lt3481imse-trpbf Linear Technology Corporation, lt3481imse-trpbf Datasheet - Page 13

• Manufacturer Part Number: lt3481imse-trpbf
• Description: 36v, 2a, 2.8mhz Step-down Switching Regulator With 50?a Quiescent Current
• Manufacturer: Linear Technology Corporation

APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
A fi nal precaution regarding ceramic capacitors concerns
the maximum input voltage rating of the LT3481. A ceramic
input capacitor combined with trace or cable inductance
forms a high quality (under damped) tank circuit. If the
LT3481 circuit is plugged into a live supply, the input volt-
age can ring to twice its nominal value, possibly exceeding
the LT3481’s rating. This situation is easily avoided (see
the Hot Plugging Safely section).
Frequency Compensation
The LT3481 uses current mode control to regulate the
output. This simplifi es loop compensation. In particular, the
LT3481 does not require the ESR of the output capacitor
for stability, so you are free to use ceramic capacitors to
achieve low output ripple and small circuit size. Frequency
compensation is provided by the components tied to the
V
and a resistor (R
tion, there may be lower value capacitor in parallel. This
capacitor (C
is used to fi lter noise at the switching frequency, and is
required only if a phase-lead capacitor is used or if the
output capacitor has high ESR.
Loop compensation determines the stability and transient
performance. Designing the compensation network is a
bit complicated and the best values depend on the ap-
plication and in particular the type of output capacitor. A
practical approach is to start with one of the circuits in
this data sheet that is similar to your application and tune
the compensation network to optimize the performance.
Stability should then be checked across all operating
conditions, including load current, input voltage and
temperature. The LT1375 data sheet contains a more
thorough discussion of loop compensation and describes
how to test the stability using a transient load. Figure 2
shows an equivalent circuit for the LT3481 control loop.
The error amplifi er is a transconductance amplifi er with
fi nite output impedance. The power section, consisting of
the modulator, power switch and inductor, is modeled as
a transconductance amplifi er generating an output cur-
rent proportional to the voltage at the V
the output capacitor integrates this current, and that the
capacitor on the V
fi er output current, resulting in two poles in the loop. In
C
pin, as shown in Figure 2. Generally a capacitor (C
F
) is not part of the loop compensation but
C
) in series to ground are used. In addi-
C
pin (C
C
) integrates the error ampli-
C
pin. Note that
C
)
most cases a zero is required and comes from either the
output capacitor ESR or from a resistor R
C
of the inductor is not too high and the loop crossover
frequency is much lower than the switching frequency.
A phase lead capacitor (C
may improve the transient response. Figure 3 shows the
transient response when the load current is stepped from
500mA to 1500mA and back to 500mA.
Figure 3. Transient Load Response of the LT3481 Front Page
Application as the Load Current is Stepped from 500mA to
1500mA. V
C
. This simple model works well as long as the value
LT3481
CURRENT MODE
POWER STAGE
g
m
C
100mV/DIV
F
= 3.5mho
OUT
1A/DIV
V
R
3Meg
C
V
C
C
OUT
C
Figure 2. Model for Loop Response
I
= 3.3V
L
V
330µmho
OUT
g
AMPLIFIER
m
= 12V; FRONT PAGE APPLICATION
ERROR
=
–
+
GND
1.265V
PL
SW
10µs/DIV
FB
) across the feedback divider
R2
R1
TANTALUM
POLYMER
C
PL
ESR
C1
OR
C
3481 F03
+
LT3481
in series with
3481 F02
OUTPUT
C1
CERAMIC
13
3481f