LTC1878 LINER [Linear Technology], LTC1878 Datasheet - Page 7

• Manufacturer Part Number: LTC1878
• Description: High Efficiency Monolithic Synchronous Step-Down Regulator
• Manufacturer: LINER [Linear Technology]

OPERATIO
Main Control Loop
The LTC1878 uses a constant frequency, current mode
step-down architecture. Both the main (P-channel
MOSFET) and synchronous (N-channel MOSFET) switches
are internal. During normal operation, the internal top
power MOSFET is turned on each cycle when the oscillator
sets the RS latch, and turned off when the current com-
parator, I
current at which I
the voltage on the I
amplifier EA. The V
section, allows EA to receive an output feedback voltage
from an external resistive divider. When the load current
increases, it causes a slight decrease in the feedback
voltage relative to the 0.8V reference, which in turn,
causes the I
tor current matches the new load current. While the top
MOSFET is off, the bottom MOSFET is turned on until
either the inductor current starts to reverse as indicated by
the current reversal comparator I
the next clock cycle.
Comparator OVDET guards against transient overshoots
>6.25% by turning the main switch off and keeping it off
until the fault is removed.
Burst Mode Operation
The LTC1878 is capable of Burst Mode operation in which
the internal power MOSFETs operate intermittently based
on load demand. To enable Burst Mode operation, simply
tie the SYNC/MODE pin to V
(V
enable PWM pulse skipping mode, connect the SYNC/
MODE pin to GND. In this mode, the efficiency is lower at
light loads, but becomes comparable to Burst Mode
operation when the output load exceeds 50mA. The ad-
vantage of pulse skipping mode is lower output ripple and
less interference to audio circuitry.
When the converter is in Burst Mode operation, the peak
current of the inductor is set to approximately 250mA,
even though the voltage at the I
value. The voltage at the I
average current is greater than the load requirement. As
the I
SYNC/MODE
TH
voltage drops below approximately 0.45V, the
COMP
TH
> 1.5V). To disable Burst Mode operation and
voltage to increase until the average induc-
, resets the RS latch. The peak inductor
COMP
U
FB
TH
pin, described in the Pin Functions
resets the RS latch is controlled by
pin, which is the output of error
TH
pin drops when the inductor’s
IN
or connect it to a logic high
RCMP
TH
pin indicates a lower
, or the beginning of
BURST comparator trips, causing the internal sleep line to
go high and forces off both power MOSFETs. The I
is then disconnected from the output of the EA amplifier
and parked a diode voltage above ground.
In sleep mode, both power MOSFETs are held off and a
majority of the internal circuitry is partially turned off,
reducing the quiescent current to 10 A. The load current
is now being supplied solely from the output capacitor.
When the output voltage drops, the I
the output of the EA amplifier and the top MOSFET is again
turned on and this process repeats.
Short-Circuit Protection
When the output is shorted to ground, the frequency of the
oscillator is reduced to about 80kHz, 1/7 the nominal
frequency. This frequency foldback ensures that the
inductor current has ample time to decay, thereby pre-
venting runaway. The oscillator’s frequency will progres-
sively increase to 550kHz (or the synchronized frequency)
when V
Frequency Synchronization
A phase-locked loop (PLL) is available on the LTC1878 to
allow the internal oscillator to be synchronized to an
external source connected to the SYNC/MODE pin. The
output of the phase detector at the PLL LPF pin operates
over a 0V to 2.4V range corresponding to 400kHz to
700kHz. When locked, the PLL aligns the turn-on of the top
MOSFET to the rising edge of the synchronizing signal.
When the LTC1878 is clocked by an external source, Burst
Mode operation is disabled; the LTC1878 then operates in
PWM pulse skipping mode. In this mode, when the output
load is very low, current comparator I
tripped for several cycles and force the main switch to stay
off for the same number of cycles. Increasing the output
load slightly allows constant frequency PWM operation to
resume. This mode exhibits low output ripple as well as
low audio noise and reduced RF interference while provid-
ing reasonable low current efficiency.
Frequency synchronization is inhibited when the feedback
voltage V
from interfering with the frequency foldback for short-
circuit protection.
FB
FB
rises above 0.3V.
is below 0.6V. This prevents the external clock
TH
COMP
pin reconnects to
LTC1878
may remain
TH
7
pin