LTC3604
14
3604fa
For more information www.linear.com/LTC3604
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
Checking Transient Response
The regulator loop response can be checked by observing
the response of the system to a load step. When config-
ured for external compensation, the availability of the
ITH pin not only allows optimization of the control loop
behavior but also provides a DC coupled and AC filtered
closed-loop response test point. The DC step, rise time,
and settling behavior at this test point reflect the system’s
closed-loop response. Assuming a predominantly second
order system, the phase margin and/or damping factor can
be estimated by observing the percentage of overshoot
seen at this pin. The ITH external components shown in
Figure 3 will provide an adequate starting point for most
applications. The series R-C filter sets the pole-zero loop
compensation. The values can be modified slightly, from
approximately 0.5 to 2 times their suggested values, to
optimize transient response once the final PC layout is
done and the particular output capacitor type and value
have been determined. The output capacitors need to be
selected because their various types and values determine
the loop feedback factor gain and phase. An output cur-
rent pulse of 20% to 100% of full load current with a rise
time of 1µs to 10µs will produce output voltage and ITH
pin waveforms that will give a sense of the overall loop
stability without breaking the feedback loop
When observing the response of V
OUT
to a load step, the
initial output voltage step may not be within the bandwidth
of the feedback loop. As a result, the standard second
order overshoot/DC ratio cannot be used to estimate
phase margin. The output voltage settling behavior is
related to the stability of the closed-loop system and will
demonstrate the actual overall supply performance. For
a detailed explanation of optimizing the compensation
components, including a review of control loop theory,
refer to Linear Technology Application Note 76. As shown
in Figure 2 a feedforward capacitor, C
F
, may be added
across feedback resistor R1 to improve the high frequency
response of the system. Capacitor C
F
provides phase lead
by creating a high frequency zero with R1.
In some applications severe transients can be caused by
switching in loads with large (>10µF) input capacitors. The
discharged input capacitors are effectively put in parallel
with C
OUT
, causing a rapid drop in V
OUT
. No regulator can
deliver enough current to prevent this output droop if the
switch connecting the load has low resistance and is driven
quickly. The solution is to limit the turn-on speed of the
load switch driver. A Hot Swap
controller is designed
specifically for this purpose and usually incorporates cur-
rent limit, short-circuit protection and soft-start functions.
MODE/SYNC Operation
The MODE/SYNC pin is a multipurpose pin allowing both
mode selection and operating frequency synchronization.
Connecting this pin to INTV
CC
enables Burst Mode operation
for superior efficiency at low load currents at the expense
of slightly higher output voltage ripple. When the MODE/
SYNC pin is pulled to ground, forced continuous mode
operation is selected creating the lowest fixed output ripple
at the expense of light load efficiency.
The LTC3604 will detect the presence of the external clock
signal on the MODE/SYNC pin and synchronize the internal
oscillator to the phase and frequency of the incoming clock.
The presence of an external clock will place the LTC3604
into forced continuous mode operation.
Output Voltage Tracking and Soft-Start
The LTC3604 allows the user to control the output volt-
age ramp rate by means of the TRACK/SS pin. From 0V
to 0.6V the TRACK/SS pin will override the internal refer-
ence input to the error amplifier forcing regulation of the
feedback voltage to that seen at the TRACK/SS pin. When
the voltage at the TRACK/SS pin rises above 0.6V, tracking
is disabled and the feedback voltage will be regulated to
the internal reference voltage.
The voltage at the TRACK/SS pin may be driven from an
external source, or alternatively, the user may leverage the
internal 1.4µA pull-up current on TRACK/SS to implement
a soft-start function by connecting a capacitor from the
TRACK/SS pin to ground. The relationship between output
rise time and TRACK/SS capacitance is given by:
t
SS
= 430,000 × C
TRACK/SS
A default internal soft-start timer forces a minimum soft-
start time of 400µs by overriding the TRACK/SS pin input