SLVS762C June   2007  – July 2015 TPS62240 , TPS62242 , TPS62243

PRODUCTION DATA.  

  1. 1 Features
  2. 2 Applications
  3. 3 Description
  4. 4 Revision History
  5. 5 Device Options
  6. 6 Pin Configuration and 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 Undervoltage Lockout
      2. 8.3.2 Mode Selection
      3. 8.3.3 Enable
      4. 8.3.4 Thermal Shutdown
    4. 8.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 8.4.1 Soft Start
      2. 8.4.2 Power Save Mode
      3. 8.4.3 100% Duty Cycle Low Dropout Operation
      4. 8.4.4 Short-Circuit Protection
  9. 9 Application and Implementation
    1. 9.1 Application Information
    2. 9.2 Typical Application
      1. 9.2.1 Design Requirements
      2. 9.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure
        1. 9.2.2.1 Output Voltage Setting
        2. 9.2.2.2 Output Filter Design (Inductor and Output Capacitor)
          1. 9.2.2.2.1 Inductor Selection
          2. 9.2.2.2.2 Output Capacitor Selection
          3. 9.2.2.2.3 Input Capacitor Selection
      3. 9.2.3 Application Curves
    3. 9.3 System Examples
      1. 9.3.1 TPS62240, Adjustable Output Voltage 1.8 V
      2. 9.3.2 TPS62243, Fixed Output Voltage 1.8 V
  10. 10Power Supply Recommendations
  11. 11Layout
    1. 11.1 Layout Guidelines
    2. 11.2 Layout Examples
  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

8 Detailed Description

8.1 Overview

The TPS6224x step-down converter operates with typically 2.25-MHz fixed-frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) at moderate to heavy load currents. At light load currents, the converter can automatically enter power save mode and operates then in pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode.

During PWM operation, the converter uses a unique fast response voltage mode control scheme with input voltage feed-forward to achieve good line and load regulation, allowing the use of small ceramic input and output capacitors. At the beginning of each clock cycle initiated by the clock signal, the high-side MOSFET switch is turned on. The current then flows from the input capacitor through the high-side MOSFET switch through the inductor to the output capacitor and load. During this phase, the current ramps up until the PWM comparator trips and the control logic turns off the switch. The current-limit comparator also turns off the switch if the current limit of the high-side MOSFET switch is exceeded. After a dead time preventing shoot-through current, the low-side MOSFET rectifier is turned on and the inductor current ramps down. The current then flows from the inductor to the output capacitor and to the load. It returns back to the inductor through the low-side MOSFET rectifier.

The next cycle is initiated by the clock signal again turning off the low-side MOSFET rectifier and turning on the high-side MOSFET switch.

8.2 Functional Block Diagram

TPS62240 TPS62242 TPS62243 fbd_lvs762.gif

8.3 Feature Description

8.3.1 Undervoltage Lockout

The undervoltage lockout circuit prevents the device from malfunctioning at low input voltages and from excessive discharge of the battery and disables the output stage of the converter. The undervoltage lockout threshold is typically 1.85 V with falling VIN.

8.3.2 Mode Selection

The MODE pin allows mode selection between forced PWM mode and power save mode.

Connecting this pin to GND enables the power save mode with an automatic transition between PWM and PFM mode. Pulling the MODE pin high forces the converter to operate in fixed-frequency PWM mode even at light load currents. This allows simple filtering of the switching frequency for noise sensitive applications. In this mode, the efficiency is lower compared to the power save mode during light loads.

The condition of the MODE pin can be changed during operation and allows efficient power management by adjusting the operation mode of the converter to the specific system requirements.

8.3.3 Enable

The device is enabled by setting the EN pin to high. During the start up time tStart Up, the internal circuits are settled and the soft start circuit is activated. The EN input can be used to control power sequencing in a system with various DC-DC converters. The EN pin can be connected to the output of another converter, to drive the EN pin high and getting a sequencing of supply rails. With EN pin = GND, the device enters shutdown mode in which all circuits are disabled. In fixed output voltage versions, the internal resistor divider network is then disconnected from FB pin.

8.3.4 Thermal Shutdown

As soon as the junction temperature, TJ, exceeds 140°C (typical) the device goes into thermal shutdown. In this mode, the high-side and low-side MOSFETs are turned off. The device continues its operation when the junction temperature falls below the thermal shutdown hysteresis.

8.4 Device Functional Modes

8.4.1 Soft Start

The TPS6224x has an internal soft-start circuit that controls the ramp up of the output voltage. The output voltage ramps up from 5% to 95% of its nominal value within typical 250 μs. This limits the inrush current in the converter during ramp up and prevents possible input voltage drops when a battery or high impedance power source is used. The soft-start circuit is enabled within the start-up time, tStart up.

8.4.2 Power Save Mode

The power save mode is enabled with MODE pin set to low level. If the load current decreases, the converter will enter power save mode operation automatically. During power save mode, the converter skips switching and operates with reduced frequency in PFM mode with a minimum quiescent current to maintain high efficiency.

The transition from PWM mode to PFM mode occurs once the inductor current in the low-side MOSFET switch becomes zero, which indicates discontinuous conduction mode.

During the power save mode, the output voltage is monitored with a PFM comparator. As the output voltage falls below the PFM comparator threshold of VOUT nominal, the device starts a PFM current pulse. The high-side MOSFET switch will turn on, and the inductor current ramps up. After the on-time expires, the switch is turned off and the low-side MOSFET switch is turned on until the inductor current becomes zero.

The converter effectively delivers a current to the output capacitor and the load. If the load is below the delivered current, the output voltage will rise. If the output voltage is equal to or greater than the PFM comparator threshold, the device stops switching and enters a sleep mode with typical 15-μA current consumption.

If the output voltage is still below the PFM comparator threshold, a sequence of further PFM current pulses are generated until the PFM comparator threshold is reached. The converter starts switching again once the output voltage drops below the PFM comparator threshold.

With a fast single-threshold comparator, the output voltage ripple during PFM mode operation can be kept to a minimum. The PFM pulse is time controlled, which allows to modify the charge transferred to the output capacitor by the value of the inductor. The resulting PFM output voltage ripple and PFM frequency both depend on the size of the output capacitor and the inductor value. Increasing output capacitor values and inductor values will minimize the output ripple. The PFM frequency decreases with smaller inductor values and increases with larger values.

If the output current cannot be supported in PFM mode, the device exits PFM mode and enters PWM mode. The power save mode can be disabled through the MODE pin set to high. The converter will then operate in fixed-frequency PWM mode.

TPS62240 TPS62242 TPS62243 pwr_sv_md_lvs762.gifFigure 5. Power Save Mode

8.4.3 100% Duty Cycle Low Dropout Operation

The device starts to enter 100% duty cycle mode once the input voltage comes close to the nominal output voltage. To maintain the output voltage, the high-side MOSFET switch is turned on 100% for one or more cycles.

With further decreasing VIN the high-side MOSFET switch is turned on completely. In this case the converter offers a low input-to-output voltage difference. This is particularly useful in battery-powered applications to achieve longest operation time by taking full advantage of the entire battery voltage range.

The minimum input voltage to maintain regulation depends on the load current and output voltage, and can be calculated as:

Equation 1. VINmin = VOUTmax + IOUTmax × RDS(on)max + RL

where

  • IOUTmax = Maximum output current plus inductor ripple current
  • RDS(on)max = Maximum P-channel switch RDS(on)
  • RL = DC resistance of the inductor
  • VOUTmax = Nominal output voltage plus maximum output voltage tolerance

8.4.4 Short-Circuit Protection

The high-side and low-side MOSFET switches are short-circuit protected with maximum switch current equal to ILIMF. The current in the switches is monitored by current-limit comparators. Once the current in the high-side MOSFET switch exceeds the threshold of its current-limit comparator, it turns off and the low-side MOSFET switch is activated to ramp down the current in the inductor and high-side MOSFET switch. The high-side MOSFET switch can only turn on again, once the current in the low-side MOSFET switch has decreased below the threshold of its current-limit comparator.