LT1111
O U
S
W
U
PPLICATI
A
I FOR ATIO
D1
L1
V
OUT
+
R1
C1
I
L
I
V
2N3906
LIM
IN
SW1
+
LT1111
C2
ON
A0
GND
SWITCH
FB
SW2
LT1111 • F08
OFF
LT1111 • F09
R2
R1
V
=
1.25V + 0.6V
(R2 )
OUT
–V
Figure 9. No Current Limit Causes Large Inductor
Current Build-Up
IN
Figure 8. Negative-to-Positive Converter
PROGRAMMED CURRENT LIMIT
Using the ILIM Pin
I
L
The LT1111 switch can be programmed to turn off at a set
switch current, a feature not found on competing devices.
This enables the input to vary over a wide range without
exceeding the maximum switch rating or saturating the
inductor. Consider the case wh ere analysis shows the
LT1111 must operate at an 800mA peak switch current
with a 2V input. If VIN rises to 4V, the peak switch current
will rise to 1.6A, exceeding the maximum switch current
rating. With the proper resistor selected (see the “Maxi-
mum Switch Current vs ILIM” characteristic), the switch
current will be limited to 800mA, even if the input voltage
increases.
ON
SWITCH
OFF
LT1111 • F10
Figure 10. Current Limit Keeps Inductor Current Under Control
Figure 11 details current limit circuitry. Sense transistor
Q1, whose base and emitter are paralleled with power
switchQ2,isratioedsuchthatapproximately0.5%ofQ2’s
collector current flows in Q1’s collector. This current is
passed through internal 80Ω resistor R1 and out through
the ILIM pin. The value of the external resistor connected
between ILIM and VIN sets the current limit. When suffi-
cient switch current flows to develop a VBE across R1 +
RLIM, Q3 turns on and injects current into the oscillator,
turning off the switch. Delay through this circuitry is
approximately 1µs. The current trip point becomes less
accurate for switch ON times less than 3µs. Resistor
values programming switch ON time for 1µs or less will
cause spurious response in the switch circuitry although
the device will still maintain output regulation.
Another situation where the ILIM feature is useful occurs
when the device goes into continuous mode operation.
This occurs in step-up mode when:
VOUT
+
VDIODE
1
<
(25)
VIN − VSW
1− DC
When the input and output voltages satisfy this relation-
ship, inductor current does not go to zero during the
switch OFF time. When the switch turns on again, the
current ramp starts from the non-zero current level in the
inductor just prior to switch turn-on. As shown in Figure
9, theinductorcurrentincreasestoahighlevelbeforethe
comparator turns off the oscillator. This high current can
causeexcessiveoutputrippleandrequiresoversizingthe
output capacitor and inductor. With the ILIM feature,
however, the switch current turns off at a programmed
level as shown in Figure 10, keeping output ripple to a
minimum.
R
I
LIM
(EXTERNAL)
LIM
V
IN
R1
80Ω
(INTERNAL)
Q3
SW1
Q2
DRIVER
Q1
OSCILLATOR
SW2
LT1111 • F11
Figure 11. LT1111 Current Limit Circuitry
1111fd
12
Linear [ Linear ]
