SNVS574G July   2008  – July 2019 LM3421 , LM3423

PRODUCTION DATA.  

  1. 1 Features
  2. 2 Applications
  3. 3 Description
    1.     Device Images
      1.      Typical Boost Application
  4. 4 Revision History
  5. 5 Device Comparison
  6. 6 Pin Configuration and Functions
    1.     Pin Functions
  7. 7 Specifications
    1. 7.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
    2. 7.2 ESD Ratings
    3. 7.3 Recommended Operating Conditions
    4. 7.4 Thermal Information
    5. 7.5 Electrical Characteristics
    6. 7.6 Typical Characteristics
  8. 8 Detailed Description
    1. 8.1 Overview
    2. 8.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 8.3 Feature Description
      1. 8.3.1  Current Regulators
      2. 8.3.2  Predictive Off-Time (PRO) Control
      3. 8.3.3  Average LED Current
      4. 8.3.4  Analog Dimming
      5. 8.3.5  Current Sense and Current Limit
      6. 8.3.6  Overcurrent Protection
      7. 8.3.7  Zero Current Shutdown
      8. 8.3.8  Control Loop Compensation
      9. 8.3.9  Start-Up Regulator
      10. 8.3.10 Overvoltage Lockout (OVLO)
      11. 8.3.11 Input Undervoltage Lockout (UVLO)
        1. 8.3.11.1 UVLO Only
        2. 8.3.11.2 PWM Dimming and UVLO
      12. 8.3.12 PWM Dimming
      13. 8.3.13 LM3423 Only: DPOL, FLT, TIMR, and LRDY
  9. 9 Application and Implementation
    1. 9.1 Application Information
      1. 9.1.1 Inductor
      2. 9.1.2 LED Dynamic Resistance
      3. 9.1.3 Output Capacitor
      4. 9.1.4 Input Capacitors
      5. 9.1.5 Main MOSFET / Dimming MOSFET
      6. 9.1.6 Re-Circulating Diode
      7. 9.1.7 Boost Inrush Current
      8. 9.1.8 Switching Frequency
    2. 9.2 Typical Applications
      1. 9.2.1 Basic Topology Schematics
        1. 9.2.1.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.1.2 Detailed Design Procedure
          1. 9.2.1.2.1  Operating Point
          2. 9.2.1.2.2  Switching Frequency
          3. 9.2.1.2.3  Average LED Current
          4. 9.2.1.2.4  Inductor Ripple Current
          5. 9.2.1.2.5  LED Ripple Current
          6. 9.2.1.2.6  Peak Current Limit
          7. 9.2.1.2.7  Loop Compensation
          8. 9.2.1.2.8  Input Capacitance
          9. 9.2.1.2.9  N-channel FET
            1. 9.2.1.2.9.1 Boost and Buck-Boost
          10. 9.2.1.2.10 Diode
          11. 9.2.1.2.11 Output OVLO
          12. 9.2.1.2.12 Input UVLO
          13. 9.2.1.2.13 PWM Dimming Method
          14. 9.2.1.2.14 Analog Dimming Method
      2. 9.2.2 LM3421 Buck-Boost Application
        1. 9.2.2.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure
          1. 9.2.2.2.1  Operating Point
          2. 9.2.2.2.2  Switching Frequency
          3. 9.2.2.2.3  Average LED Current
          4. 9.2.2.2.4  Inductor Ripple Current
          5. 9.2.2.2.5  Output Capacitance
          6. 9.2.2.2.6  Peak Current Limit
          7. 9.2.2.2.7  Loop Compensation
          8. 9.2.2.2.8  Input Capacitance
          9. 9.2.2.2.9  N-channel FET
          10. 9.2.2.2.10 Diode
          11. 9.2.2.2.11 Input UVLO
          12. 9.2.2.2.12 Output OVLO
        3. 9.2.2.3 Application Curve
      3. 9.2.3 LM3421 BOOST Application
        1. 9.2.3.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.3.2 Detailed Design Procedure
      4. 9.2.4 LM3421 Buck-Boost Application
        1. 9.2.4.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.4.2 Detailed Design Procedure
      5. 9.2.5 LM3423 Boost Application
        1. 9.2.5.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.5.2 Detailed Design Procedure
      6. 9.2.6 LM3421 Buck-Boost Application
        1. 9.2.6.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.6.2 Detailed Design Procedure
      7. 9.2.7 LM3423 Buck Application
        1. 9.2.7.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.7.2 Detailed Design Procedure
      8. 9.2.8 LM3423 Buck-Boost Application
        1. 9.2.8.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.8.2 Detailed Design Procedure
      9. 9.2.9 LM3421 SEPIC Application
        1. 9.2.9.1 Design Procedure
        2. 9.2.9.2 Detailed Design Procedure
  10. 10Power Supply Recommendations
    1. 10.1 General Recommendations
    2. 10.2 Input Supply Current Limit
  11. 11Layout
    1. 11.1 Layout Guidelines
    2. 11.2 Layout Example
  12. 12Device and Documentation Support
    1. 12.1 Device Support
      1. 12.1.1 Third-Party Products Disclaimer
    2. 12.2 Related Links
    3. 12.3 Community Resources
    4. 12.4 Trademarks
    5. 12.5 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    6. 12.6 Glossary
  13. 13Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

Package Options

Mechanical Data (Package|Pins)
Thermal pad, mechanical data (Package|Pins)
Orderable Information

8.3.3 Average LED Current

LM3421 LM3423 30067357.gifFigure 13. LED Current Sense Circuitry

The LM3421 and LM3423 use an external current sense resistor (RSNS) placed in series with the LED load to convert the LED current (ILED) into a voltage (VSNS) as shown in Figure 13. The HSP and HSN pins are the inputs to the high-side sense amplifier which are forced to be equal potential (VHSP=VHSN) through negative feedback. Because of this, the VSNS voltage is forced across RHSP to generate the signal current (ICSH) which flows out of the CSH pin and through the RCSH resistor. The error amplifier regulates the CSH pin to 1.24 V, therefore ICSH can be calculated using Equation 4.

Equation 4. LM3421 LM3423 30067346.gif

This application regulates VSNS as described in Equation 5.

Equation 5. LM3421 LM3423 30067348.gif

Calculate ILED using Equation 6.

Equation 6. LM3421 LM3423 30067349.gif

The selection of the three resistors (RSNS, RCSH, and RHSP) is not arbitrary. For matching and noise performance, the suggested signal current ICSH is approximately 100 µA. This current does not flow in the LEDs and does not affect either the off-state LED current or the regulated LED current. ICSH can be above or below this value, but the high-side amplifier offset characteristics may be affected slightly. In addition, to minimize the effect of the high-side amplifier voltage offset on LED current accuracy, the minimum VSNS is suggested to be 50 mV. Place a resistor (RHSN = RHSP) in series with the HSN pin to cancel out the effects of the input bias current (approximately 10 µA) of both inputs of the high-side sense amplifier.

The sense resistor (RSNS) can be placed anywhere in the series string of LEDs as long as the voltage at the HSN and HSP pins (VHSP and VHSN) satisfies the following conditions.

Equation 7. LM3421 LM3423 300673k7.gif

Typically, for a buck-boost configuration, RSNS is placed at the bottom of the string (LED-) which allows for greater flexibility of input and output voltage. However, if there is substantial input voltage ripple allowed, it can help to place RSNS at the top of the string (LED+) which limits the output voltage of the string to:

Equation 8. LM3421 LM3423 300673k8.gif

The CSH pin can also be used as a low-side current sense input regulated to 1.24 V. The high-side sense amplifier is disabled if HSP and HSN are tied to AGND (or VHSN > VHSP) .