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LTC3831 Datasheet, PDF (16/20 Pages) Linear Technology – High Power Synchronous Switching Regulator Controller for DDR Memory Termination
LTC3831
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
LTC3831 applications. OS-CON electrolytic capacitors
from Sanyo and other manufacturers give excellent per-
formance and have a very high performance/size ratio for
electrolytic capacitors. Surface mount applications can
use either electrolytic or dry tantalum capacitors. Tanta-
lum capacitors must be surge tested and specified for use
in switching power supplies. Low cost, generic tantalums
are known to have very short lives followed by explosive
deaths in switching power supply applications. Other
capacitor series that can be used include Sanyo POSCAPs
and the Panasonic SP line.
A common way to lower ESR and raise ripple current
capability is to parallel several capacitors. A typical LTC3831
application might exhibit 5A input ripple current. Sanyo
OS-CON capacitors, part number 10SA220M (220µF/10V),
feature 2.3A allowable ripple current at 85°C; three in
parallel at the input (to withstand the input ripple current)
meet the above requirements. Similarly, Sanyo POSCAP
4TPB470M (470µF/4V) capacitors have a maximum rated
ESR of 0.04Ω, three in parallel lower the net output
capacitor ESR to 0.013Ω.
Feedback Loop Compensation
The LTC3831 voltage feedback loop is compensated at the
COMP pin, which is the output node of the error amplifier.
The feedback loop is generally compensated with an RC +
C network from COMP to GND as shown in Figure 9a.
Loop stability is affected by the values of the inductor, the
output capacitor, the output capacitor ESR, the error
amplifier transconductance and the error amplifier com-
pensation network. The inductor and the output capacitor
create a double pole at the frequency:
[ ] fLC = 1/ 2π (LO)(COUT)
The ESR of the output capacitor and the output capacitor
value form a zero at the frequency:
[ ] fESR = 1/ 2π(ESR)(COUT)
The compensation network used with the error amplifier
must provide enough phase margin at the 0dB crossover
frequency for the overall open-loop transfer function. The
zero and pole from the compensation network are:
fZ = 1/[2π(RC)(CC)] and
fP = 1/[2π(RC)(C1)] respectively.
Figure 9b shows the Bode plot of the overall transfer
function.
Although a mathematical approach to frequency compen-
sation can be used, the added complication of input and/or
output filters, unknown capacitor ESR, and gross operat-
ing point changes with input voltage, load current varia-
tions, all suggest a more practical empirical method. This
can be done by injecting a transient current at the load and
using an RC network box to iterate toward the final values,
or by obtaining the optimum loop response using a
network analyzer to find the actual loop poles and zeros.
LTC3831
COMP
10
ERR
RC
CC
C1
VFB
6
VTT
VREF
3831 F09a
Figure 9a. Compensation Pin Hook-Up
fSW = LTC3831 SWITCHING
fZ
FREQUENCY
fCO = CLOSED-LOOP CROSSOVER
FREQUENCY
20dB/DECADE
fLC
fESR
fCO
fP
FREQUENCY
3830 F10b
Figure 9b. Bode Plot of the LTC3831 Overall Transfer Function
3831f
16