SLVA959B November   2018  – October 2021 DRV10866 , DRV10963 , DRV10964 , DRV10970 , DRV10974 , DRV10975 , DRV10983 , DRV10983-Q1 , DRV10987 , DRV11873 , DRV3205-Q1 , DRV3220-Q1 , DRV3245E-Q1 , DRV3245Q-Q1 , DRV8301 , DRV8302 , DRV8303 , DRV8304 , DRV8305 , DRV8305-Q1 , DRV8306 , DRV8307 , DRV8308 , DRV8312 , DRV8313 , DRV8320 , DRV8320R , DRV8323 , DRV8323R , DRV8332 , DRV8343-Q1 , DRV8350 , DRV8350R , DRV8353 , DRV8353R , DRV8412 , DRV8701 , DRV8702-Q1 , DRV8702D-Q1 , DRV8703-Q1 , DRV8703D-Q1 , DRV8704 , DRV8711 , DRV8800 , DRV8801 , DRV8801-Q1 , DRV8801A-Q1 , DRV8802 , DRV8802-Q1 , DRV8803 , DRV8804 , DRV8805 , DRV8806 , DRV8811 , DRV8812 , DRV8813 , DRV8814 , DRV8816 , DRV8818 , DRV8821 , DRV8823 , DRV8823-Q1 , DRV8824 , DRV8824-Q1 , DRV8825 , DRV8828 , DRV8829 , DRV8830 , DRV8832 , DRV8832-Q1 , DRV8833 , DRV8833C , DRV8834 , DRV8835 , DRV8836 , DRV8837 , DRV8837C , DRV8838 , DRV8839 , DRV8840 , DRV8841 , DRV8842 , DRV8843 , DRV8844 , DRV8846 , DRV8847 , DRV8848 , DRV8850 , DRV8860 , DRV8870 , DRV8871 , DRV8871-Q1 , DRV8872 , DRV8872-Q1 , DRV8873-Q1 , DRV8880 , DRV8881 , DRV8884 , DRV8885 , DRV8886 , DRV8886AT , DRV8889-Q1

 

  1.   Trademarks
  2. 1Grounding Optimization
    1. 1.1 Frequently Used Terms/Connections
    2. 1.2 Using a Ground Plane
      1. 1.2.1 Two-Layer Board Techniques
    3. 1.3 Common Problems
      1. 1.3.1 Capacitive and Inductive Coupling
      2. 1.3.2 Common and Differential Noise
    4. 1.4 EMC Considerations
  3. 2Thermal Overview
    1. 2.1 PCB Conduction and Convection
    2. 2.2 Continuous Top-Layer Thermal Pad
    3. 2.3 Copper Thickness
    4. 2.4 Thermal Via Connections
    5. 2.5 Thermal Via Width
    6. 2.6 Summary of Thermal Design
  4. 3Vias
    1. 3.1 Via Current Capacity
    2. 3.2 Via Layout Recommendations
      1. 3.2.1 Multi-Via Layout
      2. 3.2.2 Via Placement
  5. 4General Routing Techniques
  6. 5Bulk and Bypass Capacitor Placement
    1. 5.1 Bulk Capacitor Placement
    2. 5.2 Charge Pump Capacitor
    3. 5.3 Bypass/Decoupling Capacitor Placement
      1. 5.3.1 Near Power Supply
      2. 5.3.2 Near Power Stage
      3. 5.3.3 Near Switch Current Source
      4. 5.3.4 Near Current Sense Amplifiers
      5. 5.3.5 Near Voltage Regulators
  7. 6MOSFET Placement and Power Stage Routing
    1. 6.1 Common Power MOSFET Packages
      1. 6.1.1 DPAK
      2. 6.1.2 D2PAK
      3. 6.1.3 TO-220
      4. 6.1.4 8-Pin SON
    2. 6.2 MOSFET Layout Configurations
    3. 6.3 Power Stage Layout Design
      1. 6.3.1 Switch Node
      2. 6.3.2 High-Current Loop Paths
      3. 6.3.3 VDRAIN Sense Pin
  8. 7Current Sense Amplifier Routing
    1. 7.1 Single High-Side Current Shunt
    2. 7.2 Single Low-Side Current Shunt
    3. 7.3 Two-Phase and Three-Phase Current Shunt Amplifiers
    4. 7.4 Component Selection
    5. 7.5 Placement
    6. 7.6 Routing
    7. 7.7 Useful Tools (Net Ties and Differential Pairs)
    8. 7.8 Input and Output Filters
    9. 7.9 Do's and Don'ts
  9. 8References
  10. 9Revision History

2.3 Copper Thickness

While having a continuous, wide plane decreases thermal resistance, the thickness of the copper on the plane is also a critical consideration for PCB thermal performance. By increasing the plating thickness of copper on the PCB, the effective thermal resistance of the plane is decreased. Use Equation 1 to calculate the relationship between copper thickness and plane area.

Equation 1. θCu = (1 / λCu × Length) / Area

Assuming a length and width of 1 cm with a plating thickness of 1 ounce (.0035 cm), the approximate thermal resistance for a copper plane laterally joined to the driver is calculated in Equation 2.

Equation 2. θCu = ( 1 / λCu × Length) / Area = (25°C cm/W × 1 cm) / 1 cm × 0.0035 cm = 71.4°C/W

If the copper thickness is doubled to 2-ounce copper (.007 cm), the thermal resistance for a copper plane laterally joined to the driver with the same dimensions as Equation 2 is calculated in Equation 3.

Equation 3. θCu = (1 / λCu × Length) / Area = (0.25°C cm / W × 1 cm )/1 cm × 0.007 cm = 35.7°C/W

If the copper thickness is doubled, the thermal resistance for the same sized plane is halved. Having thicker copper on ground planes connected to the driver contributes to the efficiency of conducting heat away from the device and into the ambient air without causing a significant temperature differential on the board.