LTC3404 Datasheet, PDF (8/16 Pages) Linear Technology – 1.4MHz High Efficiency Monolithic Synchronous Step-Down Regulator

LTC3404
U
OPERATIO
Dropout Operation
When the input supply voltage decreases toward the
output voltage, the duty cycle increases toward the maxi-
mum on-time. Further reduction of the supply voltage
forces the main switch to remain on for more than one
cycle until it reaches 100% duty cycle. The output voltage
will then be determined by the input voltage minus the
voltage drop across the internal P-channel MOSFET and
the inductor.
Low Supply Operation
The LTC3404 is designed to operate down to an input
supply voltage of 2.65V although the maximum allowable
output current is reduced at this low voltage. Figure 1
shows the reduction in the maximum output current as a
function of input voltage for various output voltages.
Another important detail to remember is that at low input
supply voltages, the R_DS(ON) of the P-channel switch
increases. Therefore, the user should calculate the power
dissipation when the LTC3404 is used at 100% duty cycle
with a low input voltage (see Thermal Considerations in
the Applications Information section).
Slope Compensation and Inductor Peak Current
Slope compensation provides stability in constant fre-
quency architectures by preventing subharmonic oscilla-
tions at high duty cycles. It is accomplished internally by
adding a compensating ramp to the inductor current
signal at duty cycles in excess of 40%. As a result, the
maximum inductor peak current is reduced for duty cycles
> 40%. This is shown in the decrease of the inductor peak
current as a function of duty cycle graph in Figure 2.
1200
L = 4.7µH
1000
800
V_OUT = 3.3V
600
V_OUT = 2.5V
400
V_OUT = 1.5V
200
0
2.5 3.5
4.5
5.5
6.5
7.5
SUPPLY VOLTAGE (V)
3404 • F01
Figure 1. Maximum Output Current vs Input Voltage
1100
V_IN = 3.3V
1000
900
800
700
600
0
20
40
60
80 100
DUTY CYCLE (%)
3404 F02
Figure 2. Maximum Inductor Peak Current vs Duty Cycle
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
The basic LTC3404 application circuit is shown on the first
page. External component selection is driven by the load
requirement and begins with the selection of L followed by
C_IN and C_OUT.
Inductor Value Calculation
The inductor selection will depend on the operating fre-
quency of the LTC3404. The internal nominal frequency is
1.4MHz, but can be externally synchronized from 1MHz to
1.7MHz.
The operating frequency and inductor selection are inter-
related in that higher operating frequencies allow the use
of smaller inductor and capacitor values. However, oper-
ating at a higher frequency generally results in lower
efficiency because of increased internal gate charge losses.
The inductor value has a direct effect on ripple current. The
ripple current ∆I_L decreases with higher inductance or
frequency and increases with higher V_IN or V_OUT.
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