
Reference
25mV steps transition
t
VOUT
t
1 Clock Cycle Blanking Time
SOFT START AND INHIBIT
At start-up a ramp is generated increasing the loop reference from 0V to the final value programmed by VID in
2048 clock periods as shown in figure 3.
Before soft start, the lower power MOS are turned ON after that VCCDR reaches 2V (independently by Vcc value) to discharge the output capacitor and to protect the load from high side mosfet failures. Once soft start begins, the reference is increased; also the upper MOS begins to switch and the output voltage starts to increase
with closed loop regulation. At the end of the digital soft start, the Power Good comparator is enabled and the
PGOOD signal is then driven high (See fig. 3). The Under Voltage comparator enabled when the reference voltage reaches 0.8V. The Soft-Start will not take place, if both VCC and VCCDR pins are not above their own turnon thresholds. During normal operation, if any under-voltage is detected on one of the two supplies the device
shuts down. Forcing the OSC/INH/FAULT pin to a voltage lower than 0.6V (Typ.), the device enters in INHIBIT
mode: all the power mosfets are turned off and protections are disabled.
Setting the INH pin free, causes the device to restart.
9/32
L6919C
Figure 3. Soft Start
V IN =VCCDR
Turn ON threshold
2V
V LGATEx
t
V OUT
t
PGOOD
t
2048 Clock Cycles
Timing Diagram
t
Acquisition:
CH1 = PGOOD; CH2 = VOUT; CH4 = LGATEx
Figure 4. Drivers peak current: High Side (left) and Low Side (right)
CH3 = HGATE1; CH4 = HGATE2
CH3 = LGATE1; CH4 = LGATE2
DRIVER SECTION
The integrated high-current drivers allow using different types of power MOS (also multiple MOS to reduce the
RdsON), maintaining fast switching transition.
The drivers for the high-side mosfets use BOOTx pins for supply and PHASEx pins for return. The drivers for
the low-side mosfets use VCCDRV pin for supply and PGND pin for return. A minimum voltage of 4.6V at VCCDRV pin is required to start operations of the device.
The controller embodies a sophisticated anti-shoot-through system to minimize low side body diode conduction
time maintaining good efficiency saving the use of Schottky diodes. The dead time is reduced to few nanoseconds assuring that high-side and low-side mosfets are never switched on simultaneously: when the high-side
mosfet turns off, the voltage on its source begins to fall; when the voltage reaches 2V, the low-side mosfet gate
drive is applied with 30ns delay. When the low-side mosfet turns off, the voltage at LGATEx pin is sensed. When
it drops below 1V, the high-side mosfet gate drive is applied with a delay of 30ns. If the current flowing in the
inductor is negative, the source of high-side mosfet will never drop. To allow the turning on of the low-side mosfet even in this case, a watchdog controller is enabled: if the source of the high-side mosfet don't drop for more
than 240ns, the low side mosfet is switched on so allowing the negative current of the inductor to recirculate.
This mechanism allows the system to regulate even if the current is negative.
10/32
L6919C
The BOOTx and VCCDR pins are separated from IC's power supply (VCC pin) as well as signal ground (SGND
pin) and power ground (PGND pin) in order to maximize the switching noise immunity. The separated supply
for the different drivers gives high flexibility in mosfet choice, allowing the use of logic-level mosfet. Several combination of supply can be chosen to optimize performance and efficiency of the application. Power conversion
is also flexible; 5V or 12V bus can be chosen freely.
The peak current is shown for both the upper and the lower driver of the two phases in figure 3. A 10nF capacitive load has been used. For the upper drivers, the source current is 1.9A while the sink current is 1.5A with
VBOOT -VPHASE = 12V; similarly, for the lower drivers, the source current is 2.4A while the sink current is 2A with
VCCDR = 12V.
CURRENT READING AND OVER CURRENT
The current flowing trough each phase is read using the voltage drop across the low side mosfets RdsON or
across a sense resistor (RSENSE) and internally converted into a current. The Tran conductance ratio is issued
by the external resistor Rg placed outside the chip between ISENx and PGNDSx pins toward the reading points.
The full differential current reading rejects noise and allows to place sensing element in different locations without affecting the measurement's accuracy. The current reading circuitry reads the current during the time in
which the low-side mosfet is on (OFF Time). During this time, the reaction keeps the pin ISENx and PGNDSx
at the same voltage while during the time in which the reading circuitry is off, an internal clamp keeps these two
pins at the same voltage sinking from the ISENx pin the necessary current (Needed if low-side mosfet RdsON
sense is implemented to avoid absolute maximum rating overcome on ISENx pin).
The proprietary current reading circuit allows a very precise and high bandwidth reading for both positive and
negative current. This circuit reproduces the current flowing through the sensing element using a high speed
Track & Hold Tran conductance amplifier. In particular, it reads the current during the second half of the OFF
time reducing noise injection into the device due to the mosfet turn-on (See fig. 5). Track time must be at least
200ns to make proper reading of the delivered current
Figure 5. Current Reading Timing (Left) and Circuit (Right)
ILS1
LGATEX
Rg
ILS2
Rg
IPHASE
IISENx
Total current
information
RSENSE
ISENX
PGNDSX
Track & Hold
50µA
This circuit sources a constant 50µA current from the PGNDSx pin and keeps the pins ISENx and PGNDSx at
the same voltage. Referring to figure 4, the current that flows in the ISENx pin is then given by the following
equation:
R SENSE ⋅ I PHASE
I ISENx = 50µA + ---------------------------------------------- = 50µ A + I INFO x
Rg
Where RSENSE is an external sense resistor or the rds,on of the low side mosfet and Rg is the transconductance
resistor used between ISENx and PGNDSx pins toward the reading points; IPHASE is the current carried by each
phase and, in particular, the current measured in the middle of the oscillator period
The current information reproduced internally is represented by the second term of the previous equation as
11/32
L6919C
follow:
R SENSE ⋅ I PHASE
I INFO x = ---------------------------------------------Rg
Since the current is read in differential mode, also negative current information is kept; this allow the device to
check for dangerous returning current between the two phases assuring the complete equalization between the
phase's currents. From the current information of each phase, information about the total current delivered (IFB
=IINFO1 +IINFO2) and the average current for each phase (IAVG =(IINFO1 +IINFO2)/2 ) is taken. IINFOX is then compared to IAVG to give the correction to the PWM output in order to equalize the current carried by the two phases.
The transconductance resistor Rg can be designed in order to have current information of 25µA per phase at
full nominal load; the over current intervention threshold is set at 140% of the nominal (IINFOx = 35µA). According
to the above relationship, the over current threshold (IOCPx) for each phase, which has to be placed at one half
of the total delivered maximum current, results:
35 µA ⋅ Rg
I OCPx = --------------------------R S ENSE
I OCP x ⋅ R SE NSE
Rg = ------------------------------------------35 µA
Since the device senses the output current across the low-side mosfets (or across a sense resistors in series
with them) the device limits the bottom of the inductor current triangular waveform: an over current is detected
when the current flowing into the sense element is greater than IOCPx (IINFOx > 35µA).
Introducing now the maximum ON time dependence with the delivered current (where T is the switching period
T=1/fSW):
R SENSE
 0.80 ⋅ T I F B = 0 µA
T ON,MAX = 0.80 – ( I FB ⋅ 5.73 k ) ⋅ T = 0.80 –  ---------------------- ⋅ I OUT ⋅ 5.73k ⋅ T 
Rg
 0.40 ⋅ T I F B = 7 0µA
This linear dependence has a value at zero load of 0.80·T and at maximum current of 0.40·T typical and results
in two different behaviors of the device:
1. TON Limited Output Voltage.
This happens when the maximum ON time is reached before the current in each phase reaches I OCPx (IINFOx
< 35µA).
Figure 6a shows the maximum output voltage that the device is able to regulate considering the TON limitation
imposed by the previous relationship. If the desired output characteristic crosses the TON limited maximum output
voltage, the output resulting voltage will start to drop after crossing. In this case, the device doesn't perform constant current limitation but only limits the maximum ON time following the previous relationship. The output voltage follows the resulting characteristic (dotted in Figure 6b) until UVP is detected or anyway until IFB = 70µA.
Figure 6. TON Limited Operation
VOUT
VOUT
0.80·VIN
0.80·VIN
TON Limited Output
characteristic
Desired Output
characteristic and
UVP threshold
0.40·VIN
0.40·VIN
IOCP=2·IOCPx
(IFB=70µA)
a) Maximum output Voltage
12/32
Resulting Output
characteristic
IOUT
IOCP=2·IOCPx
(IFB=70µA)
b) TON Limited Output Voltage
IOUT
L6919C
2. Constant Current Operation
This happens when ON time limitation is reached after the current in each phase reaches I OCPx (IINFOx>35µA).
The device enters in Quasi-Constant-Current operation: the low-side mosfets stays ON until the current read
becomes lower than IOCPx (IINFOx < 35µA) skipping clock cycles. The high side mosfets can be turned ON with
a TON imposed by the control loop at the next available clock cycle and the device works in the usual way until
another OCP event is detected.
This means that the average current delivered can slightly increase also in Over Current condition since the current ripple increases. In fact, the ON time increases due to the OFF time rise because of the current has to reach
the IOCPx bottom. The worst-case condition is when the ON time reaches its maximum value.
When this happens, the device works in Constant Current and the output voltage decrease as the load increase.
Crossing the UVP threshold causes the device to latch (FAULT pin is driven high).
Figure 7 shows this working condition
Figure 7. Constant Current operation
Ipeak
Vout
Droop effect
IMAX
IOCPx
TonMAX
UVP
Iout
IMAX,TOT
TonMAX
(IFB =50µA)
a) Maximum current for each phase
IOCP=2·IOCPx
(IFB=70µA)
b) Output Characteristic
It can be observed that the peak current (Ipeak) is greater than the IOCPx but it can be determined as follow:
V IN – Vo ut M IN
V IN – Vo ut M IN
Ipea k = I OCPx + --------------------------------------- ⋅ Ton M AX = I OCPx + --------------------------------------- ⋅ 0.40 ⋅ T
L
L
Where VoutMIN is the minimum output voltage (VID-30% as follow).
The device works in Constant-Current, and the output voltage decreases as the load increase, until the output
voltage reaches the Under-Voltage threshold (VoutMIN). When this threshold is crossed, all mosfets are turned
off, the FAULT pin is driven high and the device stops working. Cycle the power supply to restart operation. The
maximum average current during the Constant-Current behavior results:
Ipe ak – I OCP x
I M AX,TOT = 2 ⋅ IMA X + 2 ⋅  IOCPx + --------------------------------------
2
In this particular situation, the switching frequency results reduced. The ON time is the maximum allowed
(TonMAX) while the OFF time depends on the application:
Ipe ak – I OCP x
1
T O FF = L ⋅ -------------------------------------f = -----------------------------------------V OUT
T ONm a x + T O FF
Over current is set anyway when IINFOx reaches 35µA (IFB = 70µA). The full load value is only a convention
to work with convenient values for IFB. Since the OCP intervention threshold is fixed, to modify the percentage with respect to the load value, it can be simply considered that, for example, to have on OCP threshold
of 170%, this will correspond to IINFOx = 35µA (IFB = 70µA). The full load current will then correspond to
IINFOx = 20.6µA (IFB = 41.1µA).
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L6919C
Integrated Droop Function
The device uses a droop function to satisfy the requirements of high performance microprocessors, reducing
the size and the cost of the output capacitor.
This method "recovers" part of the drop due to the output capacitor ESR in the load transient, introducing a dependence of the output voltage on the load current
As shown in figure 8, the ESR drop is present in any case, but using the droop function the total deviation of the
output voltage is minimized. In practice the droop function introduces a static error (V DROOP in figure 8) proportional to the output current. Since the device has an average current mode regulation, the information about the
total current delivered is used to implement the Droop Function. This current (equal to the sum of both IINFOx)
is sourced from the FB pin. Connecting a resistor between this pin and V OUT, the total current information flows
only in this resistor because the compensation network between FB and COMP has always a capacitor in series
(See fig. 9). The voltage regulated is then equal to:
VOUT = VID - RFB · IFB
Since IFB depends on the current information about the two phases, the output characteristic vs. load current is
given by:
R SENSE
V OUT = VID – R FB ⋅ ---------------------- ⋅ I OUT
Rg
Figure 8. Output transient response without (a) and with (b) the droop function
ESR DROP
ESR DROP
VMAX
VDROOP
VNOM
VMIN
(a)
(b)
Figure 9. Active Droop Function Circuit
ZF
COMP
RFB
To VOUT
FB
IFB
VPROG
The feedback current is equal to 50µA at nominal full load (IFB = IINFO1 + IINFO2) and 70µA at the OC intervention
threshold, so the maximum output voltage deviation is equal to:
∆VFULL_POSITIVE_LOAD = -RFB · 50µA
∆VOC_INTERVENTION = -RFB · 70µA
Droop function is provided only for positive load; if negative load is applied, and then IINFOx < 0, no current is
sunk from the FB pin. The device regulates at the voltage programmed by the VID.
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L6919C
OUTPUT VOLTAGE MONITOR AND PROTECTIONS
The output voltage is monitored by pin VSEN. If it is not within ±12% (Typ.) of the programmed value, the power
good output is forced low. Power good is an open drain output and it is enabled only after the soft start is finished
(2048 clock cycles after start-up).
The device provides over voltage protection; when the voltage sensed by the V SEN pin reaches 1.976V (typ.),
the controller permanently switches on both the low-side mosfets and switches off both the high-side mosfets
in order to protect the CPU. The OSC/INH/FAULT pin is driven high (5V) and power supply (Vcc) turn off and
on is required to restart operations. The over Voltage percentage is set by the ratio between the OVP threshold
(set at 1.976V) and the reference programmed by VID.
1.976V
O VP [ % ] = ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ⋅ 100
Re feren ceVo ltage ( VID )
Under voltage protection is also provided. If the output voltage drops below the 70% of the reference voltage for
more than one clock period the device turns off and the FAULT is driven high.
Both Over Voltage and Under Voltage are active also during soft start (Under Voltage after than V OUT reaches
0.8V). During soft-start the reference voltage used to determine the UV threshold is the increasing voltage driven by the 2048 soft start digital counter.
REMOTE VOLTAGE SENSE
A remote sense buffer is integrated into the device to allow output voltage remote sense implementation without
any additional external components. In this way, the output voltage programmed is regulated between the remote buffer inputs compensating motherboard trace losses or connector losses if the device is used for a VRM
module. The very low offset amplifier senses the output voltage remotely through the pins FBR and FBG (FBR
is for the regulated voltage sense while FBG is for the ground sense) and reports this voltage internally at VSEN
pin with unity gain eliminating the errors.
If remote sense is not required, the output voltage is sensed by the VSEN pin connecting it directly to the output
voltage. In this case the FBG and FBR pins must be connected anyway to the regulated voltage.
INPUT CAPACITOR
The input capacitor is designed considering mainly the input RMS current that depends on the duty cycle as
reported in figure 10. Considering the dual-phase topology, the input RMS current is highly reduced comparing
with a single phase operation.
Rms Current Normalized (IRMS/IOUT)
Figure 10. Input RMS Current vs. Duty Cycle (D) and Driving Relationships
0.50
Single Phase
Dual Phase
0.25
I rms
IOUT

=  2
I
 OUT
 2
⋅
2D ⋅ (1 − 2D)
if D < 0 .5
⋅ (2D - 1) ⋅ (2 − 2D) if D > 0.5
0.25
0.50
0.75
Duty Cycle (VOUT/VIN)
15/32
L6919C
It can be observed that the input rms value is one half of the single-phase equivalent input current in the worst
case condition that happens for D = 0.25 and D = 0.75.
The power dissipated by the input capacitance is then equal to:
P RM S = ESR ⋅ ( I RM S )
2
Input capacitor is designed in order to sustain the ripple relative to the maximum load duty cycle. To reach the
high RMS value needed by the CPU power supply application and also to minimize components cost, the input
capacitance is realized by more than one physical capacitor. The equivalent RMS current is simply the sum of
the single capacitor's RMS current.
Input bulk capacitor must be equally divided between high-side drain mosfets and placed as close as possible
to reduce switching noise above all during load transient. Ceramic capacitor can also introduce benefits in high
frequency noise decoupling, noise generated by parasitic components along power path.
OUTPUT CAPACITOR
Since the microprocessors require a current variation beyond 50A doing load transients, with a slope in the
range of tenth A/µs, the output capacitor is a basic component for the fast response of the power supply.
Dual phase topology reduces the amount of output capacitance needed because of faster load transient response
(switching frequency is doubled at the load connections). Current ripple cancellation due to the 180° phase shift
between the two phases also reduces requirements on the output ESR to sustain a specified voltage ripple.
When a load transient is applied to the converter's output, for first few microseconds the current to the load is
supplied by the output capacitors. The controller recognizes immediately the load transient and increases the
duty cycle, but the current slope is limited by the inductor value.
The output voltage has a first drop due to the current variation inside the capacitor (neglecting the effect of the
ESL):
∆VOUT = ∆IOUT · ESR
A minimum capacitor value is required to sustain the current during the load transient without discharge it. The
voltage drop due to the output capacitor discharge is given by the following equation:
2
∆I OUT ⋅ L
∆V OUT = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 ⋅ C OUT ⋅ ( V IN ⋅ D MAX – V OUT )
Where DMAX is the maximum duty cycle value. The lower is the ESR, the lower is the output drop during load
transient and the lower is the output voltage static ripple.
INDUCTOR DESIGN
The inductance value is defined by a compromise between the transient response time, the efficiency, the cost
and the size. The inductor has to be calculated to sustain the output and the input voltage variation to maintain
the ripple current ∆IL between 20% and 30% of the maximum output current. The inductance value can be calculated with this relationship:
V IN – V OUT V OUT
L = ------------------------------ ⋅ --------------f S W ⋅ ∆I L
V IN
Where fSW is the switching frequency, VIN is the input voltage and V OUT is the output voltage.
Increasing the value of the inductance reduces the ripple current but, at the same time, reduces the converter
response time to a load transient. The response time is the time required by the inductor to change its current
from initial to final value. Since the inductor has not finished its charging time, the output current is supplied by
the output capacitors. Minimizing the response time can minimize the output capacitance required.
The response time to a load transient is different for the application or the removal of the load: if during the ap-
16/32
L6919C
plication of the load the inductor is charged by a voltage equal to the difference between the input and the output
voltage, during the removal it is discharged only by the output voltage. The following expressions give approximate response time for ∆I load transient in case of enough fast compensation network response:
L ⋅ ∆I
t a pplic atio n = -----------------------------V IN – V OUT
L ⋅ ∆I
t rem ov al = --------------V OUT
The worst condition depends on the input voltage available and the output voltage selected. Anyway the worst
case is the response time after removal of the load with the minimum output voltage programmed and the maximum input voltage available.
Figure 11. Inductor ripple current vs VOUT
9
L=1.5µH, Vin=12V
Inductor Ripple [A]
8
L=2µH,
Vin=12V
7
6
L=3µH,
Vin=12V
5
4
L=1.5µH,
Vin=5V
3
L=2µH,
Vin=5V
2
L=3µH, Vin=5V
1
0
0.5
1.5
2.5
3.5
Output Voltage [V]
MAIN CONTROL LOOP
The control loop is composed by the Current Sharing control loop and the Average Current Mode control loop.
Each loop gives, with a proper gain, the correction to the PWM in order to minimize the error in its regulation:
the Current Sharing control loop equalize the currents in the inductors while the Average Current Mode control
loop fixes the output voltage equal to the reference programmed by VID. Figure 12 reports the block diagram of
the main control loop.
Figure 12. Main Control Loop Diagram
L1
+
PWM1
CURRENT
SHARING
DUTY CYCLE
CORRECTION
1/5
1/5
IINFO2
IINFO1
L2
+
PWM2
ERROR
AMPLIFIER
4/5
+
CO
RO
-
COMP
D02IN1392
REFERENCE
PROGRAMMED
BY VID
FB
ZF(S)
RFB
17/32
L6919C
Current Sharing (CS) Control Loop
Active current sharing is implemented using the information from Tran conductance differential amplifier in an
average current mode control scheme. A current reference equal to the average of the read current (I AVG) is internally built; the error between the read current and this reference is converted to a voltage with a proper gain
and it is used to adjust the duty cycle whose dominant value is set by the error amplifier at COMP pin (See fig. 13).
The current sharing control is a high bandwidth control loop allowing current sharing even during load transients.
The current sharing error is affected by the choice of external components; choose precise Rg resistor (±1% is
necessary) to sense the current. The current sharing error is internally dominated by the voltage offset of Tran
conductance differential amplifier; considering a voltage offset equal to 2mV across the sense resistor, the current reading error is given by the following equation:
∆I RE AD
2mV
-------------------- = ---------------------------------------I M AX
R SENSE ⋅ I M AX
Where ∆IREAD is the difference between one phase current and the ideal current (IMAX/2).
For RSENSE = 4mΩ and IMAX = 40A the current sharing error is equal to 2.5%, neglecting errors due to Rg and
Rsense mismatches.
Figure 13. Current Sharing Control Loop
+
L1
PWM1
CURRENT
SHARING
DUTY CYCLE
CORRECTION
1/5
1/5
+
PWM2
IINFO2
IINFO1
L2
COMP
VOUT
D02IN1393
Average Current Mode (ACM) Control Loop
The average current mode control loop is reported in figure 14. The current information IFB sourced by the FB
pin flows into RFB implementing the dependence of the output voltage from the read current.
The ACM control loop gain results (obtained opening the loop after the COMP pin):
PWM ⋅ Z F ( s ) ⋅ ( R DROOP + Z P ( s ) )
G LO O P ( s ) = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ZF (s )
1
( Z P ( s ) + Z L ( s ) ) ⋅ --------------- +  1 + ------------  ⋅ R FB
A(s) 
A ( s )
Where:
R s en se
– R DROOP = ------------------- ⋅ R FB is the equivalent output resistance determined by the droop function;
Rg
– ZP(s) is the impedance resulting by the parallel of the output capacitor (and its ESR) and the applied
load Ro;
– ZF(s) is the compensation network impedance;
– ZL(s) is the parallel of the two inductor impedance;
– A(s) is the error amplifier gain;
18/32
L6919C
4 ∆V IN
– PWM = --- ⋅ ------------------- · is the ACM PWM transfer function where ∆VOSC is the oscillator ramp amplitude
5 ∆V O SC
and has a typical value of 2V
Removing the dependence from the Error Amplifier gain, so assuming this gain high enough, the control loop
gain results:
ZF ( s)
V IN
 Rs Z P ( s )
4
G LO O P ( s ) = – --- ⋅ ------------------- ⋅ ------------------------------------ ⋅  -------- + ---------------
5 ∆V OS C Z P ( s ) + Z L ( s )  Rg R FB 
With further simplifications, it results:
Z F ( s ) R o + R DROOP
V IN
1 + s ⋅ Co ⋅ ( R DROOP //Ro + ESR )
4
G L OO P ( s ) = – --- ⋅ ------------------- ⋅ --------------- ⋅ -------------------------------------- ⋅ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ∆V O SC R FB
RL
RL
2
L
L
R o + ------s ⋅ C o ⋅ --- + s ⋅ --------------- + Co ⋅ ESR + Co ⋅ ------- + 1
2
2
2
2 ⋅ Ro
Considering now that in the application of interest it can be assumed that Ro>>RL; ESR<<Ro and
RDROOP<<Ro, it results:
ZF (s )
1 + s ⋅ Co ⋅ ( R DROOP + ESR )
V IN
4
G L OO P ( s ) = – --- ⋅ ------------------- ⋅ --------------- ⋅ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5 ∆V O SC R FB
RL
2
L
L
s ⋅ Co ⋅ --- + s ⋅ --------------- + C o ⋅ ESR + C o ⋅ ------- + 1
2
2
2 ⋅ Ro
The ACM control loop gain is designed to obtain a high DC gain to minimize static error and cross the 0dB axes
with a constant -20dB/dec slope with the desired crossover frequency ωT. Neglecting the effect of ZF(s), the
transfer function has one zero and two poles. Both the poles are fixed once the output filter is designed and the
zero is fixed by ESR and the Droop resistance. To obtain the desired shape an RF-CF series network is considered for the Z F(s) implementation. A zero at ωF=1/RFCF is then introduced together with an integrator. This integrator minimizes the static error while placing the zero in correspondence with the L-C resonance a simple 20dB/dec shape of the gain is assured (See Figure 14). In fact, considering the usual value for the output filter,
the LC resonance results to be at frequency lower than the above reported zero.Compensation network can be
simply designed placing ωZ = ωLC and imposing the cross-over frequency ωT as desired obtaining:
L
C o ⋅ --2
C F = -------------------RF
R FB ⋅ ∆V O SC 5
L
R F = ---------------------------------- ⋅ --- ⋅ ω T ⋅ -------------------------------------------------------V IN
4
2 ⋅ ( R DROOP + ESR )
Figure 14. ACM Control Loop Gain Block Diagram (left) and Bode Diagram (right)
dB
IFB
ZF
CF
RF
GLOOP
RFB
VCOMP
K
REF
PWM
L/2
d•VIN
ZF(s)
VOUT
ωLC
Cout
ESR
Rout
1
4 VIN
K = --- ⋅ --------------- ⋅ ---------5 ∆Vo sc R FB
ωZ
ωT
ω
dB
19/32
L6919C
LAYOUT GUIDELINES
Since the device manages control functions and high-current drivers, layout is one of the most important things
to consider when designing such high current applications.
A good layout solution can generate a benefit in lowering power dissipation on the power paths, reducing radiation and a proper connection between signal and power ground can optimize the performance of the control
loops.
Integrated power drivers reduce components count and interconnections between control functions and drivers,
reducing the board space.
Here below are listed the main points to focus on when starting a new layout and rules are suggested for a correct implementation.
■
Power Connections.
These are the connections where switching and continuous current flows from the input supply towards the load.
The first priority when placing components has to be reserved to this power section, minimizing the length of
each connection as much as possible.
To minimize noise and voltage spikes (EMI and losses) these interconnections must be a part of a power plane
and anyway realized by wide and thick copper traces. The critical components, i.e. the power transistors, must
be located as close as possible, together and to the controller. Considering that the "electrical" components reported in figure are composed by more than one "physical" component, a ground plane or "star" grounding connection is suggested to minimize effects due to multiple connections.
Figure 15. Power connections and related connections layout guidelines (same for both phases)
VIN
Rgat e
HS
HGATEx
PHASEx
L
Rgat e
LS
COUT
D
LOAD
CIN
LGATEx
PGNDx
a. PCB power and ground planes areas
VIN
BOOTx
CBOOTx
HS
PHASEx
L
+VCC
LS
VCC
COUT
D
CIN
SGND
LOAD
CVCC
b. PCB small signal components placement
20/32
L6919C
Fig. 15a shows the details of the power connections involved and the current loops. The input capacitance (CIN),
or at least a portion of the total capacitance needed, has to be placed close to the power section in order to
eliminate the stray inductance generated by the copper traces. Low ESR and ESL capacitors are required.
■
Power Connections Related.
Fig.15b shows some small signal components placement, and how and where to mix signal and power ground
planes. The distance from drivers and mosfet gates should be reduced as much as possible. Propagation delay
times as well as for the voltage spikes generated by the distributed inductance along the copper traces are so
minimized.
In fact, the further the mosfet is from the device, the longer is the interconnecting gate trace and as a consequence, the higher are the voltage spikes corresponding to the gate PWM rising and falling signals. Even if
these spikes are clamped by inherent internal diodes, propagation delays, noise and potential causes of instabilities are introduced jeopardizing good system behavior. One important consequence is that the switching
losses for the high side mosfet are significantly increased.
For this reason, it is suggested to have the device oriented with the driver side towards the mosfets and the
GATEx and PHASEx traces walking together toward the high side mosfet in order to minimize distance (see fig
16). In addition, since the PHASEx pin is the return path for the high side driver, this pin must be connected
directly to the High Side mosfet Source pin to have a proper driving for this mosfet. For the LS mosfets, the return path is the PGND pin: it can be connected directly to the power ground plane (if implemented) or in the
same way to the LS mosfets Source pin. GATEx and PHASEx connections (and also PGND when no power
ground plane is implemented) must also be designed to handle current peaks in excess of 2A (30 mils wide is
suggested).
Gate resistors of few ohms help in reducing the power dissipated by the IC without compromising the system
efficiency.
Figure 16. Device orientation (left) and sense nets routing (right)
Towards HS mosfet
To LS mosfet
(or sense resistor)
(30 mils wide)
Towards LS mosfet
(30 mils wide)
Towards HS mosfet
(30 mils wide)
To LS mosfet
(or sense resistor)
To regulated output
The placement of other components is also important:
– The bootstrap capacitor must be placed as close as possible to the BOOTx and PHASEx pins to minimize the loop that is created.
– Decoupling capacitor from Vcc and SGND placed as close as possible to the involved pins.
– Decoupling capacitor from VCCDR and PGND placed as close as possible to those pins. This capacitor
sustains the peak currents requested by the low-side mosfet drivers.
– Refer to SGND all the sensible components such as frequency set-up resistor (when present) and also
the optional resistor from FB to GND used to give the positive droop effect.
– Connect SGND to PGND on the load side (output capacitor) to avoid undesirable load regulation effect
and to ensure the right precision to the regulation when the remote sense buffer is not used.
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L6919C
– An additional 100nF ceramic capacitor is suggested to place near HS mosfet drain. This helps in reducing noise.
– PHASE pin spikes. Since the HS mosfet switches in hard mode, heavy voltage spikes can be observed
on the PHASE pins. If these voltage spikes overcome the max breakdown voltage of the pin, the device
can absorb energy and it can cause damages. The voltage spikes must be limited by proper layout, the
use of gate resistors, Schottky diodes in parallel to the low side mosfets and/or snubber network on the
low side mosfets, to a value lower than 26V, for 20nSec, at FSW of 600kHz max.
■
Current Sense Connections.
Remote Buffer: The input connections for this components must be routed as parallel nets from the FBG/FBR
pins to the load in order to compensate losses along the output power traces and also to avoid the pick-up of
any common mode noise. Connecting these pins in points far from the load, will cause a non-optimum load regulation, increasing output tolerance.
Current Reading: The Rg resistor has to be placed as close as possible to the ISENx and PGNDSx pins in
order to limit the noise injection into the device. The PCB traces connecting these resistors to the reading point
must be routed as parallel traces in order to avoid the pick-up of any common mode noise. It's also important
to avoid any offset in the measurement and to get a better precision, to connect the traces as close as possible
to the sensing elements, dedicated current sense resistor or low side mosfet RdsON.
Moreover, when using the low side mosfet R dsON as current sense element, the ISENx pin is practically connected to the PHASEx pin. DO NOT CONNECT THE PINS TOGETHER AND THEN TO THE HS SOURCE!
The device won't work properly because of the noise generated by the return of the high side driver. In this case
route two separate nets: connect the PHASEx pin to the HS Source (route together with HGATEx) with a wide
net (30 mils) and the ISENx pin to the LS Drain (route together with PGNDSx). Moreover, the PGNDSx pin is
always connected, through the Rg resistor, to the PGND: DO NOT CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THE PGND! In
this case the device won't work properly. Route anyway to the LS mosfet source (together with ISENx net).
Right and wrong connections are reported in Figure 17.
Symmetrical layout is also suggested to avoid any unbalance between the two phases of the converter.
Figure 17. PCB layout connections for sense nets
NOT CORRECT
VIA to GND plane
To PHASE
connection
CORRECT
To LS Drain
and Source
To HS Gate
and Source
Wrong (left) and correct (right) connections for the current reading sensing nets.
22/32
L6919C
Demo Board Description
The L6919C demo board shows the operation of the device in a dual phase application. This evaluation board
allows output voltage adjustability (0.800V - 1.550V) through the switches S0-S4 and high output current capability.
The board has been laid out with the possibility to use up to two D2PACK mosfets for the low side switch in order
to give maximum flexibility in the mosfet choice.
The four layers demo board's copper thickness is of 70µm in order to minimize conduction losses considering
the high current that the circuit is able to deliver.
Demo board schematic circuit is reported in Figure 18.
Figure 18. Demo Board Schematic
Vin
JP6
DZ1
GNDin
JP2
JP1
VCCDR
Vcc
C5
D4
VCC
2
6
5
24
4
25
C8
GNDcc
C7
BOOT1
Q2
Q4
L2
PHASE2
3
26
R18
VoutCORE
R17
LGATE1
Q1
1
27
Q3
D2
R12
R13
Q1a
PGNDS1
14
R5
16
U1
R6
VID3
S2
VID2
S1
VID1
S0
VID0
GNDCORE
R3
L6919C 15
PGNDS2
R1
PGND
VID4
R20
Q3a
28
S3
R19
ISEN2
13
S4
C14,
C23
LGATE2
ISEN1
To pin
VCC
C3
R14
PHASE1
D1
C6
UGATE2
R15
L1
D3
BOOT2
UGATE1
C4
C9,C10 C11..C13
R11
R16
22
R4
PGOOD
23
21
PGOOD
VSEN
10
20
R10
19
R7
FB
18
9
JP3
C24
OSC / INH
17
R21
JP4
R8
R2
C2
SGND
7
C1
JP5
R9
COMP
11
12
FBR
8
FBG
FBG
FBR
Several jumpers allow setting different configurations for the device: JP3, JP4 and JP5 allow configuring the
remote buffer as desired. Simply shorting JP4 and JP5 the remote buffer is enabled and it senses the output
voltage on-board; to implement a real remote sense, leave these jumpers open and connect the FBG and FBR
connectors on the demo board to the remote load. To avoid using the remote buffer, simply short all the jumpers
JP3, JP4 and JP5. Local sense through the R7 is used for the regulation.
The input can be configured in different ways using the jumpers JP1, JP2 and JP6; these jumpers control also
the mosfet driver supply voltage. Anyway, power conversion starts from VIN and the device is supplied from V CC
(See Figure 19).
Figure 19. Power supply configuration
To Vcc pin
To HS Drains (Power Input)
To BOOTx (HS Driver Supply)
Vin
JP6
GNDin
DZ1
JP2
JP1
Vcc
To VCCDR pin (LS Driver Supply)
GNDcc
23/32
L6919C
Two main configurations can be distinguished: Single Supply (VCC=VIN=12V) and Double Supply (VCC=12V
VIN=5V or different).
– Single Supply: In this case JP6 has to be completely shorted. The device is supplied with the same rail
that is used for the conversion. With an additional zener diode DZ1 a lower voltage can be derived to
supply the mosfets driver if Logic level mosfet are used. In this case JP1 must be left open so that the
HS driver is supplied with VIN-VDZ1 through BOOTx and JP2 must be shorted to the left to use VIN or to
the right to use VIN-VDZ1 to supply the LS driver through VCCDR pin. Otherwise, JP1 must be shorted
and JP2 can be freely shorted in one of the two positions.
– Double Supply: In this case VCC supply directly the controller (12V) while VIN supplies the HS drains
for the power conversion. This last one can start indifferently from the 5V bus (Typ.) or from other buses
allowing maximum flexibility in the power conversion. Supply for the mosfet driver can be programmed
through the jumpers JP1, JP2 and JP6 as previously illustrated. JP6 selects now VCC or VIN depending
on the requirements.
Some examples are reported in the following Figures 20 and 21.
Figure 20. Jumpers configuration: Double Supply
Vcc = 12V
HS Drains = 5V
Vin = 5V
HS Supply = 5V
GNDin
DZ1
JP6
JP2
JP1
VCCDR (LS Supply) = 5V
Vcc = 12V
GNDcc
(a) VCC = 12V; VBOOTx = VCCDR = VIN = 5V
Vcc = 12V
HS Drains = 5V
Vin = 5V
HS Supply = 12V
GNDin
DZ1
JP6
JP2
JP1
VCCDR (LS Supply) = 12V
Vcc = 12V
GNDcc
(b) VCC = VBOOTx = VCCDR = 12V; VIN = 5V
Figure 21. Jumpers configuration: Single Supply
Vcc = 12V
HS Drains = 12V
Vin = 12V
HS Supply = 5.2V
GNDin
JP6
DZ1 6.8V
JP2
JP1
VCCDR (LS Supply) = 12V
Vcc = Open
GNDcc
(a) VCC = VIN = VCCDR = 12V; VBOOTx = 5.2V
Vcc = 12V
HS Drains = 12V
Vin = 12V
HS Supply = 12V
GNDin
JP6
DZ1
JP2
JP1
Vcc = Open
VCCDR (LS Supply) = 12V
GNDcc
(b) VCC = VIN = VBOOTx = VCCDR = 12V
24/32
L6919C
PCB AND COMPONENT LAYOUT
Figure 22. PCB and Components Layouts (Dimensions: 10.8mm x 8.2mm)
Component Side
Internal SGND Plane
Internal PGND Plane
Solder Side
25/32
L6919C
CPU Power Supply: 5 to 12VIN; 1.2VOUT; 45ADC
Considering the high slope for the load transient, a high switching frequency has to be used. In addition to fast
reaction, this helps in reducing output and input capacitor. Inductance value is also reduced.
A switching frequency of 200kHz for each phase is then considered allowing large bandwidth for the compensation network. Considering the high output current, power conversion will start from the 12V bus.
– Current Reading Network and Over Current:
Since the maximum output current is IMAX = 45A, the over current threshold has been set to 45A (22.5A
x 2)in the worst case (max mosfet temperature). Since the device limits the valley of the triangular ripple
across the inductors, the current ripple must be considered too. Considering the inductor core saturation, a current ripple of 10A has to be considered so that the OCP threshold in worst case becomes
OCPx=17A (22.5A-5A). Considering to sense the output current across the low-side mosfet RdsON,
SUB85N03L-04P has 4.3mΩ max at 25°C that becomes 5.6mΩ at 100ºC considering the temperature
variation; the resulting transconductance resistor Rg has to be:
R d sO N
5.6m
Rg = I OCPx ⋅ ------------------ = 17 ⋅ ------------- = 2.7 kΩ
35 µ
35 µ
(R3 to R6)
– Droop function Design:
Considering a voltage drop of 70mV at full load, the feedback resistor RFB has to be:
70mV
R FB = ---------------- = 1kΩ (R7)
70µA
– Inductor design:
Transient response performance needs a compromise in the inductor choice value: the biggest the inductor, the highest the efficient but the worse the transient response and vice versa.
Considering then an inductor value of 0.8µH, the current ripple becomes:
Vin – Vo ut
d
12 – 1.2 1.2
1
∆I = ----------------------------- ⋅ ----------- = --------------------- ⋅ -------- ⋅ ------------- = 6.5A (L1, L2)
L
Fsw
0.8µ
12 200k
– Output Capacitor:
Five Rubycon MBZ (2200µF / 6.3V / 12mΩ max ESR) has been used implementing a resulting ESR of
2.4mΩ resulting in an ESR voltage drop of 45A · 2.4mΩ = 108mV after a 45A load transient.
– Compensation Network:
A voltage loop bandwidth of 20kHz is considered to let the device fast react after load transient.
The R F C F network results:
R F B ⋅ ∆V O S 5
0.8µ
L
1K ⋅ 2 5
RF = ------------------------------ ⋅ --- ⋅ ω T ⋅ ------------------------------------------------------- = --------------- ⋅ --- ⋅ 20K ⋅ 2Π ⋅ --------------------------------------------------------------- = 2.0kΩ (R8)
VIN
2 ⋅ ( RDROOP + ESR )
4
12
4
5.6m

2 ⋅ ------------- ⋅ 1.2k + 2.4m
 2.7

1µ
L
6 ⋅ 2200µ ⋅ ------C o ⋅ --2
2
C F = -------------------- = ----------------------------------------- = 33 nF (C2)
2k
RF
Further adjustments can be done on the work bench to fit the requirements and to compensate layout parasitic
components.
26/32
L6919C
Part List
R1
R2, R20,R21
R3, R4, R5, R6
R7
R8
R9
R10
R11
R12 to R19
10k
Not Mounted
2.7k
1k
1.8k
47k
510
82
0
C1
C2
C3, C4
C5, C6, C7, C8
C9, C10
C11 to C13
C14 to C18
C24
Not Mounted
22n
100n
1µ
10µ or 22µ / 16V
1800µ / 16V
2200µ / 6.3V
100n
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
Ceramic
SMD 1206
TDK Multilayer Ceramic SMD 1206
Rubycon MBZ
Radial 10x23
Rubycon MBZ
Radial 10x20
SMD 0805
L1, L2
U1
0.8µ
L6919C
77121 - 4Turns
STMicroelectronics
SO28
Q1, Q3
Q2, Q4
SUB85N03-04P
SUB70N03-09BP
Vishay
Vishay
D2PACK
D2PACK
D1, D2
D3, D4
STPS340U
1N4148
STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics
SMB
SOT23
S0,S4
S1,S2,S3
Short
Open
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
1%
1%
1%
STATIC PERFORMANCES
Figure 23 shows the demo board measured efficiency versus load current in steady state conditions without airflow at ambient temperature.
Figure 23. System Efficiency
90
85
Efficiency [%]
80
75
70
c
65
60
55
50
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Output Current [A]
27/32
L6919C
Figure 24 shows the mosfets temperature versus output current in steady state condition without any air-flow
or heat sink. It can be observed that the mosfets are under 100ºC in any conditions. Load regulation is also reported from 10A to 45A.
Figure 24. Mosfet Temperature and Load Regulation
1.250
90
80
High-side MOS Q2
1.240
High-side MOS Q4
1.230
Low -side MOS Q1
70
Vout [V]
MOS Temperature [
o
C]
100
Low -side MOS Q3
60
50
1.220
1.210
1.200
1.190
40
1.180
30
1.170
20
0
0
5
10
15 20 25 30 35
Output Current [A]
40
45
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Output Current [A]
DYNAMIC PERFORMANCES
Figure 25 shows the system response to a load transient from 3A to 45A. The output voltage is contained in the
±50mV range. Additional output capacitors can help in reducing the initial voltage spike mainly due to the ESR.
Figure 25. 3A to 45A Load Transient Response
Figure 26 shows the system response to a VID transient from 1.200V to 0.800V and vice versa at minimum load (3A).
Figure 26. Dynamic VID Response
28/32
L6919C
DEMO BOARD ENHANCEMENTS: 1.200V / 52A CPU Power Supply
Considering the same application schematic, minor changes can be done to achieve the 52A thermal output
current required by AMD Hammer processor core. Part list has been modified as follow:
Part List
R1, R2, R20,R21
R3, R4, R5, R6
R7
R8
R9
R10
R11
R12 to R19
Not Mounted
1.5k
1k
1.8k
47k
510
82
0
C1
C2
C3, C4
C5, C6, C7, C8
C9, C10
C11 to C13
C14 to C18
C24
Not Mounted
10n
100n
1µ
10µ or 22µ / 16V
1800µ / 16V
2200µ / 6.3V
100n
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
Ceramic
SMD 1206
TDK Multilayer Ceramic SMD 1206
Rubycon MBZ
Radial 10x23
Rubycon MBZ
Radial 10x20
SMD 0805
L1, L2
U1
0.8µ
L6919C
77121 - 4Turns
STMicroelectronics
SO28
Q1, Q1a, Q3, Q3a
Q2, Q4
SUB85N03-04P
SUB70N03-09BP
Vishay-Siliconix
Vishay-Siliconix
D2PACK
D2PACK
D1, D2
D3, D4
STPS340U
1N4148
STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics
SMB
SOT23
S0,S4
S1,S2,S3
Short
Open
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
SMD 0805
1%
1%
1%
STATIC PERFORMANCES
Figure 27 shows the demo board measured efficiency versus load current in steady state conditions without airflow at ambient temperature.
Figure 27. System Efficiency
90
85
80
Efficiency [%]
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Output Current [A]
29/32
L6919C
Figure 28 shows the mosfets temperature versus output current in steady state condition without any air-flow
or heat sink. It can be observed that the mosfets are under 105°C in any conditions. Load regulation is also reported from 10A to 55A.
Figure 28. Mosfet Temperature and Load Regulation.
105
High-s ide MOS Q2
95
High-s ide MOS Q4
85
Low-s ide MOS Q1
75
Low-s ide MOS Q3
65
1.235
1.225
1.215
Vout [V]
MOS Temperature [ oC]
115
1.205
1.195
55
1.185
45
1.175
35
1.165
25
1.155
0
5
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Output Current [A]
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Output Current [A]
Figure 29 shows the system response to a load transient from 3A to 45A. The output voltage is contained in the
±50mV range. Additional output capacitors can help in reducing the initial voltage spike mainly due to the ESR.
Figure 29. 3A to 45A Load Transient Response
Figure 30 shows the system response to a VID transient from 1.200V to 0.800V and vice versa at minimum load (3A).
Figure 30. Dynamic VID Response
30/32
L6919C
mm
DIM.
MIN.
TYP.
A
inch
MAX.
MIN.
TYP.
2.65
MAX.
0.104
a1
0.1
0.3
0.004
0.012
b
0.35
0.49
0.014
0.019
b1
0.23
0.32
0.009
0.013
C
0.5
c1
0.020
45° (typ.)
D
17.7
18.1
0.697
0.713
E
10
10.65
0.394
0.419
e
1.27
0.050
e3
16.51
0.65
F
7.4
7.6
0.291
0.299
L
0.4
1.27
0.016
0.050
S
OUTLINE AND
MECHANICAL DATA
SO28
8 ° (max.)
31/32
L6919C
Information furnished is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, STMicroelectronics assumes no responsibility for the consequences
of use of such information nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. No license is granted
by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of STMicroelectronics. Specifications mentioned in this publication are subject
to change without notice. This publication supersedes and replaces all information previously supplied. STMicroelectronics products are not
authorized for use as critical components in life support devices or systems without express written approval of STMicroelectronics.
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32/32