ADP3421JRU Analog Devices, ADP3421JRU Datasheet - Page 11

• Manufacturer Part Number: ADP3421JRU
• Description: Geyserville-Enabled DC-DC Converter Controller for Mobile CPUs
• Manufacturer: Analog Devices

Power Switching Circuitry
ADP3410, MOSFETs, Input Capacitors
3. Locate the ADP3410 near the MOSFETs so the parasitic
4. Locate at least one substantial (i.e., > ~1 µF) input bypass
5. Make provisions for thermal management of all the MOSFETs.
6. An external “antiparallel” Schottky diode (across the bottom
7. Both ground pins of the ADP3410 should be connected into
Output Filter
Output Inductor and Capacitors, Current-Sense Resistor
8. Locate the current-sense resistor very near to the output
9. PCB trace resistances from the current-sense resistor to the
10. Whenever high currents must be routed between PCB layers,
11. The ground connection of the output capacitors should be
inductance in the gate drive traces and the trace to the SW
pin is small, and so that the ground pins of the ADP3410
are closely connected to the lower MOSFET’s source.
MLC capacitor close to the MOSFETs so that the physical
area of the loop enclosed in the electrical path through the
bypass capacitor and around through the top and bottom
MOSFETs (drain-source) is small. This is the switching
power path loop.
Heavy copper and wide traces to ground and power planes will
help to pull out the heat. Heat sinking by a metal tap soldered
in the power plane near the MOSFETs will help. Even just
small airflow can help tremendously. Paralleled MOSFETs will
help spread the heat, even if the on resistance is higher.
MOSFET) may help efficiency a small amount (< ~1 %); a
MOSFET with a built-in antiparallel Schottky is more
effective. For an external Schottky, it should be placed next
to the bottom MOSFET or it may not be effective at all.
Also, a higher current rating (bigger device with lower voltage
drop) is more effective.
the same ground plane with the power switching circuitry,
and the VCC bypass capacitor should be close to the VCC
pin and connected into the same ground plane.
capacitors.
output capacitors, and from the output capacitors to the
load, should be minimized, known (calculated or measured),
and compensated for as part of the design if it is significant.
(Remote sensing is not sufficient for relieving this require-
ment.) A square section of 1 ounce copper trace has a
resistance of ~500 mΩ. Using 2~3 squares of copper can
make a noticeable impact on a 15 A design.
vias should be used liberally to create several parallel current
paths so that the resistance and inductance introduced by
these current paths is minimized and the via current rating
is not exceeded.
close to the ground connection of the lower MOSFET and
it should be a ground plane. Current may pulsate in this
path if the power source ground is closer to the output
capacitors than the power switching circuitry, so a close
connection will minimize the voltage drop.
Control Circuitry
ADP3421, Control Components
12. If the placement overview cannot be followed, the ground
13. If critical signal lines (i.e., signals from the current-sense
14. Absolutely avoid crossing any signal lines over the switching
15. Accurate voltage positioning depends on accurate current
16. The RC filter used for the current-sense signal should be
LDOs
PNP Transistors
17. The maximum steady-state power dissipation expected
18. Each PNP transistor should be located close to the load that
19. The supply voltage to the PNP emitters should be low
pin of the ADP3421 should be Kelvin-connected into the
ground plane near the output capacitors to avoid introduc-
ing ground noise from the power switching stage into the
control circuitry. All other control components should be
grounded on that same signal ground.
resistor leading back to the ADP3421) must cross through
power circuitry, it is best if a signal ground plane can be
interposed between those signal lines and the traces of the
power circuitry. This serves as a shield to minimize noise
injection into the signals at the expense of making signal
ground a bit noisier.
power path loop, as previously described.
sensing, so the control signals that differentially monitor
the voltage across the current-sense resistor should be
Kelvin-connected.
located near the control components.
for the design should be calculated so that an acceptable
package type PNP for each output is selected and properly
mounted to be able to dissipate the power with acceptable
temperature rise.
it sources.
impedance to avoid loop instability. It is good design practice
to have at least one MLC capacitor near each of the PNP
emitters to help ensure the impedance is sufficiently low.
ADP3421