LTC3707-SYNC
24
3707sfa
at this test point truly refl ects the closed loop response.
Assuming a predominantly second order system, phase
margin and/or damping factor can be estimated using the
percentage of overshoot seen at this pin. The bandwidth
can also be estimated by examining the rise time at the
pin. The I
TH
external components shown in the Figure 1
circuit will provide an adequate starting point for most
applications.
The I
TH
series R
C
-C
C
fi lter sets the dominant pole-zero
loop compensation. The values can be modifi ed slightly
(from 0.5 to 2 times their suggested values) to optimize
transient response once the fi nal PC layout is done and
the particular output capacitor type and value have been
determined. The output capacitors need to be selected
because the various types and values determine the loop
gain and phase. An output current pulse of 20% to 80%
of full-load current having a rise time of 1μs to 10μs will
produce output voltage and I
TH
pin waveforms that will
give a sense of the overall loop stability without breaking
the feedback loop. Placing a power MOSFET directly
across the output capacitor and driving the gate with an
appropriate signal generator is a practical way to produce
a realistic load step condition. The initial output voltage
step resulting from the step change in output current may
not be within the bandwidth of the feedback loop, so this
signal cannot be used to determine phase margin. This is
why it is better to look at the I
TH
pin signal which is in the
feedback loop and is the fi ltered and compensated control
loop response. The gain of the loop will be increased
by increasing R
C
and the bandwidth of the loop will be
increased by decreasing C
C
. If R
C
is increased by the same
factor that C
C
is decreased, the zero frequency will be kept
the same, thereby keeping the phase shift the same in the
most critical frequency range of the feedback loop. The
output voltage settling behavior is related to the stability
of the closed-loop system and will demonstrate the actual
overall supply performance.
A second, more severe transient is caused by switching
in loads with large (>1μF) supply bypass capacitors. The
discharged bypass capacitors are effectively put in parallel
with C
OUT
, causing a rapid drop in V
OUT
. No regulator can
alter its delivery of current quickly enough to prevent this
sudden step change in output voltage if the load switch
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
resistance is low and it is driven quickly. If the ratio of
C
LOAD
to C
OUT
is greater than1:50, the switch rise time
should be controlled so that the load rise time is limited
to approximately 25 • C
LOAD
. Thus a 10μF capacitor would
require a 250μs rise time, limiting the charging current
to about 200mA.
Automotive Considerations:
Plugging into the Cigarette Lighter
As battery-powered devices go mobile, there is a natural
interest in plugging into the cigarette lighter in order to
conserve or even recharge battery packs during operation.
But before you connect, be advised: you are plugging
into the supply from hell. The main power line in an
automobile is the source of a number of nasty potential
transients, including load-dump, reverse-battery, and
double-battery.
Load-dump is the result of a loose battery cable. When the
cable breaks connection, the fi eld collapse in the alterna-
tor can cause a positive spike as high as 60V which takes
several hundred milliseconds to decay. Reverse-battery is
just what it says, while double-battery is a consequence of
tow-truck operators fi nding that a 24V jump start cranks
cold engines faster than 12V.
The network shown in Figure 9 is the most straight forward
approach to protect a DC/DC converter from the ravages of
an automotive power line. The series diode prevents current
from fl owing during reverse-battery, while the transient
suppressor clamps the input voltage during load-dump.
Note that the transient suppressor should not conduct
during double-battery operation, but must still clamp the
input voltage below breakdown of the converter.
Figure 9. Automotive Application Protection
V
IN
3707 F09
LTC3707-SYNC
TRANSIENT VOLTAGE
SUPPRESSOR
GENERAL INSTRUMENT
1.5KA24A
50A I
PK
RATING
12V