SNVSC40E August   2021  – September 2023 LMR38020

PRODUCTION DATA  

  1.   1
  2. 1 Features
  3. 2 Applications
  4. 3 Description
  5. 4 Revision History
  6. 5 Device Comparison Table
  7. 6 Pin Configuration and Functions
  8. 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 System Characteristics
    7. 7.7 Typical Characteristics
  9. 8 Detailed Description
    1. 8.1 Overview
    2. 8.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 8.3 Feature Description
      1. 8.3.1  Fixed Frequency Peak Current Mode Control
      2. 8.3.2  Adjustable Output Voltage
      3. 8.3.3  Enable
      4. 8.3.4  Switching Frequency and Synchronization (RT/SYNC)
      5. 8.3.5  Power-Good Flag Output
      6. 8.3.6  Minimum On Time, Minimum Off Time, and Frequency Foldback
      7. 8.3.7  Bootstrap Voltage
      8. 8.3.8  Overcurrent and Short Circuit Protection
      9. 8.3.9  Soft Start
      10. 8.3.10 Thermal Shutdown
    4. 8.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 8.4.1 Auto Mode
      2. 8.4.2 Forced PWM Operation
      3. 8.4.3 Dropout
      4. 8.4.4 Minimum Switch On Time
  10. 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 Custom Design With WEBENCH® Tools
        2. 9.2.2.2 Choosing the Switching Frequency
        3. 9.2.2.3 FB for Adjustable Output
        4. 9.2.2.4 Inductor Selection
        5. 9.2.2.5 Output Capacitor Selection
        6. 9.2.2.6 Input Capacitor Selection
        7. 9.2.2.7 CBOOT
        8. 9.2.2.8 External UVLO
        9. 9.2.2.9 Maximum Ambient Temperature
      3. 9.2.3 Application Curves
    3. 9.3 Best Design Practices
    4. 9.4 Power Supply Recommendations
    5. 9.5 Layout
      1. 9.5.1 Layout Guidelines
        1. 9.5.1.1 Ground and Thermal Considerations
      2. 9.5.2 Layout Example
  11. 10Device and Documentation Support
    1. 10.1 Device Support
      1. 10.1.1 Development Support
        1. 10.1.1.1 Custom Design With WEBENCH® Tools
      2. 10.1.2 Third-Party Products Disclaimer
    2. 10.2 Documentation Support
      1. 10.2.1 Related Documentation
    3. 10.3 Receiving Notification of Documentation Updates
    4. 10.4 Support Resources
    5. 10.5 Trademarks
    6. 10.6 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    7. 10.7 Glossary
  12. 11Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

9.2.2.9 Maximum Ambient Temperature

As with any power conversion device, the device dissipates internal power while operating. The effect of this power dissipation is to raise the internal temperature of the converter above ambient. The internal die temperature (TJ) is a function of the ambient temperature, the power loss, and the effective thermal resistance, RθJA, of the device and PCB combination. The maximum junction temperature for the LMR38020 must be limited to 150°C. This limit establishes a limit on the maximum device power dissipation and, therefore, the load current. Equation 15 shows the relationships between the important parameters. Seeing that larger ambient temperatures (TA) and larger values of RθJA reduce the maximum available output current is easy. The converter efficiency can be estimated by using the curves provided in this data sheet. If the desired operating conditions cannot be found in one of the curves, interpolation can be used to estimate the efficiency. Alternatively, the EVM can be adjusted to match the desired application requirements and the efficiency can be measured directly. The correct value of RθJA is more difficult to estimate. As stated in the Semiconductor and IC Package Thermal Metrics , the values given in the Thermal Information are not valid for design purposes and must not be used to estimate the thermal performance of the application. The values reported in that table were measured under a specific set of conditions that are rarely obtained in an actual application.

Equation 15. IOUTMAX =TJ -TA RθJA ×ƞ1-ƞ ×1VOUT 

where

  • η = efficiency

The effective RθJA is a critical parameter and depends on many factors such as the following:

  • Power dissipation
  • Air temperature, flow
  • PCB area
  • Copper heat-sink area
  • Number of thermal vias under the package
  • Adjacent component placement

Use the following resources as guides to optimal thermal PCB design and estimating RθJA for a given application environment: