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

8.3.2 Predictive Off-Time (PRO) Control

PRO control is used by the device to control ILED. It is a combination of average peak current control and a one-shot off-timer that varies with input voltage. The LM3421 and LM3423 use peak current control to regulate the average LED current through an array of HBLEDs. This method of control uses a series resistor in the LED path to sense LED current and can use either a series resistor in the MOSFET path or the MOSFET RDS-ON for both cycle-by-cycle current limit and input voltage feed forward. D is indirectly controlled by changes in both tOFF and tON, which vary depending on the operating point.

Even though the off-time control is quasi-hysteretic, the input voltage proportionality in the off-timer creates an essentially constant switching frequency over the entire operating range for boost and buck-boost topologies. The buck topology can be designed to give constant ripple over either input voltage or output voltage, however switching frequency is only constant at a specific operating point .

This type of control minimizes the control loop compensation necessary in many switching regulators, simplifying the design process. The averaging mechanism in the peak detection control loop provides extremely accurate LED current regulation over the entire operating range.

PRO control was designed to mitigate current mode instability (also called sub-harmonic oscillation) found in standard peak current mode control when operating near or above 50% duty cycles. When using standard peak current mode control with a fixed switching frequency, this condition is present, regardless of the topology. However, using a constant off-time approach, current mode instability cannot occur, enabling easier design and control.

Predictive off-time advantages:

  • There is no current mode instability at any duty cycle.
  • Higher duty cycles or voltage transformation ratios are possible, especially in the boost regulator.

The only disadvantage is that synchronization to an external reference frequency is generally not available.