The PCB layout of any DC/DC converter is
critical to the excellent performance of the design. Poor PCB layout can disrupt the
operation of an otherwise good schematic design. Even if the converter regulates correctly,
bad PCB layout can mean the difference between a robust design and one that cannot be mass
produced. Furthermore, to a great extent, the EMI performance of the regulator is dependent
on the PCB layout. In a buck converter, the most critical PCB feature is the loop formed by
the input capacitor or capacitors and power ground, as shown in Figure 8-12. This loop carries large transient currents that can cause large transient voltages when
reacting with the trace inductance. These unwanted transient voltages disrupt the proper
operation of the converter. Because of this disrupt, the traces in this loop must be wide
and short, and the loop area as small as possible to reduce the parasitic inductance. Figure 8-13 shows a recommended layout for the critical components of the LMR60410.
- Place the input capacitors as close as possible to the VIN and GND
terminals.
- Use wide traces for the CBOOT capacitor. Place CBOOT close
to the device with short/wide traces to the BOOT and SW pins.
- Place the feedback divider as close as possible to the FB pin of the device.
Place RFBB, RFBT, and CFF, if used, physically close to
the device. The connections to FB and GND must be short and close to those pins on the
device. The connection to VOUT can be somewhat longer. However, the latter
trace must not be routed near any noise source (such as the SW node) that can capacitively
couple into the feedback path of the regulator.
- Use at least one ground plane in one of the middle layers. This plane acts as a
noise shield and as a heat dissipation path.
- Provide wide paths for VIN, VOUT, and GND. Making these paths as wide and direct
as possible reduces any voltage drops on the input or output paths of the converter and
maximizes efficiency.
- Provide enough PCB area for proper
heat-sinking. Enough copper area must be used to make sure a low RθJA,
commensurate with the maximum load current and ambient temperature. The top and bottom PCB
layers must be made with two ounce copper and no less than one ounce. If the PCB design
uses multiple copper layers (recommended), thermal vias can also be connected to the inner
layer heat-spreading ground planes.
- Keep the switch area small. Keep the copper area connecting the SW pin to the
inductor as short and wide as possible. At the same time, the total area of this node must
be minimized to help reduce radiated EMI.
See the following PCB layout resources for additional important guidelines: