SLVSCF4A December 2014 – July 2016 TPS650830
PRODUCTION DATA.
For all switching power supplies, the layout is an important step in the design, especially at high peak currents and high switching frequencies. If the layout is not carefully done, the regulator could show stability problems as well as EMI problems. Therefore, use wide and short traces for the main current path and for the power ground tracks. The input capacitor, output capacitor, and the inductor should be placed as close as possible to the IC. Use a common ground node for power ground and a different one for control ground to minimize the effects of ground noise. Connect these ground nodes at any place close to one of the ground pins of the IC.
There are 2 packages available for the TPS65083x, the ZAJ and ZCG. The ZAJ is a 7-mm x 7-mm BGA with 0.5-mm ball pitch. The ZCG is a 9-mm x 9-mm BGA with 0.5-mm ball pitch but, some of the inner balls have been removed for easier routing. Both packages preform relatively the same and the decision between which package is best for the application depends on the space constraints and routing technology used.
This small 7-mm x 7-mm package utilizes the Type 4 routing technique to decrease system board area as much as possible. This Type 4 routing has vias in pad, blind and buried vias, and minimum trace width / spacing of 4 mils.
The ZCG has some of the inner balls removed to essentially create a 0.1-mm ball pitch for the inner balls of the package. This feature allows for Type 3 routing of the board. This Type 3 routing has no vias in pad, no blind and buried vias, and minimum trace width / spacing of 4 mils.
The routing of the controllers is critical to the performance of the power supply. To reduce the risk of the controller effecting other sensitive circuits on the board, it is recommended to place all of the controller components on the same layer are the PMIC. In addition to component placement, the DRV, SW, and PGND signals should be routed on the same layer or as few of layers possible. It is recommended to place the FETs as close as possible to the PMIC but, it is imperative that the input capacitors are placed with minimal distance from the VIN and PGND pads of the FETs. The feedback signals should be routed differentially to the furthest output capacitor, which should be placed close to the load. Be sure to not route the feedback or any analog sensitive signals under the inductor, next to the SW node, or between the CIN and the FETs due to the high frequency switching from the edges.
If the FETs of the controller are to be place far away from the PMIC the layout of the DRV, SW and PGND signals becomes extremely critical. The loop inductance of the the traces must be minimized as much as possible. In-order to do this, pair the DRVH and SW traces together and pair the DRVL and PGND traces together. PGND is best routed as a plane. To reduce the loop inductance of the DRVL, DRVL trace should be routed one layer above the PGND. Generally, the SW, DRVL and DRVH traces should be 20 mils or larger assuming the PGND is a plane underneath the DRVL trace.
Implementation of integrated circuits in low-profile and fine-pitch surface-mount packages typically requires special attention to power dissipation. Many system-dependent issues such as thermal coupling, airflow, added heat sinks and convection surfaces, and the presence of other heat-generating components affect the power-dissipation limits of a given component.
Three basic approaches for enhancing thermal performance are listed below.
For more details on how to use the thermal parameters in the dissipation ratings table please check the Thermal Characteristics Application Note (SZZA017) and the IC Package Thermal Metrics Application Note (SPRA953).