LM3444
SNVS682C –NOVEMBER 2010–REVISED MAY 2013
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VBUCK
V+
D3
+
VBUCK
-
+
C7
D9
C9
C10
D8
+
VBUCK
-
D4
+
Figure 14. Two stage Valley-Fill Circuit when AC Line is Low
A three stage valley-fill circuit performs exactly the same as two-stage valley-fill circuit except now three
capacitors are now charged in series, and when the line voltage decreases to:
2
VAC-RMS
VVF-CAP
=
3
(2)
Diode D3 is reversed biased and three capacitors are in parallel to each other.
The valley-fill circuit can be optimized for power factor, voltage hold up and overall application size and cost. The
LM3444 will operate with a single stage or a three stage valley-fill circuit as well. Resistor R8 functions as a
current limiting resistor during start-up, and during the transition from series to parallel connection. Resistors R6
and R7 are 1 MΩ bleeder resistors, and may or may not be necessary for each application.
BUCK CONVERTER
The LM3444 is a buck controller that uses a proprietary constant off-time method to maintain constant current
through a string of LEDs. While transistor Q2 is on, current ramps up through the inductor and LED string. A
resistor R3 senses this current and this voltage is compared to the reference voltage at FILTER. When this
sensed voltage is equal to the reference voltage, transistor Q2 is turned off and diode D10 conducts the current
through the inductor and LEDs. Capacitor C12 eliminates most of the ripple current seen in the inductor. Resistor
R4, capacitor C11, and transistor Q3 provide a linear current ramp that sets the constant off-time for a given
output voltage.
10
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