PRODUCT DATASHEET
AAT1141
SwitchRegTM
FastTransient 600mA Step-Down Converter
Efficiency
Layout
Besides the AAT1141 device losses including switching
losses, conduction losses, and quiescent current losses,
the inductor copper loss also affects the efficiency of the
buck converter. To the buck converter, the average cur-
rent of the inductor is equal to output current IO. So the
loss in the inductor is:
The suggested 2-layer PCB layout for the AAT1141 is
shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The following guide lines
should be used to help ensure a proper layout.
1. The power traces (GND, LX, VIN) should be kept
short, direct, and wide to allow large current flow.
Place sufficient multiple-layer pads when needed to
change the trace layer.
2. The input capacitor (C1) should connect as closely
as possible to IN and GND.
PLOSS_L = IO2 · RL
3. The output capacitor C2 and L1 should be connected
as closely as possible. The connection of L1 to the LX
pin should be as short as possible and there should
not be any signal lines under the inductor.
Table 4 shows some recommended inductors. A larger size
inductor usually has smaller DCR. As a example: if select-
ing CDRH2D14 4.7μH for 1.8V output, the PLoss_L is 48.6mW
when output current is 600mA, so the inductor loses 4.5%
power; if selecting CDRH3D23 4.7μH, the PLoss_L should be
19.8mW, and the inductor losing power ratio is only 1.8%.
The inductor size and the buck converter efficiency is
always a trade-off in the real application.
4. The feedback trace or OUT pin should be separate
from any power trace and connect as closely as pos-
sible to the load point. Sensing along a high-current
load trace will degrade DC load regulation. If external
feedback resistors are used, they should be placed as
closely as possible to the OUT pin to minimize the
length of the high impedance feedback trace.
5. The resistance of the trace from the load return to
GND should be kept to a minimum. This will help to
minimize any error in DC regulation due to differ-
ences in the potential of the internal signal ground
and the power ground.
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1141.2008.07.1.4
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