NSC LM2696MXAX

LM2696
3A, Constant On Time Buck Regulator
General Description
Features
The LM2696 is a pulse width modulation (PWM) buck regulator capable of delivering up to 3A into a load. The control
loop utilizes a constant on-time control scheme with input
voltage feed forward. This provides a topology that has
excellent transient response without the need for compensation. The input voltage feed forward ensures that a constant switching frequency is maintained across the entire VIN
range.
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The LM2696 is capable of switching frequencies in the range
of 100 kHz to 500 kHz. Combined with an integrated 130 mΩ
high side NMOS switch the LM2696 can utilize small sized
external components and provide high efficiency. An internal
soft-start and power-good flag are also provided to allow for
simple sequencing between multiple regulators.
The LM2696 is available with an adjustable output in an
exposed pad TSSOP-16 package.
Input voltage range of 4.5V–24V
Constant On-Time
No compensation needed
Maximum Load Current of 3A
Switching frequency of 100 kHz–500 kHz
Constant frequency across input range
TTL compatible shutdown thresholds
Low standby current of 12 µA
130 mΩ internal MOSFET switch
Applications
n High efficiency step-down switching regulators
n LCD Monitors
n Set-Top Boxes
Typical Application Circuit
20153401
© 2005 National Semiconductor Corporation
DS201534
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LM2696 3A, Constant On Time Buck Regulator
October 2005
LM2696
Connection Diagram
Top View
20153402
eTSSOP-16 Package
Pin Descriptions
Pin #
Name
1, 2, 3
SW
4
CBOOT
5
AVIN
6
EXTVCC
7
FB
Function
Switching node
Bootstrap capacitor input
Analog voltage input
Output of internal regulator for decoupling
Feedback signal from output
8
N/C
No connect
9
GND
Ground
10
SS
11
PGOOD
12
RON
13
SD
14, 15, 16
PVIN
-
Exposed Pad
Soft-start pin
Power-good flag, open drain output
Sets the switch on-time dependent on current
Shutdown pin
Power voltage input
Must be connected to ground
Ordering Information
Order
Number
Package
Type
NSC Package
Drawing
Supplied As
LM2696MXA
eTSSOP-16
MXA16A
92 units/rail
LM2696MXAX
eTSSOP-16
MXA16A
2,500 Units Tape and Reel
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2
Junction Temperature
If Military/Aerospace specified devices are required,
please contact the National Semiconductor Sales Office/
Distributors for availability and specifications.
Lead Temperature
(Soldering, 10 sec.)
260˚C
Minimum ESD Rating
1.5 kV
+150˚C
Voltages from the indicated pins to GND
AVIN
−0.3V to +26V
PVIN
−0.3V to (AVIN+0.3V)
CBOOT
Operating Range
Junction
Temperature
−0.3V to +33V
CBOOT to SW
−0.3V to +7V
FB, SD, SS, PGOOD
−0.3V to +7V
Storage Temperature Range
−65˚C to +150˚C
−40˚C to +125˚C
AVIN to GND
4.5V to 24V
PVIN
4.5V to 24V
Electrical Characteristics Specifications with standard typeface are for TJ = 25˚C, and those in boldface
type apply over the full Operating Temperature Range (TJ = −40˚C to +125˚C). Minimum and Maximum limits are guaranteed through test, design or statistical correlation. Typical values represent the most likely parametric norm at TJ = 25˚C and
are provided for reference purposes only. Unless otherwise specified VIN = 12V.
Symbol
Parameter
Condition
VFB
Feedback Pin Voltage
VIN = 4.5V to 24V
ISW = 0A to 3A
Min
Typ
Max
Units
1.225
1.254
1.282
V
ICL
Switch Current Limit
VCBOOT = VSW + 5V
4.9
6.4
A
RDS_ON
Switch On Resistance
ISW = 3A
0.13
0.22
Ω
IQ
Operating Quiescent Current
VFB = 1.5V
1.3
2
mA
Rising VIN
VUVLO
AVIN Under Voltage Lockout
VUVLO HYS
AVIN Under Voltage Lockout Hysteresis
ISD
Shutdown Quiescent Current
VSD = 0V
kON
Switch On-Time Constant
ION = 50 µA to 100 µA
VD ON
RON Voltage
TOFF_MIN
Minimum Off Time
TON MIN
Minimum On-time
VEXTVCC
EXTVCC Voltage
∆VEXTVCC
EXTVCC Load Regulation
IEXTVCC = 0 µA to 50 µA
VPWRGD
PGOOD Threshold (PGOOD Transition
from Low to High)
With respect to VFB
VPG_HYS
PGOOD Hysteresis
3.6
3.9
4.125
4.3
V
60
120
mV
12
25
µA
50
66
82
µA µs
0.35
0.65
0.95
V
165
12
250
30
ns
µs
FB = 1.24V
FB = 0V
400
3.30
91.5
ns
3.65
4.00
V
0.03
0.5
%
93.5
95.5
%
1
2.1
%
IOL
PGOOD Low Sink Current
IOH
PGOOD High Leakage Current
IFB
Feedback Pin Bias Current
VFB = 1.2V
ISS_SOURCE
Soft-Start Pin Source Current
VSS = 0V
ISS SINK
Soft-Start Pin Sink Current
VSS = 1.2V
VSD = 0V
15
ISD
Shutdown Pull-Up Current
VSD = 0V
1
VIH
SD Pin Minimum High Input Level
VIL
SD Pin Maximum Low Input Level
θJ-A
Thermal Resistance
VPGOOD = 0.4V
0.5
0.7
2
mA
50
nA
0
nA
1
1.4
µA
mA
3
1.8
µA
V
0.6
35.1
V
˚C/W
Note 1: Absolute Maximum Ratings indicate limits beyond which damage may occur to the device. Operating Ratings indicate conditions for which the device is
intended to be functional, but do not guarantee specific performance limits. For guaranteed specifications, see Electrical Characteristics.
Note 2: Without PCB copper enhancements. The maximum power dissipation must be derated at elevated temperatures and is limited by TJMAX (maximum junction
temperature), θJ-A (junction to ambient thermal resistance) and TA (ambient temperature). The maximum power dissipation at any temperature is: PDissMAX = (TJMAX
- TA) /θJ-A up to the value listed in the Absolute Maximum Ratings. θJ-A for TSSOP-16 package is 38.1˚C/W, TJMAX = 125˚C.
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LM2696
Absolute Maximum Ratings (Note 1)
LM2696
Typical Performance Characteristics
IQ vs Temp
IQ vs VIN
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20153404
IQ in Shutdown vs Temp
IQ vs VIN in Shutdown
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20153406
Shutdown Thresholds vs Temp
EXTVCC vs Temp
20153408
20153407
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LM2696
Typical Performance Characteristics
(Continued)
EXTVCC vs VIN
EXTVCC vs Load Current
20153410
20153409
Feedback Threshold Voltage vs Temp
kON vs Temp
20153412
20153411
Switch ON Time vs RON Pin Current
Min Off-Time vs Temp
20153414
20153413
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LM2696
Typical Performance Characteristics
(Continued)
Max and Min Duty-Cycle vs Freq
(Min TON = 400 ns, Min TOFF = 200 ns)
FET Resistance vs Temp
20153415
20153416
RON Pin Voltage vs Temp
Current Limit vs Temp
20153418
20153417
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LM2696
Block Diagram
20153419
hysteretic or constant on-time, require a minimum ESR. A
minimum ESR is required so that the control signal will be
dominated by ripple that is in phase with the switchpin. Using
a control signal dominated by voltage ripple that is in phase
with the switchpin eliminates the need for compensation,
thus reducing parts count and simplifying design. Alternatively, an RC feed forward scheme may be used to eliminate
the need for a minimum ESR.
Application Information
CONSTANT ON-TIME CONTROL OVERVIEW
The LM2696 buck DC-DC regulator is based on the constant
on-time control scheme. This topology relies on a fixed
switch on-time to regulate the output. The on-time can be set
manually by adjusting the size of an external resistor (RON).
The LM2696 automatically adjusts the on-time inversely with
the input voltage (AVIN) to maintain a constant frequency. In
continuous conduction mode (CCM) the frequency depends
only on duty cycle and on-time. This is in contrast to hysteretic regulators where the switching frequency is determined
by the output inductor and capacitor. In discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), experienced at light loads, the frequency will vary according to the load. This leads to high
efficiency and excellent transient response.
The on-time will remain constant for a given VIN unless an
over-current or over-voltage event is encountered. If these
conditions are encountered the FET will turn off for a minimum pre-determined time period. This minimum TOFF (250
ns) is internally set and cannot be adjusted. After the TOFF
period has expired the FET will remain off until the comparator trip-point has been reached. Upon passing this trip-point
the FET will turn back on, and the process will repeat.
Switchers that regulate using an internal comparator to
sense the output voltage for switching decisions, such as
INTERNAL OPERATION
UNDER-VOLTAGE COMPARATOR
An internal comparator is used to monitor the feedback pin
for sensing under-voltage output events. If the output voltage
drops below the UVP threshold the power-good flag will fall.
ON-TIME GENERATOR SHUTDOWN
The on-time for the LM2696 is inversely proportional to the
input voltage. This scheme of on-time control maintains a
constant frequency over the input voltage range. The ontime can be adjusted by using an external resistor connected
between the PVIN and RON pins.
CURRENT LIMIT
The LM2696 contains an intelligent current limit off-timer. If
the peak current in the internal FET exceeds 4.9A the
present on-time is terminated; this is a cycle-by-cycle current
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LM2696
Application Information
flowing into the RON pin and is directly related to the on-time
pulse. Connecting a resistor from this pin to PVIN allows the
switching frequency to remain constant as the input voltage
changes. In normal operation this pin is approximately 0.65V
above GND. In shutdown, this pin becomes a high impedance node to prevent current flow.
(Continued)
limit. Following the termination of the on-time, a nonresetable extended off timer is initiated. The length of the
off-time is proportional to the feedback voltage. When FB =
0V the off-time is preset to 20 µs. This condition is often a
result of in short circuit operation when a maximum amount
of off-time is required. This amount of time ensures safe
short circuit operation up to the maximum input voltage of
24V.
In cases of overload (not complete short circuit, FB > 0V)
the current limit off-time is reduced. Reduction of the off-time
during smaller overloads reduces the amount of fold back.
This also reduces the initial startup time.
The on time may be exoressed as:
Where VIN is the voltage at the high side of the RON resistor
(typically PVIN), VD is the diode voltage present at the RON
pin (0.65V typical), RON is in kΩ, and kON is a constant value
set internally (66 µA • µs nominal). This equation can be
re-arranged such that RON is a function of switching frequency:
N-CHANNEL HIGH SIDE SWITCH AND DRIVER
The LM2696 utilizes an integrated N-Channel high side
switch and associated floating high voltage gate driver. This
gate driver circuit works in conjunction with an external
bootstrap capacitor and an internal diode. The minimum
off-time (165 ns) is set to ensure that the bootstrap capacitor
has sufficient time to charge.
THERMAL SHUTDOWN
Where fSW is in kHz.
In CCM the frequency may be determined using the relationship:
An internal thermal sensor is incorporated to monitor the die
temperature. If the die temp exceeds 165oC then the sensor
will trip causing the part to stop switching. Soft-start will
restart after the temperature falls below 155oC.
COMPONENT SELECTION
As with any DC-DC converter, numerous trade-offs are
present that allow the designer to optimize a design for
efficiency, size and performance. These trade-offs are taken
into consideration throughout this section.
The first calculation for any buck converter is duty cycle.
Ignoring voltage drops associated with parasitic resistances
and non-ideal components, the duty cycle may be expressed
as:
(TON is in µs)
Which is typically used to set the switching frequency.
Under no condition should a bypass capacitor be connected
to the RON pin. Doing so couples any AC perturbations into
the pin and prevents proper operation.
INDUCTOR SELECTION
Selecting an inductor is a process that may require several
iterations. The reason for this is that the size of the inductor
influences the amount of ripple present at the output that is
critical to the stability of an adaptive on-time circuit. Typically,
an inductor is selected such that the maximum peak-to-peak
ripple current is equal to 30% of the maximum load current.
The inductor current ripple (∆IL) may be expressed as:
A duty cycle relationship that considers the voltage drop
across the internal FET and voltage drop across the external
catch diode may be expressed as:
Therefore, L can be initially set to the following by applying
the 30% guideline:
Where VD is the forward voltage of the external catch diode
(DCATCH) and VSW is the voltage drop across the internal
FET.
FREQUENCY SELECTION
Switching frequency affects the selection of the output inductor, capacitor, and overall efficiency. The trade-offs in frequency selection may be summarized as; higher switching
frequencies permit use of smaller inductors possibly saving
board space at the trade-off of lower efficiency. It is recommended that a nominal frequency of 300 kHz should be used
in the initial stages of design and iterated if necessary.
The switching frequency of the LM2696 is set by the resistor
connected to the RON pin. This resistor controls the current
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The other features of the inductor that should be taken into
account are saturation current and core material. A shielded
inductor or low profile unshielded inductor is recommended
to reduce EMI.
8
(Continued)
The value of Rff should be large in order to prevent any
potential offset in VOUT. Typically the value of Rff is on the
order of 1 MΩ and the value of RFB1 should be less than
10 kΩ. The large difference in resistor values minimizes
output voltage offset errors in DCM. The value of the capacitor may be selected using the following relationship:
OUTPUT CAPACITOR
The output capacitor size and ESR have a direct affect on
the stability of the loop. This is because the adaptive on-time
control scheme works by sensing the output voltage ripple
and switching appropriately. The output voltage ripple on a
buck converter can be approximated by assuming that the
AC inductor ripple current flows entirely into the output capacitor and the ESR of the capacitor creates the voltage
ripple. This is expressed as:
∆VOUT≈ ∆IL • RESR
Where the on-time (TON_MIN) is in µs, and the resistance
(Rff) is in MΩ.
To ensure stability, two constraints need to be met. These
constraints are the voltage ripple at the feedback pin must be
greater than some minimum value and the voltage ripple
must be in phase with the switch pin.
The ripple voltage necessary at the feedback pin may be
estimated using the following relationship:
∆VFB > −0.057 • fSW + 35
Where fSW is in kHz and ∆VFB is in mV.
FEEDBACK RESISTORS
The feedback resistors are used to scale the output voltage
to the internal reference value such that the loop can be
regulated. The feedback resistors should not be made arbitrarily large as this creates a high impedance node at the
feedback pin that is more susceptible to noise. Typically,
RFB2 is on the order of 1 kΩ. To calculate the value of RFB1,
one may use the relationship:
This minimum ripple voltage is necessary in order for the
comparator to initiate switching. The voltage ripple at the
feedback pin must be in-phase with the switch. Because the
ripple due to the capacitor charging and capacitor ESR are
out of phase, the ripple due to capacitor ESR must dominate.
The ripple at the output may be calculated by multiplying the
feedback ripple voltage by the gain seen through the feedback resistors. This gain H may be expressed as:
Where VFB is the internal reference voltage that can be
found in the electrical characteristics table (1.254V typical).
The output voltage value can be set in a precise manner by
taking into account the fact that the reference voltage is
regulating the bottom of the output ripple as opposed to the
average value. This relationship is shown in Figure 2.
To simplify design and eliminate the need for high ESR
output capacitors, an RC network may be used to feed
forward a signal from the switchpin to the feedback (FB) pin.
See the ‘Ripple Feed Forward’ section for more details.
Typically, the best performance is obtained using POSCAPs,
SP CAPs, tantalum, Niobium Oxide, or similar chemistry
type capacitors. Low ESR ceramic capacitors may be used
in conjunction with the RC feed forward scheme; however,
the feed forward voltage at the feedback pin must be greater
than 30 mV.
RIPPLE FEED FORWARD
An RC network may be used to eliminate the need for high
ESR capacitors. Such a network is connected as shown in
Figure 1.
20153428
FIGURE 1. RC Feed Forward Network
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LM2696
Application Information
LM2696
Application Information
(Continued)
20153431
FIGURE 2. Average and Ripple Output Voltages
AVIN CAPACITOR
AVIN is the analog bias rail of the device. It should be
bypassed externally with a small (1 µF) ceramic capacitor to
prevent unwanted noise from entering the device. In a shutdown state the current needed by AVIN will drop to approximately 12 µA, providing a low power sleep state.
In most cases of operation, AVIN is connected to PVIN;
however, it is possible to have split rail operation where AVIN
is at a higher voltage than PVIN. AVIN should never be lower
than PVIN. Splitting the rails allows the power conversion to
occur from a lower rail than the AVIN operating range.
It can be seen that the average output voltage is higher than
the gained up reference by exactly half the output voltage
ripple. The output voltage may then be appended according
to the voltage ripple. The appended VOUT term may be
expressed using the relationship:
One should note that for high output voltages ( > 5V), a load
of approximately 15 mA may be required for the output
voltage to reach the desired value.
SOFT-START CAPACITOR
The SS capacitor is used to slowly ramp the reference from
0V to its final value of 1.25V (during shutdown this pin will be
discharged to 0V). This controlled startup ability eliminates
large in-rush currents in an attempt to charge up the output
capacitor. By changing the value of this capacitor, the duration of the startup may be changed accordingly. The startup
time may be calculated using the following relationship:
INPUT CAPACITOR
Because PVIN is the power rail from which the output voltage
is derived, the input capacitor is typically selected according
to the load current. In general, package size and ESR determine the current capacity of a capacitor. If these criteria
are met, there should be enough capacitance to prevent
impedance interactions with the source. In general, it is
recommended to use a low ESR, high capacitance electrolytic and ceramic capacitor in parallel. Using two capacitors
in parallel ensures adequate capacitance and low ESR over
the operating range. The Sanyo MV-WX series electrolytic
capacitors and a ceramic capacitor with X5R or X7R dielectric are an excellent combination. To calculate the input
capacitor RMS, one may use the following relationship:
Where ISS is the soft-start pin source current (1 µA typical)
that may be found in the electrical characteristics table.
While the CSS capacitor can be sized to meet the startup
requirements, there are limitations to its size. If the capacitor
is too small, the soft-start will have little effect as the reference voltage is rising faster than the output capacitor can be
charged causing the part to go into current limit. Therefore a
minimum soft-start time should be taken into account. This
can be determined by:
that can be approximated by,
Typical values are 470 µF for the electrolytic capacitor and
0.1 µF for the ceramic capacitor.
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turned on. The recommendation is to use a 10 kΩ–100 kΩ
resistor. This range of values is a compromise between rise
time and power dissipation.
(Continued)
While COUT and VOUT control the slew rate of the output
voltage, the total amount of time the LM2696 takes to startup
is dependent on two other terms. See the “Startup” section
for more information.
CATCH DIODE
The catch or freewheeling diode acts as the bottom switch in
a non-synchronous buck switcher. Because of this, the diode
has to handle the full output current whenever the FET is not
conducting. Therefore, it must be sized appropriately to
handle the current. The average current through the diode
can be calculated by the equation:
ID_AVG = IOUT • (1–D)
EXTVCC CAPACITOR
External VCC is a 3.65V rail generated by an internal subregulator that powers the parts internal circuitry. This rail
should be bypassed with a 1 µF ceramic capacitor (X5R or
equivalent dielectric). Although EXTVCC is for internal use, it
can be used as an external rail for extremely light loads ( < 50
µA). If EXTVCC is accidentally shorted to GND the part is
protected by a 5 mA current limit. This rail also has an
under-voltage lockout that will prevent the part from switching if the EXTVCC voltage drops.
Care should also be taken to ensure that the reverse voltage
rating of the diode is adequate. Whenever the FET is conducting the voltage across the diode will be approximately
equal to VIN. It is recommended to have a reverse rating that
is equal to 120% of VIN to ensure adequate guard banding
against any ringing that could occur on the switch node.
SHUTDOWN
Selection of the catch diode is critical to overall switcher
performance. To obtain the optimal performance, a Schottky
diode should be used due to their low forward voltage drop
and fast recovery.
The state of the shutdown pin enables the device or places
it in a sleep state. This pin has an internal pull-up and may be
left floating or connected to a high logic level. Connecting
this pin to GND will shutdown the part. Shutting down the
part will prevent the part from switching and reduce the
quiescent current drawn by the part. This pin must be bypassed with a 1 nF ceramic capacitor (X5R or Y5V) to
ensure proper logic thresholds.
BYPASS CAPACITOR
A bypass capacitor must be used on the AVIN line to help
decouple any noise that could interfere with the analog
circuitry. Typically, a small (1 µF) ceramic capacitor is placed
as close as possible to the AVIN pin.
CBOOT CAPACITOR
The purpose of an external bootstrap capacitor is to turn the
FET on by using the SW node as a pedestal. This allows the
voltage on the CBOOT pin to be greater than VIN. Whenever
the catch diode is conducting and the SW node is at GND,
an internal diode will conduct that charges the CBOOT capacitor to approximately 4V. When the SW node rises, the
CBOOT pin will rise to approximately 4V above the SW
node. For optimal performance, a 0.1 µF ceramic capacitor
(X5R or equivalent dielectric) should be used.
EXTERNAL OPERATION STARTUP
The total startup time, from the initial VIN rise to the time
VOUT reaches its nominal value is determined by three separate steps. Upon the rise of VIN, the first step to occur is that
the EXTVCC voltage has to reach its nominal output voltage
of 3.65V before the internal circuitry is active. This time is
dictated by the output capacitance (1 µF) and the current
limit of the regulator (5 mA typical), which will always be on
the order of 730 µs. Upon reaching its steady state value, an
internal delay of 200 µs will occur to ensure stable operation.
Upon completion the LM2696 will begin switching and the
output will rise. The rise time of the output will be governed
by the soft-start capacitor. To highlight these three steps a
timing diagram please refer to Figure 3.
PGOOD RESISTOR
The PGOOD resistor is used to pull the PGOOD pin high
whenever a steady state operating range is achieved. This
resistor needs to be sized to prevent excessive current from
flowing into the PGOOD pin whenever the open drain FET is
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LM2696
Application Information
LM2696
Application Information
(Continued)
20153437
FIGURE 3. Startup Timing Diagram
UNDER- & OVER-VOLTAGE CONDITIONS
The LM2696 has a built in under-voltage comparator that
controls PGOOD. Whenever the output voltage drops below
the set threshold, the PGOOD open drain FET will turn on
pulling the pin to ground. For an over-voltage event, there is
no separate comparator to control PGOOD. However, the
loop responds to prevent this event from occurring because
the error comparator is essentially sensing an OVP event. If
the output is above the feedback threshold then the part will
not switch back on; therefore, the worst-case condition is
one on-time pulse.
short. This is to prevent the output from dropping or any fold
back from occurring if a momentary short occurred because
of a transient or load glitch. If a short circuit were present, the
off-time would extend to approximately 12 µs. This ensures
that the inductor current will reach a low value (approximately 0A) before the next switching cycle occurs. The
extended off-time prevents runaway conditions caused by
hard shorts and high side blanking times.
If the part is in an over current condition, the output voltage
will begin to drop as shown in Figure 4. If the output voltage
is dropping and the current is below the current limit threshold, (I1), the part will assert a pulse (t2) after a minimum
off-time (t1). This is in an attempt to raise the output voltage.
If the part is in an over current condition and the output
voltage is below the regulation value (VL) as shown in Figure
4, the part will assert a pulse of minimal width (t4) and extend
the off-time (t5). In the event that the voltage is below the
regulation value (VL) and the current is below the current
limit value, the part will assert two (or more) pulses separated by some minimal off-time (t1).
CURRENT LIMIT
The LM2696 utilizes a peak-detect current limit that senses
the current through the FET when conducting and will immediately terminate the on-pulse whenever the peak current
exceeds the threshold (4.9A typical). In addition to terminating the present on-pulse, it enforces a mandatory off-time
that is related to the feedback voltage.
If current limit trips and the feedback voltage is close to its
nominal value of 1.25V, the off-time imposed will be relatively
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LM2696
Application Information
(Continued)
20153438
FIGURE 4. Fault Condition Timing
MODES OF OPERATION
Legend:
t1: Min off-time (165 ns typical)
t2: On-time (set by the user)
t3: Min off-time (165 ns typical)
t4: Blanking time (165 ns typical)
t5: Extended off-time (12 µs typical)
VL: UVP threshold
The last benefit of this scheme is when the short circuit is
removed, and full load is re-applied, the part will automatically recover into the load. The variation in the off-time
removes the constraints of other frequency fold back systems where the load would typically have to be reduced.
Since the LM2696 utilizes a catch diode, whenever the load
current is reduced to a point where the inductor ripple is
greater than two times the load current, the part will enter
discontinuous operation. This is because the diode does not
permit the inductor current to reverse direction. The point at
which this occurs is the critical conduction boundary and can
be calculated by the following equation:
One advantage of the adaptive on-time control scheme is
that during discontinuous conduction mode the frequency
will gradually decrease as the load current decreases. In
DCM the switching frequency may be determined using the
relationship:
It can be seen that there will always be some minimum
switching frequency. The minimum switching frequency is
determined by the parameters above and the minimum load
presented by the feedback resistors. If there is some minimum frequency of operation the feedback resistors may be
sized accordingly.
The adaptive on-time control scheme is effectively a pulseskipping mode, but since it is not tied directly to an internal
clock, its pulse will only occur when needed. This is in
contrast to schemes that synchronize to a reference clock
frequency. The constant on-time pulse-skipping/DCM mode
minimizes output voltage ripple and maximizes efficiency.
20153439
FIGURE 5. Normalized Output Voltage
Versus Load Current
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LM2696
Application Information
(Continued)
Several diagrams are shown in Figure 6 illustrating continuous conduction mode (CCM), discontinuous conduction
mode (DCM), and the boundary condition.
20153442
20153443
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20153445
FIGURE 6. Modes of Operation
It can be seen that in DCM, whenever the inductor runs dry
the SW node will become high impedance. Ringing will occur
as a result of the LC tank circuit formed by the inductor and
the parasitic capacitance at the SW node.
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14
(Continued)
LINE REGULATION
The LM2696 regulates to the lowest point of the output
voltage (VL in Figure 8 ). This is to say that the output voltage
may be represented by a waveform that is some average
voltage with ripple. The LM2696 will regulate to the trough of
the ripple.
20153446
FIGURE 7. Parasitic Tank Circuit at the Switchpin
20153447
FIGURE 8. Average Output Voltage and Regulation Point
PGC = AVIN + VGS • QGS • fSW
PSW = 0.5 • VIN · IOUT • (tr + tf) • fSW
The output voltage is given by the following relationship:
Typical values are:
RDS_ON = 130 mΩ
VGS = 4V
QGS = 13.3 nC
tr = 3.8 ns
tf = 4.5 ns
as discussed in the Feedback Resistor section of this document.
TRANSIENT RESPONSE
Constant on-time architectures have inherently excellent
transient line and load response. This is because the control
loop is extremely fast. Any change in the line or load conditions will result in a nearly instantaneous response in the
PWM off time.
If one considers the switcher response to be nearly cycleby-cycle, and amount of energy contained in a single PWM
pulse, there will be very little change in the output for a given
change in the line or load.
Power loss due to catch diode:
PD = (1-D) • (IOUT • Vf)
Power loss due to DCR and ESR:
PDCR = IOUT2 • RDCR
PESR_OUTPUT = IRIPPLE2/√12 • RESR_OUTPUT
PESR_INPUT = IOUT2(D(1-D)) • RESR_INPUT
EFFICIENCY
The constant on-time architecture features high efficiency
even at light loads. The ability to achieve high efficiency at
light loads is due to the fact that the off-time will become
necessarily long at light loads. Having extended the off-time,
there is little mechanism for loss during this interval.
The efficiency is easily estimated using the following relationships:
Power loss due to FET:
PFET = PC + PGC + PSW
Where:
PC = D • (IOUT2 • RDS_ON)
Power loss due to Controller:
PCONT = VIN • IQ
IQ is typically 1.3 mA
The efficiency may be calculated as shown below:
Total power loss = PFET + PD + PDCR + PESR_OUTPUT +
PESR_INPUT + PCONT
Power Out = IOUT • VOUT
15
www.national.com
LM2696
Application Information
LM2696
Application Information
PIN is the input power in Watts (PIN = VIN·IIN)
θJA is the thermal coefficient of the LM2696
TA is the ambient temperature in oC
(Continued)
LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS
The LM2696 regulation and under-voltage comparators are
very fast and will respond to short duration noise pulses.
Layout considerations are therefore critical for optimum performance. The components at pins 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13 should
be as physically close as possible to the IC, thereby minimizing noise pickup in the PC traces. If the internal dissipation of the LM2696 produces excessive junction temperatures during normal operation, good use of the PC board’s
ground plane can help considerably to dissipate heat. The
exposed pad on the bottom of the TSSOP-16 package can
be soldered to a ground plane on the PC board, and that
plane should extend out from beneath the IC to help dissipate the heat. Use of several vias beneath the part is also an
effective method of conducting heat. Additionally, the use of
wide PC board traces, where possible, can also help conduct heat away from the IC. Judicious positioning of the PC
board within the end product, along with use of any available
air flow (forced or natural convection) can help reduce the
junction temperatures. Traces in the power plane (Figure 9)
should be short and wide to minimize the trace impedance;
they should also occupy the smallest area that is reasonable
to minimize EMI. Sizing the power plane traces is a tradeoff
between current capacity, inductance, and thermal dissipation. For more information on layout considerations, please
refer to National Semiconductor Application Note AN-1229.
PRE-BIAS LOAD STARTUP
Should the LM2696 start into a pre-biased load the output
will not be pulled low. This is because the part is asynchronous and cannot sink current. The part will respond to a
pre-biased load by simply enabling PWM high or extending
the off-time until regulation is achieved. This is to say that if
the output voltage is greater than the regulation voltage the
off-time will extend until the voltage discharges through the
feedback resistors. If the load voltage is greater than the
regulation voltage, a series of pulses will charge the output
capacitor to its regulation voltage.
THERMAL CONSIDERATIONS
The thermal characteristics of the LM2696 are specified
using the parameter θJA, which relates the junction temperature to the ambient temperature. While the value of θJA is
specific to a given set of test parameters (including board
thickness, number of layers, orientation, etc), it provides the
user with a common point of reference.
To obtain an estimate of a devices junction temperature, one
may use the following relationship:
TJ = PIN (1-Efficiency) x θJA + TA
Where:
TJ is the junction temperature in oC
20153450
FIGURE 9. Bold Traces Are In The Power Plane
www.national.com
16
LM2696
Application Information
(Continued)
20153451
FIGURE 10. 5V-to-2.5V Voltage Applications Circuit
Bill of Materials (Figure 10: Medium Voltage Board, 5V-to-2.5V conversion, fsw = 300 kHz)
Designator
Function
Description
Vendor
Part Number
CIN
Input Cap
470 µF
Sanyo
10MV470WX
CBY
Bypass Cap
0.1 µF
Vishay
VJ0805Y104KXAM
CSS
Soft-Start Cap
0.01 µF
Vishay
VJ080JY103KXX
CEXT
EXTVCC
1 µF
Vishay
VJ0805Y105JXACW1BC
CBOOT
Boot
0.1 µF
Vishay
VJ0805Y104KXAM
VJ0805Y105JXACW1BC
CAVIN
Analog VIN
1 µF
Vishay
COUT
Output Cap
47 µF
AVX
TPSW476M010R0150
CSD
Shutdown Cap
1 nF
Vishay
VJ0805Y102KXXA
RFB1
High Side FB Res
1 kΩ
Vishay
CRCW08051001F
RFB2
Low Side RB Res
1 kΩ
Vishay
CRCW08051001F
RON
On Time Res
143 kΩ
Vishay
CRCW08051433F
DCATCH
Boot Diode
40V @ 3A Diode
Central Semi
CMSH3-40M-NST
L
Output Inductor
6.8 uH, 4.9A ISAT
Coilcraft
MSS1260-682MX
20153452
FIGURE 11. 12V-to 3.3V Voltage Applications Circuit
17
www.national.com
LM2696
Application Information
(Continued)
Bill of Materials (Figure 11: Medium Voltage Board, 12V-to-3.3V conversion, fsw = 300 kHz)
Designator
Function
Description
Vendor
Part Number
CIN
Input Cap
560 µF
Sanyo
35MV560WX
CBY
Bypass Cap
0.1 µF
Vishay
VJ0805Y104KXAM
CSS
Soft-Start Cap
0.01 µF
Vishay
VJ080JY103KXX
CEXT
EXTVCC
1 µF
Vishay
VJ0805Y105JXACW1BC
CBOOT
Boot
0.1 µF
Vishay
VJ0805Y104KXAM
CAVIN
Analog VIN
1 µF
Vishay
VJ0805Y105JXACW1BC
COUT
Output Cap
100 µF
Sanyo
6SVPC100M
CSD
Shutdown Cap
1 nF
Vishay
VJ0805Y102KXXA
Cff
Feedforward Cap
560 pF
Vishay
VJ0805A561KXXA
Rff
Feedforward Res
1 MΩ
Vishay
CRCW08051004F
RFB1
High Side FB Res
1.62 kΩ
Vishay
CRCW08051621F
RFB2
Low Side RB Res
1 kΩ
Vishay
CRCW08051001F
RON
On Time Res
143 kΩ
Vishay
CRCW08051433F
DCATCH
Boot Diode
40V @ 3A Diode
Central Semi
CMSH3-40M-NST
L
Output Inductor
10 uH, 5.4A ISAT
Coilcraft
MSS1278-103MX
www.national.com
18
LM2696 3A, Constant On Time Buck Regulator
Physical Dimensions
inches (millimeters) unless otherwise noted
eTSSOP-16 Package
Order Number LM2696MXA or LM2696MXAX
NS Package Number MXA16A
National does not assume any responsibility for use of any circuitry described, no circuit patent licenses are implied and National reserves
the right at any time without notice to change said circuitry and specifications.
For the most current product information visit us at www.national.com.
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