10.1 Layout Guidelines
TPS24720 applications require careful attention to layout to ensure proper performance and to minimize susceptibility to transients and noise. In general, all traces should be as short as possible, but the following list deserves first consideration:
- Decoupling capacitors on VCC pin should have minimal trace lengths to the pin and to GND.
- Traces to SET and SENSE must be short and run side-by-side to maximize common-mode rejection. Kelvin connections should be used at the points of contact with RSENSE (see Figure 40).
- SET runs must be short on both sides of RSET.
- Power path connections should be as short as possible and sized to carry at least twice the full-load current, more if possible.
- Connections to GND and IMON pins should be minimized after the previously described connections have been placed.
- The device dissipates low power, so soldering the thermal pad to the board is not a requirement. However, doing so improves thermal performance and reduces susceptibility to noise.
- Protection devices such as snubbers, TVS, capacitors, or diodes should be placed physically close to the device they are intended to protect, and routed with short traces to reduce inductance. For example, the protection Schottky diode shown in the typical application diagram on the front page of the data sheet should be physically close to the OUT pin.