6
LTC34 0 6B
3406bfa
FU CTIO AL DIAGRA
U
U
W
+
–
+
–
EA
+
–
I
RCMP
+
–
I
COMP
5
1
RUN
OSC
SLOPE
COMP
OSC
FREQ
SHIFT
0.6V
FB
0.6V + ∆V
OVL
R1LTC3406B-1.5
R1 + R2 = 550k
LTC3406B-1.8
R1 + R2 = 540k
R2
0.6V REF
SHUTDOWN
V
IN
V
FB
/V
OUT
V
IN
S
R
RS LATCH
OV
SWITCHING
LOGIC
AND
BLANKING
CIRCUIT
ANTI-
SHOOT-
THRU
Q
Q
5Ω
4
SW
3
GND
3406B BD
2
+
–
OVDET
OPERATIO
U
(Refer to Functional Diagram)
Main Control Loop
The LTC3406B uses a constant frequency, current mode
step-down architecture. Both the main (P-channel
MOSFET) and synchronous (N-channel MOSFET) switches
are internal. During normal operation, the internal top
power MOSFET is turned on each cycle when the oscillator
sets the RS latch, and turned off when the current com-
parator, I
COMP
, resets the RS latch. The peak inductor
current at which I
COMP
resets the RS latch, is controlled by
the output of error amplifier EA. When the load current
increases, it causes a slight decrease in the feedback
voltage, FB, relative to the 0.6V reference, which in turn,
causes the EA amplifier’s output voltage to increase until
the average inductor current matches the new load cur-
rent. While the top MOSFET is off, the bottom MOSFET is
turned on until either the inductor current starts to reverse,
as indicated by the current reversal comparator I
RCMP
, or
the beginning of the next clock cycle. The comparator
OVDET guards against transient overshoots >7.8% by
turning the main switch off and keeping it off until the fault
is removed.
Pulse Skipping Mode Operation
At light loads, the inductor current may reach zero or re-
verse on each pulse. The bottom MOSFET is turned off by
the current reversal comparator, I
RCMP
, and the switch
voltage will ring. This is discontinuous mode operation,
and is normal behavior for the switching regulator. At very
light loads, the LTC3406B will automatically skip pulses in
pulse skipping mode operation to maintain output regula-
tion. Refer to LTC3406 data sheet if Burst Mode operation
is preferred.
Short-Circuit Protection
When the output is shorted to ground, the frequency of the
oscillator is reduced to about 210kHz, 1/7 the nominal
frequency. This frequency foldback ensures that the in-
ductor current has more time to decay, thereby preventing
runaway. The oscillator’s frequency will progressively
increase to 1.5MHz when V
FB
or V
OUT
rises above 0V.