SLVS974F September   2009  – May 2020 TPS54218

PRODUCTION DATA.  

  1. Features
  2. Applications
  3. Description
    1.     Device Images
      1.      Simplified Schematic
      2.      Efficiency versus Output Current
  4. Revision History
  5. Pin Configuration and Functions
    1.     Pin Functions
  6. Specifications
    1. 6.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
    2. 6.2 ESD Ratings
    3. 6.3 Recommended Operating Conditions
    4. 6.4 Thermal Information
    5. 6.5 Electrical Characteristics
    6. 6.6 Typical Characteristics
  7. Detailed Description
    1. 7.1 Overview
    2. 7.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 7.3 Feature Description
      1. 7.3.1  Fixed Frequency PWM Control
      2. 7.3.2  Slope Compensation and Output Current
      3. 7.3.3  Bootstrap Voltage (Boot) and Low Dropout Operation
      4. 7.3.4  Error Amplifier
      5. 7.3.5  Voltage Reference
      6. 7.3.6  Adjusting the Output Voltage
      7. 7.3.7  Enable and Adjusting Undervoltage Lockout
      8. 7.3.8  Soft-Start Pin
      9. 7.3.9  Sequencing
      10. 7.3.10 Constant Switching Frequency and Timing Resistor (RT/CLK Pin)
      11. 7.3.11 Overcurrent Protection
      12. 7.3.12 Frequency Shift
      13. 7.3.13 Reverse Overcurrent Protection
      14. 7.3.14 Synchronize Using the RT/CLK Pin
      15. 7.3.15 Power Good (PWRGD Pin)
      16. 7.3.16 Overvoltage Transient Protection
      17. 7.3.17 Thermal Shutdown
    4. 7.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 7.4.1 Small Signal Model for Loop Response
      2. 7.4.2 Simple Small Signal Model for Peak Current Mode Control
      3. 7.4.3 Small Signal Model for Frequency Compensation
  8. Application and Implementation
    1. 8.1 Application Information
    2. 8.2 Typical Application
      1. 8.2.1 Design Requirements
      2. 8.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure
        1. 8.2.2.1  Step One: Select the Switching Frequency
        2. 8.2.2.2  Step Two: Select the Output Inductor
        3. 8.2.2.3  Step Three: Choose the Output Capacitor
        4. 8.2.2.4  Step Four: Select the Input Capacitor
        5. 8.2.2.5  Step Five: Minimum Load DC COMP Voltage
        6. 8.2.2.6  Step Six: Choose the Soft-Start Capacitor
        7. 8.2.2.7  Step Seven: Select the Bootstrap Capacitor
        8. 8.2.2.8  Step Eight: Undervoltage Lockout Threshold
        9. 8.2.2.9  Step Nine: Select Output Voltage and Feedback Resistors
          1. 8.2.2.9.1 Output Voltage Limitations
        10. 8.2.2.10 Step 10: Select Loop Compensation Components
        11. 8.2.2.11 Power Dissipation Estimate
      3. 8.2.3 Application Curves
  9. Power Supply Recommendations
  10. 10Layout
    1. 10.1 Layout Guidelines
    2. 10.2 Layout Example
  11. 11Device and Documentation Support
    1. 11.1 Device Support
      1. 11.1.1 Development Support
        1. 11.1.1.1 Custom Design With WEBENCH® Tools
    2. 11.2 Receiving Notification of Documentation Updates
    3. 11.3 Support Resources
    4. 11.4 Trademarks
    5. 11.5 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    6. 11.6 Glossary
  12. 12Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

Step Three: Choose the Output Capacitor

There are three primary considerations for selecting the value of the output capacitor. The output capacitor determines the modulator pole, the output voltage ripple, and how the regulator responds to a large change in load current. The output capacitance needs to be selected based on the more stringent of these three criteria.

The desired response to a large change in the load current is the first criteria. The output capacitor needs to supply the load with current when the regulator cannot. This situation would occur if there are desired hold-up times for the regulator where the output capacitor must hold the output voltage above a certain level for a specified amount of time after the input power is removed. The regulator is temporarily not able to supply sufficient output current if there is a large, fast increase in the current needs of the load such as transitioning from no load to a full load. The regulator usually needs two or more clock cycles for the control loop to see the change in load current and output voltage and adjust the duty cycle to react to the change. The output capacitor must be sized to supply the extra current to the load until the control loop responds to the load change. The output capacitance must be large enough to supply the difference in current for two clock cycles while only allowing a tolerable amount of droop in the output voltage. Equation 25 shows the necessary minimum output capacitance.

For this example, the transient load response is specified as a 3% change in VOUT for a load step from 1 A (50% load) to 2 A (100%).

Equation 23. ΔIOUT = 2 –1 = 1 A
Equation 24. ΔVOUT = 0.03 × 1.8 = 0.054 V

Using these numbers gives a minimum capacitance of 37 μF. This value does not take the ESR of the output capacitor into account in the output voltage change. For ceramic capacitors, the ESR is usually small enough to ignore in this calculation.

Equation 26 calculates the minimum output capacitance needed to meet the output voltage ripple specification where fSW is the switching frequency, VRIPPLE is the maximum allowable output voltage ripple, and IRIPPLE is the inductor ripple current. In this case, the maximum output voltage ripple is 30 mV. Equation 26 yields 2.38 µF.

Equation 25. TPS54218 eq_COUT_TRAN.gif
Equation 26. TPS54218 eq_COUT_RIPPLE.gif

where

  • ΔIOUT is the load step size
  • ΔVOUT is the acceptable output deviation
  • fSW is the switching frequency
  • IRipple is the inductor ripple current
  • VOUT(Ripple) is the acceptable DC output voltage ripple

Equation 27 calculates the maximum ESR an output capacitor can have to meet the output voltage ripple specification. Equation 27 indicates the ESR must be less than 26 mΩ. In this case, the ESR of the ceramic capacitor is much less than 26 mΩ.

Additional capacitance de-ratings for aging, temperature, and DC bias must be factored in, which increases this minimum value. For this example, two 22-μF, 10-V, X5R ceramic capacitors with 3 mΩ of ESR are used.

Capacitors generally have limits to the amount of ripple current they can handle without failing or producing excess heat. An output capacitor that can support the inductor ripple current must be specified. Some capacitor data sheets specify the RMS (root mean square) value of the maximum ripple current. Equation 28 can be used to calculate the RMS ripple current the output capacitor needs to support. For this application, Equation 28 yields 151 mA.

Equation 27. TPS54218 q_de_resr_slvs946.gif
Equation 28. TPS54218 q_icoutrms_slvs946.gif