MIC2159 SYNCHRONOUS-ittyTM Step-Down Converter IC General Description Features The MIC2159 is a high efficiency, simple to use synchronous buck controller ICs housed in a 10-pin MSOP ePAD package. The MIC2159 switches at 400kHz, allowing the smallest possible external components and is designed to drive loads up to 30A. The devices feature high output driver capability, combined with an all nchannel synchronous architecture. The MIC2159 operates from a 3V to 14.5V input and can be configured to generate output voltages as low as 0.8V. Efficiencies of over 95% can be achieved within the smallest possible printed circuit board space area. The MIC2159 is available in a thermally capable 10-pin ePAD MSOP package, with a junction operating range from -40C to +125C. * * * * * * * * * * * Small footprint 10-lead ePAD MSOP 3V to 14.5V input voltage range Adjustable output voltage down to 0.8V 400KHz operation Drives two n-channel MOSFETs - Built-in 3 drivers Simple control: voltage-mode PWM Fast transient response - Externally compensated Over-current protection Hiccup mode short-circuit protection Dual function COMP & EN pin - ISD = 50A Short minimum ON time - 30ns - Very low duty cycle possible Applications * Point-of-Load DC/DC conversion * High Current Power Supplies * Telecom/datacom and Networking Power Supplies * Servers and Workstations * Graphics Cards and other PC Peripherals ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Typical Application MIC2159 Adjustable Output 400kHz Converter MLF and MicroLead Frame is a registered trademark of Amkor Technology, Inc. Micrel Inc. * 2180 Fortune Drive * San Jose, CA 95131 * USA * tel +1 (408) 944-0800 * fax + 1 (408) 474-1000 * http://www.micrel.com March 2009 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 Ordering Information Part Number Output Voltage Frequency Juction Temperature Range Package Adj 400KHz -40C to +125C 10-pin ePAD MSOP MIC2159YMME Pin Configuration 10-lead e-PAD MSOP (MME) Pin Description Pin Number (MSOP-10) Pin Name Pin Function 1 VIN Supply voltage (Input): 3V to 14.5V 2 VDD 5V Internal Linear Regulator (Output): VDD is the external MOSFET gate drive supply voltage and an internal supply bus for the IC. When Vin is 5V, VDD should be connected to Vin. 3 CS Current Sense. Current-limit comparator non-inverting input. The current limit is sensed across the FET during the ON time. The current can be set by the resistor in series with the CS pin. 4 COMP/EN 5 FB 6 GND Ground (Return) 7 LSD Low-Side Drive (Output): High-current driver output for external synchronous MOSFET. 8 VSW Switch (Return): High-side MOSFET driver return 9 HSD High-Side Drive (Output): High current output-driver for the high-side MOSFET. Compensation (Input): Dual function pin. Pin for external compensation. If this pin is pulled below 0.2V, with the reference fully up the device shuts down (50A typical current draw) Feedback (Input): Input to error amplifier. Regulates error amplifier to 0.8V. When Vin is below 5v, 2.5v threshold FETs should be used. At Vin > 5V, 4.5V threshold FETs should be used. 10 March 2009 BST Boost (Input): Provides the drive voltage for the high-side MOSFET driver. The gate drive voltage is higher than the source voltage by VIN minus a diode drop. 2 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 Absolute Maximum Rating(1) Operating Ratings(2) Supply Voltage (VIN) ....................................................15.5V Booststrapped Voltage (VBST) .................................. VIN +5V Junction Temperature Range..............-40C TJ +125C Ambient Storage Temp .............................-65C to +150C Supply Voltage........................................... +3V to +14.5V Output Voltage Range ............................ 0.8V to VIN*DMAX Package Thermal Resistance JA 10-lead ePAD MSOP................................63C/W Electrical Characteristics Tj = 25C, bold values indicate -40C<Tj<+125C; Vin = 5V; unless otherwise specified Parameter Condition Min Typ Max Units Regulation Feedback Voltage Reference (+/- 1%) 0.792 0.8 0.808 V Feedback Voltage Reference (+/- 2% over temp) 0.784 0.8 0.816 V Feedback Bias Current 150 350 Output Voltage Line Regulation 0.03 %/V Output Voltage Load Regulation 0.5 % Output Voltage Total Regulation 3V VIN 14.5V; 1A IOUT 10A nA 0.6 1.5 % 400 450 kHz (VOUT = 2.5V) Note 3 Oscillator Section Oscillator Frequency 350 Maximum Duty Cycle 92 Minimum On-Time % Note 3 30 60 ns VCS/EN =Vin- 0.25V; VFB = 0.7V 1.6 3 mA 50 150 A 0.1 0.25 0.35 V 1 4 8 ms 4.7 5 5.3 V Input and VDD Supply PWM mode supply current Shutdown Quiescent Current (MSOP-10) (output switching but excluding external MOSFET gate current.) VCOMP = 0V VCOMP Shutdown Threshold (MSOP-10) VCOMP Shutdown Blanking Period (MSOP10) Digital Supply Voltage (VDD) VIN >6V Error Amplifier DC Gain 70 dB Transconductance 1.4 mS Soft Start Soft Start Current After time out of internal timer -13 9 -4 A 135 200 275 A Current Sense Current Sense Over Current Trip Point Temperature Coefficient March 2009 2300 3 ppm/C M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. Parameter MIC2159 Condition Min Typ Max Units Upper Threshold, VFB_OVT 2 3.5 5 % Lower Threshold, VFB_UVT -2 -3.5 -5 % Output Fault Correction Thresholds Gate Drivers Rise/Fall Time Into 3000pF at VIN > 5V 15 ns Source, VIN= 4.5V 2.5 3 Sink, VIN = 4.5V 2.5 3 Source, VIN= 3V 3 4 Sink, VIN = 3V 3 4 Note 3 50 Output Driver Impedance Driver Non-overlap Time ns Notes: 1. Exceeding the absolute maximum rating may damage the device. 2. The device is not guaranteed to function outside its operating rating. 3. Guaranteed by design 4. Devices are ESD sensitive. Handling precautions recommended. Human body model, 1.5k in series with 100pF. 5. Specification for packaged product only. March 2009 4 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 Typical Characteristics March 2009 5 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 Block Diagram MIC2159 Block Diagram Functional Description The MIC2159 is a voltage mode, synchronous stepdown switching regulator controller designed for high power. Current limit is implemented without the use of an external sense resistor. It includes an internal soft-start function which reduces the power supply input surge current at start-up by controlling the output voltage rise time, a PWM generator, a reference voltage, two MOSFET drivers, and short-circuit current limiting circuitry to form a complete 400kHz switching regulator. amplifier. To illustrate the control loop, assume the output voltage drops due to sudden load turn-on, this would cause the inverting input of the error amplifier, which is the divided down version of VOUT, to be slightly less than the reference voltage, causing the output voltage of the error amplifier to go high. This will cause the PWM comparator to increase tON time of the top side MOSFET, causing the output voltage to go up and bringing VOUT back in regulation. If this sudden load transient was large enough to cause a 3% change in output voltage, then the output of the Hysteretic comparator will bypass the PWM comparator and drive the LSD and HSD outputs at full Duty cycle in order to recover the nominal output voltage in the fastest manner possible whilst fixed frequency PWM switching is maintained during normal loading. Theory of Operation The MIC2159 is a voltage mode step-down regulator. The figure above illustrates the block diagram for the voltage control loop. The output voltage variation due to load or line changes will be sensed by the inverting input of the transconductance error amplifier via the feedback resistors R3, and R2 and compared to a reference voltage at the non-inverting input. This will cause a small change in the DC voltage level at the output of the error amplifier which is the input to the PWM comparator. The other input to the comparator is a 1v triangular waveform. The comparator generates a rectangular waveform whose width tON is equal to the time from the start of the clock cycle t0 until t1, the time the triangle crosses the output waveform of the error March 2009 Soft-Start The COMP/EN pin on the MIC2159 is used for the following three functions: 1. Disables the part by grounding this pin. 2. External compensation to stabilize the voltage control loop. 3. Soft-start. 6 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 For better understanding of the soft-start feature, assume VIN = 12V and the MIC2159 is allowed to power-up by un-grounding the COMP/EN pin. The COMP pin has an internal 8.5A current source that charges the external compensation capacitor. As soon as this voltage rises to 180mV (t = Cap_COMP x 0.18V/8.5A), the MIC2159 allows the internal VDD linear regulator to power up and as soon as it crosses the under-voltage lockout of 2.6V, the chip's internal oscillator starts switching. At this point in time, the COMP pin current source increases to 40A and an internal 12-bit counter starts counting, which takes approximately 2ms to complete. During counting, the COMP voltage is clamped at 0.65V. After this counting cycle the COMP current source is reduced to 8.5A and the COMP pin voltage rises from 0.65V to 0.95V, the bottom edge of the saw-tooth oscillator. This is the beginning of 0% duty cycle and it increases slowly causing the output voltage to rise slowly. The MIC2159 has two hysteretic comparators that are enabled when VOUT is outside 3% of steady state. When the output voltage reaches 97% of programmed output voltage then the gm error amplifier is enabled along with the hysteretic comparator. From this point onwards, the voltage control loop (gm error amplifier) is fully in control and will regulate the output voltage. Soft-start time can be calculated approximately by adding the following four time frames: Figure 1. MIC2159 Current Limiting Circuit The current limiting resistor RCS is calculated by the following equation: R CS = 1 IRIPPLE 2 Where: IRIPPLE = VOUT VIN VIN - VOUT FSWITCHING L FSWITCHING = 400kHz 200A is the internal sink current to program the MIC2159 current limit. The MOSFET RDS(ON) varies 30% to 40% with temperature; therefore, it is recommended to add a 50% margin to the load current (ILOAD) in the above equation to avoid false current limiting due to increased MOSFET junction temperature rise. It is also recommended to connect RCS resistor directly to the drain of the top MOSFET Q1, and the RSW resistor to the source of Q1 to accurately sense the MOSFETs RDS(ON). To make the MIC2159 insensitive to board layout and noise generated by the switch node, a 1.4 resistor and a 1000pF capacitor is recommended between the switch node and GND. A 0.1F capacitor in parallel with RCS should be connected to filter some of the switching noise. VOUT 0.5 Cap_COMP VIN 8.5. Soft-Start Time(Cap_COMP=100nF) = t1 + t2 + t3 + t4 = 2.1ms + 2ms + 3.5ms + 1.8ms = 10ms Current Limit The MIC2159 uses the RDS(ON) of the top power MOSFET to measure output current. Since it uses the drain to source resistance of the power MOSFET, it is not very accurate. This MOSFET scheme is adequate to protect the power supply and external components during a fault condition by cutting back the time the top MOSFET is on if the feedback voltage is greater than 0.67V. In case of a hard short when feedback voltage is less than 0.67V, the MIC2159 discharges the COMP capacitor to 0.65V, resets the digital counter and automatically shuts off the top gate drive, and the gm error amplifier and the +/- 3% hysteretic comparators are completely disabled and the soft-start cycles restarts. This mode of operation is called the "hiccup mode" and its purpose is to protect the down stream load in case of a hard short. The circuit in Figure 1 illustrates the MIC2159 current limiting circuit. March 2009 Equation (1) 200 A IL = ILOAD + t1 = Cap_COMP x 0.18V/8.5A t2 = internal counter, approx 2ms t3 = Cap_COMP x 0.3V/8.5A t4 = R DS(ON) IL Internal VDD Supply The MIC2159 controller internally generates VDD for self biasing and to provide power to the gate drives. This VDD supply is generated through a low-dropout regulator and generates 5V from VIN supply greater than 5V. For supply voltage less than 5V, the VDD linear regulator is approximately 200mV in dropout. Therefore, it is recommended to short the VDD supply to the input supply through a 5 resistor for input supplies between 2.9V to 5V. 7 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 The drive voltage is derived from the internal 5V VDD bias supply. The nominal low-side gate drive voltage is 5V and the nominal high-side gate drive voltage is approximately 4.5V due the voltage drop across D1. An approximate 50ns delay between the low-side(off) to high-side(on) driver transitions is used to prevent current from simultaneously flowing unimpeded through both MOSFETs (shoot-through). Adaptive gate drive is implemented on the high-side(off) to low-side(on) driver transition to reduce losses in the flywheel diode and to prevent shoot-through. This is operated by detecting the VSW pin; once this pin is detected to reach 1.5v, the high-side MOSFET can be assumed to be off and the low side driver is enabled. MOSFET Gate Drive The MIC2159 high-side drive circuit is designed to switch an N-Channel MOSFET. The Functional Block Diagram shows a bootstrap circuit, consisting of D1 and CBST. This circuit supplies energy to the high-side drive circuit. Capacitor CBST circuit is charged while the lowside MOSFET is on and the voltage on the VSW pin is approximately 0V. When the high-side MOSFET driver is turned on, energy from CBST is used to turn the MOSFET on. As the MOSFET turns on, the voltage on the VSW pin increases to approximately VIN. Diode D1 is reversed biased and CBST floats high while continuing to keep the high-side MOSFET on. When the low-side switch is turned back on, CBST is recharged through D1. March 2009 8 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 the on resistance times the total gate charge RDS(ON) x QG. Lower numbers translate into higher efficiency. Low gate-charge logic-level MOSFETs are a good choice for use with the MIC2159. Parameters that are important to MOSFET switch selection are: Application Information MOSFET Selection The MIC2159 controller works from input voltages of 3V to 14.5V and has an internal 5V regulator to provide power to turn the external N-Channel power MOSFETs for high- and low-side switches. For applications where VIN < 5V, the internal VDD regulator operates in dropout mode, and it is necessary that the power MOSFETs used are sub-logic level and are in full conduction mode for VGS of 2.5V. For applications when VIN > 5V; logiclevel MOSFETs, whose operation is specified at VGS = 4.5V must be used. For the lower (<5v) applications, the VDD supply can be connected directly to Vin to help increase the driver voltage to the MOSFET. It is important to note the on-resistance of a MOSFET increases with increasing temperature. A 75C rise in junction temperature will increase the channel resistance of the MOSFET by 50% to 75% of the resistance specified at 25C. This change in resistance must be accounted for when calculating MOSFET power dissipation and in calculating the value of current-sense (CS) resistor. Total gate charge is the charge required to turn the MOSFET on and off under specified operating conditions (VDS and VGS). The gate charge is supplied by the MIC2159 gate-drive circuit. At 400kHz switching frequency and above, the gate charge can be a significant source of power dissipation in the MIC2159. At low output load, this power dissipation is noticeable as a reduction in efficiency. The average current required to drive the high-side MOSFET is: IG[high-side](avg)=QG x FS Where: IG[high-side](avg)=Average high-side MOSFET gate current QG = total gate charge for the high-side MOSFET taken from manufacturer's data sheet for VGS = 5V. FS = Switching Frequency (400kHz) The low-side MOSFET is turned on and off at VDS = 0 because the freewheeling diode is conducting during this time. The switching loss for the low-side MOSFET is usually negligible. Also, the gate-drive current for the low-side MOSFET is more accurately calculated using CISS at VDS = 0 instead of gate charge. For the low-side MOSFET: IG[low-side](avg) = CISS x VGS x FS Since the current from the gate drive comes from the input voltage, the power dissipated in the MIC2159 due to gate drive is: PGATEDRIVE = VIN.(IG[high-sde](avg) + IG[low-side](avg)) A convenient figure of merit for switching MOSFETs is March 2009 * Voltage rating * On-resistance * Total gate charge The voltage ratings for the top and bottom MOSFET are essentially equal to the input voltage. A safety factor of 20% should be added to the VDS(max) of the MOSFETs to account for voltage spikes due to circuit parasitic elements. The power dissipated in the switching transistor is the sum of the conduction losses during the on-time (PCONDUCTION) and the switching losses that occur during the period of time when the MOSFETs turn on and off (PAC). PSW = PCONDUCTION + PAC Where: PCONDUCTION = ISW (RMS )2 RSW PAC = PAC (off ) + PAC(on ) RSW = on-resistance of the MOSFET switch V D = duty _ cyle = OUT VIN Making the assumption the turn-on and turn-off transition times are equal; the transition times can be approximated by: C V C V tT = ISS GS OSS IN IG where: CISS and COSS are measured at VDS = 0 IG = gate-drive current (1.4A for the MIC2159) The total high-side MOSFET switching loss is: PAC = (VIN + VD ) I PK tT FS Where: tT = Switching transition time (~20ns) VD = Freewheeling diode drop (0.5v) FS = Switching Frequency (400kHz) The low-side MOSFET switching losses are negligible and can be ignored for these calculations. Inductor Selection Values for inductance, peak, and RMS currents are required to select the output inductor. The input and 9 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 output voltages and the inductance value determine the peak-to-peak inductor ripple current. Generally, higher inductance values are used with higher input voltages. Larger peak-to-peak ripple currents will increase the power dissipation in the inductor and MOSFETs. Larger output ripple currents will also require more output capacitance to smooth out the larger ripple current. Smaller peak-to-peak ripple currents require a larger inductance value and therefore a larger and more expensive inductor. A good compromise between size, loss and cost is to set the inductor ripple current to be equal to 20% of the maximum output current. The inductance value is calculated by the equation below. L= ( VOUT VIN (max) - VOUT Core loss information is usually available from the magnetics vendor. Copper loss in the inductor is calculated by the equation below: PINDUCTORCu = IINDUCTOR ( rms )2.RWINDING The resistance of the copper wire, RWINDING, increases with temperature. The value of the winding resistance used should be at the operating temperature. ( Where: THOT = temperature of wire under full load T20oC = ambient temperature RWINDING(20oC) = room temperature winding resistance (usually specified by manufacturer) ) VIN (max) FS 0.2 IOUT (max) where: Output Capacitor Selection The output capacitor values are usually determined by the capacitors ESR (equivalent series resistance). Voltage and RMS current capability are two other important factors for selecting the output capacitor. Recommended capacitors are tantalum, low-ESR aluminium electrolytic, and POSCAPS. The output capacitor's ESR is usually the main cause of output ripple. The output capacitor ESR also affects the overall voltage feedback loop from a stability point of view. See "Feedback Loop Compensation" section for more information. The maximum value of ESR is calculated: FS = switching frequency, 400 kHz 0.2 = ratio of AC ripple current to DC output current VIN(max) = maximum input voltage The peak-to-peak inductor current (AC ripple current) is: IPP = VOUT .(VIN (max) - VOUT ) VIN (max).FS .L The peak inductor current is equal to the average output current plus one half of the peak-to-peak inductor ripple current. IPK = IOUT(max)+0.5 x IPP The RMS inductor current is used to calculate the I2R losses in the inductor. IINDUCTOR = IOUT (max) 1 + 1 IPK 3 IOUT (max) RESR VOUT IPP Where: VOUT = peak-to-peak output voltage ripple IPP = peak-to-peak inductor ripple current The total output ripple is a combination of the ESR and output capacitance. The total ripple is calculated below: 2 2 I (1 - D ) + (I PP R ESR )2 VOUT = PP C F OUT S Where: D = duty cycle COUT = output capacitance value fS = switching frequency The voltage rating of the capacitor should be twice the voltage for a tantalum and 20% greater for aluminium electrolytic. The output capacitor RMS current is calculated below: Maximizing efficiency requires the proper selection of core material and minimizing the winding resistance. The high frequency operation of the MIC2159 requires the use of ferrite materials for all but the most cost sensitive applications. Lower cost iron powder cores may be used but the increase in core loss will reduce the efficiency of the power supply. This is especially noticeable at low output power. The winding resistance decreases efficiency at the higher output current levels. The winding resistance must be minimized although this usually comes at the expense of a larger inductor. The power dissipated in the inductor is equal to the sum of the core and copper losses. At higher output loads, the core losses are usually insignificant and can be ignored. At lower output currents, the core losses can be a significant contributor. March 2009 ( RWINDING( hot ) = RWINDING( 20o C ) 1 + 0.0042 THOT - T20 o C I ICOUT ( rms ) = PP 12 10 M9999-030509-B )) Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 The power dissipated in the output capacitor is: especially at light loads. Once R1 is selected, R2 can be calculated using: 2 PDISS(COUT ) = ICOUT ( rms ) RESR (COUT ) R2 = Note that Vout should be kept within the +/- 3% of nominal limits to prevent the loop switching between hysteretic and voltage mode control. External Schottky Diode An external freewheeling diode is used to keep the inductor current flow continuous while both MOSFETs are turned off. This dead time prevents current from flowing unimpeded through both MOSFETs and is typically ~50ns. The diode conducts twice during each switching cycle. Although the average current through this diode is small, the diode must be able to handle the peak current. Input Capacitor Selection The input capacitor should be selected for ripple current rating and voltage rating. Tantalum input capacitors may fail when subjected to high inrush currents, caused by turning the input supply on. A tantalum input capacitor's voltage rating should be at least 2 times the maximum input voltage to maximize reliability. Aluminium electrolytic, OS-CON, and multilayer polymer film capacitors can handle the higher inrush currents without voltage de-rating. The input voltage ripple will primarily depend on the input capacitor's ESR. The peak input current is equal to the peak inductor current, so: ID(avg) = IOUT 2 50ns FS The reverse voltage requirement of the diode is: VDIODE(rrm) = VIN The power dissipated by the Schottky diode is: PDIODE = ID(avg) x VF Where: VF = forward voltage at the peak diode current The external Schottky diode, D1, is not necessary for circuit operation since the low-side MOSFET contains a parasitic body diode. The external diode will improve efficiency and decrease high frequency noise. If the MOSFET body diode is used, it must be rated to handle the peak and average current. The body diode has a relatively slow reverse recovery time and a relatively high forward voltage drop. The power lost in the diode is proportional to the forward voltage drop of the diode. As the high-side MOSFET starts to turn on, the body diode becomes a short circuit for the reverse recovery period, dissipating additional power. The diode recovery and the circuit inductance will cause ringing during the high-side MOSFET turn-on. An external Schottky diode conducts at a lower forward voltage preventing the body diode in the MOSFET from turning on. The lower forward voltage drop dissipates less power than the body diode. The lack of a reverse recovery mechanism in a Schottky diode causes less ringing and less power loss. Depending on the circuit components and operating conditions, an external Schottky diode will give a 1/2% to 1% improvement in efficiency. VIN = IINDUCTOR ( peak ) RESR (CIN ) The input capacitor must be rated for the input current ripple. The RMS value of input capacitor current is determined at the maximum output current. Assuming the peak-to-peak inductor ripple current is low: I CIN ( rms ) IOUT (max) D (1 - D ) The power dissipated in the input capacitor is: PDISS (CIN ) = ICIN ( rms )2.RESR (CIN ) Voltage Setting Components The MIC2159 requires two resistors to set the output voltage as shown in Figure 2. R1 Error Amp FB 7 R2 VREF 0.8v + - MIC2159 Figure 2. Voltage-Divider Configuration Feedback Loop Compensation The MIC2159 controller comes with an internal transconductance error amplifier used for compensating the voltage feedback loop by placing a capacitor (C1) in series with a resistor (R1) and another capacitor C2 in parallel from the COMP pin to ground. See "MIC2159 Block Diagram." The output voltage is determined by the equation: R1 VO = VREF 1 + R 2 A typical value of R1 can be between 3k and 10k. If R1 is too large, it may allow noise to be introduced into the voltage feedback loop. If R1 is too small, in value, it will decrease the efficiency of the power supply, March 2009 VREF R1 VO - VREF 11 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 Power Stage The power stage of a voltage mode controller has an inductor, L1, with its winding resistance (DCR) connected to the output capacitor, COUT, with its electrical series resistance (ESR) as shown in Figure 3. The transfer function G(s), for such a system is: Figure 3. The Output LC Filter in a Voltage Mode Buck Converter G(s)= Figure 5. Phase Curve for G(s) It can be seen from the transfer function G(s) and the gain curve that the output inductor and capacitor create a two pole system with a break frequency at: 1+ ESR s COUT s(DCR COUT+ ESR COUT) + s2(L COUT) +1 fLC = Plotting this transfer function with the following assumed values (L=2 H, DCR=0.009, COUT=1000F, ESR=0.050) gives lot of insight as to why one needs to compensate the loop by adding resistor and capacitors on the COMP pin. Figures 4 and 5 show the gain curve and phase curve for the above transfer function. 1 2 L COUT Therefore, fLC = 3.6kHz By looking at the phase curve, it can be seen that the output capacitor ESR (0.050) cancels one of the two system poles (LCOUT) by introducing a zero at: fZERO= 1 2 ESR COUT Therefore, FZERO = 6.36kHz. From the point of view of compensating the voltage loop, it is recommended to use higher ESR output capacitors since they provide a 90 phase gain in the power path. For comparison purposes, Figure 6, shows the same phase curve with an ESR value of 0.002. Figure 4. The Gain Curve for G(s) Figure 6. The Phase Curve with ESR = 0.002 It can be seen from Figure 5 that at 50 kHz, the phase is approximately -90 versus Figure 6 where the number is -150. This means that the transconductance error amplifier has to provide a phase boost of about 45 to March 2009 12 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 achieve a closed loop phase margin of 45 at a crossover frequency of 50kHz for Figure 4, versus 105 for Figure 6. The simple R1,C1 and C2 compensation scheme allows a maximum error amplifier phase boost of about 90. Therefore, it is easier to stabilize the MIC2169A voltage control loop by using high ESR value output capacitors. gm Error Amplifier It is undesirable to have high error amplifier gain at high frequencies because high frequency noise spikes would be picked up and transmitted at large amplitude to the output, thus, gain should be permitted to fall off at high frequencies. At low frequency, it is desired to have high open-loop gain to attenuate the power line ripple. Thus, the error amplifier gain should be allowed to increase rapidly at low frequencies. The transfer function with R1, C1, and C2 for the internal gm error amplifier can be approximated by the following equation: Figure 7. Error Amplifier Gain Curve 1+ R1 S C1 Error _ Amplifier(z) = gm C1 C2 S S C 1 + C 2 1 + R 1 ( ) C1+ C2 The above equation can be simplified by assuming C2<<C1, 1 + R1 S C1 Error _ Amplifier ( z ) = gm S ( C1) (1 + R1 C 2 S ) From the above transfer function, one can see that R1 and C1 introduce a zero and R1 and C2 a pole at the following frequencies: Fzero= 1/2 x R1 x C1 Fpole = 1/2 x C2 x R1 Fpole@origin = 1/2 x C1 Figures 7 and 8 show the gain and phase curves for the above transfer function with R1 = 9.3k, C1 = 1000pF, C2 = 100pF, and gm = .005-1. It can be seen that at 50 kHz, the error amplifier exhibits approximately 45 of phase margin. March 2009 Figure 8. Error Amplifier Phase Curve Total Open-Loop Response The open-loop response for the MIC2159 controller is easily obtained by adding the power path and the error amplifier gains together, since they already are in Log scale. It is desirable to have the gain curve intersect zero dB at tens of kilohertz, this is commonly called crossover frequency; the phase margin at crossover frequency should be at least 45. Phase margins of 30 or less cause the power supply to have substantial ringing when subjected to transients, and have little tolerance for component or environmental variations. Figures 9 and 10 show the open-loop gain and phase margin and it can be seen from Figure 9 that the gain curve intersects the 0dB at approximately 50kHz, and from Figure 10 that at 50kHz, the phase shows approximately 50 of margin. 13 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 Figure 9. Open-Loop Gain Margin Figure 10. Open-Loop Phase Margin March 2009 14 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 6. Add place holders for gate resistors on the top and bottom MOSFET gate drives. If necessary, gate resistors of 5 or less should be used. 7. Low gate charge MOSFETs should be used to maximize efficiency. 8. Compensation component GND, feedback resistor ground, chip ground should all run together and connect to the output capacitor ground. See demo board layout, bottom layer. 9. The 10F ceramic capacitor should be placed between the drain of the top MOSFET and the source of the bottom MOSFET. 10. The 10F ceramic capacitor should be placed right on the VDD pin without any vias. 11. The source of the bottom MOSFET should connect directly to the input capacitor GND with a thick trace. The output capacitor and the input capacitor should connect directly to the GND plane. 12. Place a 0.01F to 0.1F Ceramic capacitor in parallel with the CS resistor to filter any switching noise. Design Example Layout and Checklist: 1. Connect the current limiting resistor directly to the drain of top MOSFET. 2. Use a resistor from the input supply to the VIN pin on the MIC2159. Also, place a 1F ceramic Capacitor from this pin to GND, preferably not thru a via. 3. The feedback resistors should be placed close to the FB pin. The top side of the resistor should connect directly to the output node. Run this trace away from the switch node. The bottom side of the lower resistor should connect to the GND pin on the MIC2159. 4. The compensation resistor and capacitors should be placed right next to the COMP pin and the other side should connect directly to the GND pin on the MIC2159 rather than going to the plane. 5. Add a 1.4 resistor and a 1000pF capacitor from the switch node to ground pin. See page 7, Current Limiting section for more detail. March 2009 15 M9999-030509-B Micrel, Inc. MIC2159 Package Information 10-pin e-PAD MSOP (MM) MICREL, INC. 2180 FORTUNE DRIVE SAN JOSE, CA 95131 USA TEL +1 (408) 944-0800 FAX +1 (408) 474-1000 WEB http:/www.micrel.com The information furnished by Micrel in this data sheet is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by Micrel for its use. Micrel reserves the right to change circuitry and specifications at any time without notification to the customer. Micrel Products are not designed or authorized for use as components in life support appliances, devices or systems where malfunction of a product can reasonably be expected to result in personal injury. Life support devices or systems are devices or systems that (a) are intended for surgical implant into the body or (b) support or sustain life, and whose failure to perform can be reasonably expected to result in a significant injury to the user. A Purchaser's use or sale of Micrel Products for use in life support appliances, devices or systems is a Purchaser's own risk and Purchaser agrees to fully indemnify Micrel for any damages resulting from such use or sale. (c) 2004 Micrel, Incorporated. March 2009 16 M9999-030509-B