LTC3410
W U U
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
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Checking Transient Response
the junction temperature reaches approximately 150°C,
both power switches will be turned off and the SW node
will become high impedance.
The regulator loop response can be checked by looking at
the load transient response. Switching regulators take
several cycles to respond to a step in load current. When
a load step occurs, VOUT immediately shifts by an amount
equal to (∆ILOAD • ESR), where ESR is the effective series
resistance of COUT. ∆ILOAD also begins to charge or
discharge COUT, which generates a feedback error signal.
The regulator loop then acts to return VOUT to its steady-
state value. During this recovery time VOUT can be moni-
toredforovershootorringingthatwouldindicateastability
problem. For a detailed explanation of switching control
loop theory, see Application Note 76.
To avoid the LTC3410 from exceeding the maximum
junction temperature, the user will need to do some
thermal analysis. The goal of the thermal analysis is to
determine whether the power dissipated exceeds the
maximum junction temperature of the part. The tempera-
ture rise is given by:
TR = (PD)(θJA)
where PD is the power dissipated by the regulator and
θJAis the thermal resistance from the junction of the die to
the ambient temperature.
A second, more severe transient is caused by switching in
loads with large (>1µF) supply bypass capacitors. The
dischargedbypasscapacitorsareeffectivelyputinparallel
with COUT, causing a rapid drop in VOUT. No regulator can
deliver enough current to prevent this problem if the load
switch resistance is low and it is driven quickly. The only
solution is to limit the rise time of the switch drive so that
the load rise time is limited to approximately (25 • CLOAD).
Thus, a 10µF capacitor charging to 3.3V would require a
250µs rise time, limiting the charging current to about
130mA.
The junction temperature, TJ, is given by:
TJ = TA + TR
where TA is the ambient temperature.
As an example, consider the LTC3410 in dropout at an
input voltage of 2.7V, a load current of 300mA and an
ambient temperature of 70°C. From the typical perfor-
mance graph of switch resistance, the RDS(ON) of the
P-channel switch at 70°C is approximately 1.0Ω.
Therefore, power dissipated by the part is:
PD = ILOAD2 • RDS(ON) = 90mW
PC Board Layout Checklist
For the SC70 package, the θJA is 250°C/W. Thus, the
junction temperature of the regulator is:
When laying out the printed circuit board, the following
checklist should be used to ensure proper operation of the
LTC3410. These items are also illustrated graphically in
Figures 4 and 5. Check the following in your layout:
TJ = 70°C + (0.09)(250) = 92.5°C
which is well below the maximum junction temperature
of 125°C.
1. The power traces, consisting of the GND trace, the SW
trace and the VIN trace should be kept short, direct and
wide.
Note that at higher supply voltages, the junction tempera-
ture is lower due to reduced switch resistance (RDS(ON)).
3410fb
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Linear [ Linear ]
