LTC3410
U
OPERATIO
(Refer to Functional Diagram)
Main Control Loop
Short-Circuit Protection
The LTC3410 uses a constant frequency, current mode Whentheoutputisshortedtoground,thefrequencyofthe
step-down architecture. Both the main (P-channel oscillator is reduced to about 310kHz, 1/7 the nominal
MOSFET)andsynchronous(N-channelMOSFET)switches frequency. This frequency foldback ensures that the in-
are internal. During normal operation, the internal top ductorcurrenthasmoretimetodecay,therebypreventing
power MOSFET is turned on each cycle when the oscillator runaway. The oscillator’s frequency will progressively
sets the RS latch, and turned off when the current com- increase to 2.25MHz when VFB rises above 0V.
parator, ICOMP, resets the RS latch. The peak inductor
Dropout Operation
current at which ICOMP resets the RS latch, is controlled by
the output of error amplifier EA. The VFB pin, described in
the Pin Functions section, allows EA to receive an output
feedback voltage from an external resistive divider. When
the load current increases, it causes a slight decrease in
the feedback voltage relative to the 0.8V reference, which
in turn, causes the EA amplifier’s output voltage to in-
crease until the average inductor current matches the new
load current. While the top MOSFET is off, the bottom
MOSFET is turned on until either the inductor current
starts to reverse, as indicated by the current reversal
comparatorIRCMP,orthebeginningofthenextclockcycle.
Astheinputsupplyvoltagedecreasestoavalueapproach-
ingtheoutputvoltage, thedutycycleincreasestowardthe
maximum on-time. Further reduction of the supply volt-
ageforcesthemainswitchtoremainonformorethanone
cycle until it reaches 100% duty cycle. The output voltage
will then be determined by the input voltage minus the
voltage drop across the P-channel MOSFET and the
inductor.
Another important detail to remember is that at low input
supply voltages, the RDS(ON) of the P-channel switch
increases (see Typical Performance Characteristics).
Therefore,theusershouldcalculatethepowerdissipation
when the LTC3410 is used at 100% duty cycle with low
input voltage (See Thermal Considerations in the Applica-
tions Information section).
Burst Mode Operation
The LTC3410 is capable of Burst Mode operation in which
the internal power MOSFETs operate intermittently based
on load demand.
When the converter is in Burst Mode operation, the peak
current of the inductor is set to approximately 70mA re-
gardless of the output load. Each burst event can last from
a few cycles at light loads to almost continuously cycling
with short sleep intervals at moderate loads. In between
theseburstevents,thepowerMOSFETsandanyunneeded
circuitry are turned off, reducing the quiescent current to
26µA. In this sleep state, the load current is being supplied
solely from the output capacitor. As the output voltage
droops, the EA amplifier’s output rises above the sleep
thresholdsignalingtheBURSTcomparatortotripandturn
the top MOSFET on. This process repeats at a rate that is
dependent on the load demand.
Slope Compensation and Inductor Peak Current
Slope compensation provides stability in constant fre-
quency architectures by preventing subharmonic oscilla-
tions at high duty cycles. It is accomplished internally by
adding a compensating ramp to the inductor current
signal at duty cycles in excess of 40%. Normally, this
results in a reduction of maximum inductor peak current
for duty cycles >40%. However, the LTC3410 uses a
patented scheme that counteracts this compensating
ramp, which allows the maximum inductor peak current
to remain unaffected throughout all duty cycles.
3410fb
7
Linear [ Linear ]
