LM2676
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SNVS031J –APRIL 2000–REVISED APRIL 2013
INDUCTOR
The inductor is the key component in a switching regulator. For efficiency the inductor stores energy during the
switch ON time and then transfers energy to the load while the switch is OFF.
Nomographs are used to select the inductance value required for a given set of operating conditions. The
nomographs assume that the circuit is operating in continuous mode (the current flowing through the inductor
never falls to zero). The magnitude of inductance is selected to maintain a maximum ripple current of 30% of the
maximum load current. If the ripple current exceeds this 30% limit the next larger value is selected.
The inductors offered have been specifically manufactured to provide proper operation under all operating
conditions of input and output voltage and load current. Several part types are offered for a given amount of
inductance. Both surface mount and through-hole devices are available. The inductors from each of the three
manufacturers have unique characteristics.
Renco: ferrite stick core inductors; benefits are typically lowest cost and can withstand ripple and transient peak
currents above the rated value. These inductors have an external magnetic field, which may generate EMI.
Pulse Engineering: powdered iron toroid core inductors; these also can withstand higher than rated currents and,
being toroid inductors, will have low EMI.
Coilcraft: ferrite drum core inductors; these are the smallest physical size inductors and are available only as
surface mount components. These inductors also generate EMI but less than stick inductors.
OUTPUT CAPACITOR
The output capacitor acts to smooth the dc output voltage and also provides energy storage. Selection of an
output capacitor, with an associated equivalent series resistance (ESR), impacts both the amount of output ripple
voltage and stability of the control loop.
The output ripple voltage of the power supply is the product of the capacitor ESR and the inductor ripple current.
The capacitor types recommended in the tables were selected for having low ESR ratings.
In addition, both surface mount tantalum capacitors and through-hole aluminum electrolytic capacitors are offered
as solutions.
Impacting frequency stability of the overall control loop, the output capacitance, in conjunction with the inductor,
creates a double pole inside the feedback loop. In addition the capacitance and the ESR value create a zero.
These frequency response effects together with the internal frequency compensation circuitry of the LM2676
modify the gain and phase shift of the closed loop system.
As a general rule for stable switching regulator circuits it is desired to have the unity gain bandwidth of the circuit
to be limited to no more than one-sixth of the controller switching frequency. With the fixed 260KHz switching
frequency of the LM2676, the output capacitor is selected to provide a unity gain bandwidth of 40KHz maximum.
Each recommended capacitor value has been chosen to achieve this result.
In some cases multiple capacitors are required either to reduce the ESR of the output capacitor, to minimize
output ripple (a ripple voltage of 1% of Vout or less is the assumed performance condition), or to increase the
output capacitance to reduce the closed loop unity gain bandwidth (to less than 40KHz). When parallel
combinations of capacitors are required it has been assumed that each capacitor is the exact same part type.
The RMS current and working voltage (WV) ratings of the output capacitor are also important considerations. In a
typical step-down switching regulator, the inductor ripple current (set to be no more than 30% of the maximum
load current by the inductor selection) is the current that flows through the output capacitor. The capacitor RMS
current rating must be greater than this ripple current. The voltage rating of the output capacitor should be
greater than 1.3 times the maximum output voltage of the power supply. If operation of the system at elevated
temperatures is required, the capacitor voltage rating may be de-rated to less than the nominal room temperature
rating. Careful inspection of the manufacturer's specification for de-rating of working voltage with temperature is
important.
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