SNVS676I August 2010 – April 2018 LM5119
PRODUCTION DATA.
The inductor value is determined based on the operating frequency, load current, ripple current, and the input and output voltages.
Knowing the switching frequency, maximum ripple current (IPP), maximum input voltage, and the nominal output voltage (VOUT), the inductor value can be calculated with Equation 8.
The maximum ripple current occurs at the maximum input voltage. Typically, IPP is 20% to 40% of the full load current. When operating in the diode emulation mode configuration, the maximum ripple current must be less than twice the minimum load current. For full synchronous operation, higher ripple current is acceptable. Higher ripple current allows for a smaller inductor size, but places more of a burden on the output capacitor to smooth the ripple current. For the example in Equation 9, a ripple current of 15% of 8 A was chosen as a compromise for the 10-V output.
The nearest standard value of 15 μH was chosen for L. Using the value of 15 µH for L in Equation 10 as the example (Equation 11), calculate IPP again. This step is necessary if the chosen value of L differs significantly from the calculated value.