LTC4269-1
32
42691fc
The LTC4269-1 has an internal clamp on V
CC
of approxi-
mately 19.5V. This provides some protection for the part
in the event that the switcher is off (UVLO low) and the
V
CC
node is pulled high. If R
TR
is sized correctly, the part
should never attain this clamp voltage.
Control Loop Compensation
Loop frequency compensation is performed by connect-
ing a capacitor network from the output of the feedback
amplifi er (V
CMP
pin) to ground as shown in Figure 15.
Because of the sampling behavior of the feedback amplifi er,
compensation is different from traditional current mode
controllers. Normally only C
VCMP
is required. R
VCMP
can
be used to add a zero, but the phase margin improvement
traditionally offered by this extra resistor is usually already
accomplished by the nonzero secondary circuit impedance.
C
VCMP2
can be used to add an additional high frequency
pole and is usually sized at 0.1 times C
VCMP
.
Slope Compensation
The LTC4269-1 incorporates current slope compensation.
Slope compensation is required to ensure current loop
stability when the DC is greater than 50%. In some switching
regulators, slope compensation reduces the maximum peak
current at higher duty cycles. The LTC4269-1 eliminates
this problem by having circuitry that compensates for
the slope compensation so that maximum current sense
voltage is constant across all duty cycles.
Minimum Load Considerations
At light loads, the LTC4269-1 derived regulator goes into
forced continuous conduction mode. The primary-side
switch always turns on for a short time as set by the
t
ON(MIN)
resistor. If this produces more power than the
load requires, power will fl ow back into the primary dur-
ing the off period when the synchronization switch is on.
This does not produce any inherently adverse problems,
although light load effi ciency is reduced.
Maximum Load Considerations
The current mode control uses the V
CMP
node voltage
and amplifi ed sense resistor voltage as inputs to the
current comparator. When the amplifi ed sense voltage
exceeds the V
CMP
node voltage, the primary-side switch
is turned off.
In normal use, the peak switch current increases while
FB is below the internal reference. This continues until
V
CMP
reaches its 2.56V clamp. At clamp, the primary-side
MOSFET will turn off at the rated 100mV V
SENSE
level. This
repeats on the next cycle.
It is possible for the peak primary switch currents as
referred across R
SENSE
to exceed the max 100mV rating
because of the minimum switch on time blanking. If the
voltage on V
SENSE
exceeds 205mV after the minimum
turn-on time, the SFST capacitor is discharged, causing
the discharge of the V
CMP
capacitor. This then reduces
the peak current on the next cycle and will reduce overall
stress in the primary switch.
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
17
R
VCMP
V
CMP
C
VCMP
42691 F15
C
VCMP2
Figure 15. V
CMP
Compensation Network
In further contrast to traditional current mode switchers,
V
CMP
pin ripple is generally not an issue with the LTC4269-1.
The dynamic nature of the clamped feedback amplifi er
forms an effective track/hold type response, whereby the
V
CMP
voltage changes during the fl yback pulse, but is then
held during the subsequent switch-on portion of the next
cycle. This action naturally holds the V
CMP
voltage stable
during the current comparator sense action (current mode
switching).
Application Note 19 provides a method for empirically
tweaking frequency compensation. Basically, it involves
introducing a load current step and monitoring the
response.