LTC1624
U
W U U
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
Boost Converters: Power MOSFET Selection
Boost Converter: Inductor Selection
One external N-channel power MOSFET must be selected
for use with the LTC1624 for the switch. In boost applica-
tions the source of the power MOSFET is grounded along
with the SW pin. The peak-to-peak gate drive levels are set
by the INTVCC voltage. The gate drive voltage is equal to
approximately 5V for VIN > 5.6V and a logic level MOSFET
can be used. At VIN voltages below 5V the gate drive
voltage is equal to VIN – 0.6V and a sublogic level MOSFET
should be used.
For most applications the inductor will fall in the range of
10µH to 100µH. Higher values reduce the input ripple
voltage and reduce core loss. Lower inductor values are
chosen to reduce physical size.
Theinputcurrentoftheboostconverteriscalculatedatfull
load current. Peak inductor current can be significantly
higher than output current, especially with smaller induc-
tors and lighter loads. The following formula assumes
continuousmodeoperationandcalculatesmaximumpeak
inductor current at minimum VIN:
Selection criteria for the power MOSFET include the “ON”
resistance RDS(ON), reverse transfer capacitance CRSS
,
∆I
input voltage and maximum output current. When the
LTC1624 is operating in continuous mode the duty cycle
for the MOSFET is given by:
L MAX
(
)
V
OUT
I
=I
+
L PEAK
OUT MAX
(
)
(
)
2
V
IN MIN
V
IN
+ V
D
The ripple current in the inductor (∆IL) is typically 20% to
30% of the peak inductor current occuring at VIN(MIN) and
Main Switch Duty Cycle = 1−
V
OUT
IOUT(MAX)
.
The MOSFET power dissipation at maximum output cur-
rent is given by:
V V
+ V − V
(
)
IN OUT
D
IN
∆I
=
L P-P
(
)
V
2
200kHz L V
+ V
IN MIN
OUT
D
(
)
P
= I
1−
1+ δ R
+
(
)
MAIN
IN MAX
(
DS ON
)
(
)
V
+ V
OUT
D
with ∆IL(MAX) = ∆IL(P-P) at VIN = VIN(MIN)
.
1.85
)
Remember boost converters are not short-circuit pro-
tected, and that under output short conditions, inductor
current is limited only by the available current of the input
supply, IOUT(OVERLOAD). Specify the maximum inductor
current to safely handle the greater of IL(PEAK) or
k V
I
C
200kHz
(
(
)(
)
OUT
IN MAX
RSS
(
)
V
+ V
D
OUT
where I
=I
IN MAX
(
OUT MAX
)
(
)
I
OUT(OVERLOAD). Make sure the inductor’s saturation cur-
V
IN MIN
(
)
rent rating (current when inductance begins to fall)
exceeds the maximum current rating set by RSENSE
.
δ is the temperature dependency of RDS(ON) and k is a
constant inversely related to the gate drive current.
Boost Converter: RSENSE Selection for Maximum
Output Current
MOSFETs have I2R losses, plus the PMAIN equation
includes an additional term for transition losses that are
highest at high output voltages. For VOUT < 20V the high
currentefficiencygenerallyimproveswithlargerMOSFETs,
while for VOUT > 20V the transition losses rapidly increase
to the point that the use of a higher RDS(ON) device with
lower CRSS actual provides higher efficiency. For addi-
tional information refer to Step-Down Converter: Power
MOSFET Selection in the Applications Information
section.
RSENSE is chosen based on the required output current.
Remember the LTC1624 current comparator has a maxi-
mum threshold of 160mV/RSENSE. The current compara-
torthresholdsetsthepeakoftheinductorcurrent,yielding
a maximum average output current IOUT(MAX) equal to
IL(PEAK) less half the peak-to-peak ripple current (∆IL),
divided by the output-input voltage ratio (see equation for
IL(PEAK) .
)
14
Linear [ Linear ]
