LTC3857-1_15 Datasheet, PDF (13/38 Pages) Linear Technology – Low IQ, Dual, 2-Phase Synchronous Step-Down Controller

LTC3857-1
OPERATION (Refer to the Functional Diagram)
SGND allows the frequency to be programmed between
50kHz and 900kHz.
A phase-locked loop (PLL) is available on the LTC3857-1
to synchronize the internal oscillator to an external clock
source that is connected to the PLLIN/MODE pin. The
phase detector adjusts the voltage (through an internal
lowpass filter) of the VCO input to align the turn-on of
controller 1’s external top MOSFET to the rising edge of
the synchronizing signal. Thus, the turn-on of controller
2’s external top MOSFET is 180 degrees out of phase to
the rising edge of the external clock source.
The VCO input voltage is prebiased to the operating fre-
quency set by the FREQ pin before the external clock is
applied. If prebiased near the external clock frequency,
the PLL loop only needs to make slight changes to the
VCO input in order to synchronize the rising edge of the
external clock’s to the rising edge of TG1. The ability to
prebias the loop filter allows the PLL to lock-in rapidly
without deviating far from the desired frequency.
The typical capture range of the phase-locked loop is from
approximately 55kHz to 1MHz, with a guarantee over all
manufacturing variations to be between 75kHz and 850kHz.
In other words, the LTC3857-1’s PLL is guaranteed to lock
to an external clock source whose frequency is between
75kHz and 850kHz.
The typical input clock thresholds on the PLLIN/MODE
pin are 1.6V (rising) and 1.1V (falling).
Output Overvoltage Protection
An overvoltage comparator guards against transient over-
shoots as well as other more serious conditions that may
overvoltage the output. When the V_FB pin rises by more
than 10% above its regulation point of 0.800V, the top
MOSFET is turned off and the bottom MOSFET is turned
on until the overvoltage condition is cleared.
Power Good (PGOOD1 Pin)
The PGOOD1 pin is connected to an open drain of an internal
N-channel MOSFET. The MOSFET turns on and pulls the
PGOOD1 pin low when the corresponding V_FB1 pin volt-
age is not within ±10% of the 0.8V reference voltage. The
PGOOD1 pin is also pulled low when the corresponding
RUN1 pin is low (shut down). When the V_FB1 pin voltage
is within the ±10% requirement, the MOSFET is turned
off and the pin is allowed to be pulled up by an external
resistor to a source no greater than 6V.
Foldback Current
When the output voltage falls to less than 70% of its
nominal level, foldback current limiting is activated, pro-
gressively lowering the peak current limit in proportion to
the severity of the overcurrent or short-circuit condition.
Foldback current limiting is disabled during the soft-start
interval (as long as the V_FB voltage is keeping up with the
TRACK/SS voltage).
Theory and Benefits of 2-Phase Operation
Why the need for 2-phase operation? Up until the 2-phase
family, constant-frequency dual switching regulators
operated both channels in phase (i.e., single phase
operation). This means that both switches turned on at
the same time, causing current pulses of up to twice the
amplitude of those for one regulator to be drawn from the
input capacitor and battery. These large amplitude current
pulses increased the total RMS current flowing from the
input capacitor, requiring the use of more expensive input
capacitors and increasing both EMI and losses in the input
capacitor and battery.
With 2-phase operation, the two channels of the dual
switching regulator are operated 180 degrees out of phase.
This effectively interleaves the current pulses drawn by the
switches, greatly reducing the overlap time where they add
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