LTC1624
U
U
U
PIN FUNCTIONS
swing at this pin is from INTVCC to VIN + INTVCC in step-
down applications. In non step-down topologies the volt-
age at this pin is constant and equal to INTVCC if SW = 0V.
TG (Pin 6): High Current Gate Drive for Top N-Channel
MOSFET. This is the output of a floating driver with a
voltage swing equal to INTVCC superimposed on the
switch node voltage SW.
VIN (Pin 8): Main Supply Pin and the (+) Input to the
CurrentComparator.Mustbecloselydecoupledtoground.
BOOST (Pin 7): Supply to Topside Floating Driver. The
bootstrap capacitor CB is returned to this pin. Voltage
U
(Refer to Functional Diagram)
OPERATIO
Main Control Loop
implemented by ramping the voltage on the ITH/RUN pin
from 1.19V to its 2.4V maximum (see Applications Infor-
mation section).
The LTC1624 uses a constant frequency, current mode
architecture. During normal operation, the top MOSFET is
turned on each cycle when the oscillator sets the RS latch
andturnedoffwhenthemaincurrentcomparatorI1 resets
the RS latch. The peak inductor current at which I1 resets
the RS latch is controlled by the voltage on the ITH/RUN
pin, which is the output of error amplifier EA. The VFB pin,
described in the pin functions, allows EA to receive an
output feedback voltage from an external resistive divider.
When the load current increases, it causes a slight
decrease in VFB relative to the 1.19V reference, which in
turn causes the ITH/RUN voltage to increase until the
average inductor current matches the new load current.
While the top MOSFET is off, the internal bottom MOSFET
isturnedonforapproximately300nsto400nstorecharge
the bootstrap capacitor CB.
Comparator OV guards against transient output over-
shoots >7.5% by turning off the top MOSFET and keeping
it off until the fault is removed.
Low Current Operation
The LTC1624 is capable of Burst Mode operation in which
the external MOSFET operates intermittently based on
load demand. The transition to low current operation
begins when comparator B detects when the ITH/RUN
voltage is below 1.5V. If the voltage across RSENSE does
not exceed the offset of I2 (approximately 20mV) for one
full cycle, then on following cycles the top and internal
bottom drives are disabled. This continues until the ITH
voltageexceeds1.5V,whichcausesdrivetobereturnedto
the TG pin on the next cycle.
The top MOSFET driver is biased from the floating boot-
strap capacitor CB that is recharged during each off cycle.
The dropout detector counts the number of oscillator
cycles that the top MOSFET remains on and periodically
forces a brief off period to allow CB to recharge.
INTVCC Power/Boost Supply
Power for the top and internal bottom MOSFET drivers is
derived from VIN. An internal regulator supplies INTVCC
power. To power the top driver in step-down applications
an internal high voltage diode recharges the bootstrap
capacitorCB duringeachoffcyclefromtheINTVCC supply.
A small internal N-channel MOSFET pulls the switch node
(SW) to ground each cycle after the top MOSFET has
turned off ensuring the bootstrap capacitor is kept fully
charged.
ThemaincontrolloopisshutdownbypullingtheITH/RUN
pin below its 1.19V clamp voltage. Releasing ITH/RUN
allows an internal 2.5µA current source to charge com-
pensation capacitor CC. When the ITH/RUN pin voltage
reaches0.8VthemaincontrolloopisenabledwiththeITH/
RUN voltage pulled up by the error amp. Soft start can be
5
Linear [ Linear ]
