SNVSCF2 November 2025 LM65680
PRODUCTION DATA
The output capacitor, COUT, conducts the inductor ripple current and provides a reservoir of charge for step-load transient events. Typically, ceramic capacitors provide very low ESR to reduce the output voltage ripple and noise, while polymer electrolytic capacitors provide a large bulk capacitance in a relatively compact footprint for transient loading events. Equation 9 gives the output capacitance based on the static specification of peak-to-peak output voltage ripple denoted by ΔVOUT.
The capacitor data sheet provides the ESR either explicitly as a specification or implicitly in the impedance vs. frequency curve. Depending on type, size and construction, electrolytic capacitors have significant ESR, 10mΩ and above, and relatively high ESL, above 10nH. PCB traces contribute some parasitic resistance and inductance as well. Ceramic output capacitors have low ESR and ESL contributions at the switching frequency, and the capacitive impedance component dominates. However, depending on package and voltage rating of the ceramic capacitor, the effective capacitance can drop quite significantly with applied DC voltage and operating temperature.
Equation 45 gives an estimate for the output capacitance to meet output voltage limits during dynamic load current changes when the response is small-signal limited and set by the crossover frequency, fC.
Ignoring the ESR term in Equation 9 gives a quick estimation of the minimum ceramic capacitance necessary to meet the output ripple specification. Then use Equation 45 to determine the capacitance is necessary to meet the load transient specification. Two to four 47µF, 10V, X7R, 1210, ceramic capacitors is a common choice for a 5V output with the LM65680/60/40 converter. A 12V output often typically two to four 22µF, 25V, X7R, 1210 capacitors.