The UCC34141 integrated isolated power solution simplifies system design
and reduces board area usage. Follow these guidelines for proper PCB layout to
achieve optimum performance. A minimum of 4-layer PCB layer stack using 2-ounce
copper on external layers is recommended to accomplish a good thermal PCB design. It
is not recommended to route signal tracks or place components directly beneath the
UCC34141.
- Input capacitors between VIN pin
and GNDP pin:
- Place the 0.1μF high
frequency bypass capacitor (C3) as close as possible to pins 3, 4 (VIN)
and pins 5–8 (GNDP) and on the same side of the PCB as the IC. 0402
ceramic SMD or smaller is a desired size for optimal placement. The
self-resonant frequency in a range from 10MHz to 30MHz is most ideal to
offer low impedance decoupling for the switching frequency noise of the
internal isolated convertor. Do not place any vias between the bypass
capacitor and the IC pins so as to force the high frequency current
through the capacitor.
- Place the bulk VIN
capacitor(s) (C2) as close as possible and parallel to the 0.1μF high
frequency bypass capacitor (C3) and on the same side of the PCB as the
IC as shown in Figure 8-5.
- Output capacitors between VDD pin
and COM pin:
- Place the 0.1μF high
frequency bypass capacitor (C5) as close as possible to pin 12 (VDD) and
pins 10, 11 (COM) and on the same side of the PCB as the IC. 0402
ceramic SMD or smaller is a desired size for optimal placement. The
self-resonant frequency in a range between 10MHz to 30MHz is most ideal
to offer low impedance decoupling for the switching frequency noise of
the internal isolated convertor. Do not place any vias between the
bypass capacitor and the IC pins so as to force the high frequency
current through the capacitor.
- Place the bulk VDD-COM
capacitor (C8) as close as possible and parallel to the 0.1μF high
frequency bypass capacitor (C5) and on the same side of the PCB as the
IC as shown in Figure 8-5.
- Output capacitors between VEE pin
and COM pin:
- Place the 2.2μF high
frequency bypass capacitor (C9) as close as possible to VEE and COM
pins. The self-resonant frequency in 3MHz to 4MHz is most ideal to offer
low impedance decoupling for the switching frequency noise of the
buck-boost converter with the 3.3uH inductor (L1) selection. It is
possible to put the capacitor on the different side of PCB and use vias
to connect, to reduce the switching loop between the capacitor and the
internal low-side MOSFET of the VEE buck-boost converter. In addition,
putting the capacitor on different side also simplifies the decoupling
capacitor placement of VDD pin and COM pin. An example of bottom side
PCB placement of C9 and L1 is shown in Figure 8-9.
- Feedback:
- COMA must be isolated
through all PCB layers, from the COM plane. Use one via to make a direct
connection to the low-side resistor and filter capacitor from FBVDD pin,
same as the low-side filter capacitor from FBVEE pin.
- Place the RFBVDD feedback
resistors (R6 and R7) and the decoupling ceramic capacitor (C6) close to
the IC.
- The top-side feedback
resistor must be placed next to the low-side resistor with a short,
direct connection between both resistors and single connection to FBVDD
pin. The top connection to sense the regulated rail (VDD-COM) must be
routed and connected at the VDD bias capacitor remote location near the
gate driver pins for best accuracy and best transient response.
- The VEE feedback resistor
(R5) must be placed with the decoupling ceramic capacitor (C4) next to
FBVEE (pin 15); while the connection to sense the regulated rail
(COM-VEE) must be routed and connected at the COM bias capacitor remote
location near the gate driver pins for best accuracy and best transient
response.
- When using the dual
output mode, the buck-boost inductor (L1) and a 2.2uF decoupling ceramic
capacitor (C9) must be populated. They can be place on the opposite side
of the IC or on the same layer as IC.
- A layout example is shown
in Figure 8-6, where L2 (yellow) is
routed on layer 2 and L3 (green) is routed on layer 3.
- Thermal vias: The UCC34141 internal transformer makes a direct
connection to the lead frame. It is therefore critical to provide adequate space
and proper heat-sinking designed into the PCB as outlined in the steps below.
- TI recommends to connect
the VIN, GNDP, VDD, and COM pins to internal ground or power planes
through multiple vias. Alternatively, make the polygons connected to
these pins as wide as possible.
- Use multiple thermal vias
connecting PCB top side GNDP copper to bottom side GNDP copper. If
possible, it is recommended to use 2-ounce copper on external top and
bottom PCB layers.
- Use multiple thermal vias
connecting PCB top side VEE copper to bottom side VEE copper. If
possible, it is recommended to use 2-ounce copper on external top and
bottom PCB layers.
- Thermal vias connecting
top and bottom copper can also connect to internal copper layers for
further improved heat extraction.
- Thermal vias must be
similar to pattern shown below but apply as many as the copper area
allows. TI recommends to use thermal via with 30mil diameter, 12mil hole
size.
- A layout example is shown
in Figure 8-7. For cases where less
copper area is available, use as many thermal vias as the design
permits, placed close to pins 5-8 (primary) and 9-11 (secondary).
- Creepage clearance: To maintain
the full creepage, clearance and voltage isolation ratings specified in the data
sheet, avoid routing signal traces or placing components directly under the UCC34141. Maintain the clearance width
highlighted in red, throughout the entire defined isolation barrier. Keep-out
clearance for basic isolation can be 50% less than the reinforced isolation
requirement (8.2mm). Using 8.2mm provides additional margin. A layout example is
shown in Figure 8-8.
- Gate driver output capacitors:
CVDD_GD (C11 and C12) and CVEE_GD (C10) are reference
designators referred to in the UCC34141 calculator tool. C11 and C12 are the capacitors between VDD-COM and C10 is
the capacitor between COM-VEE. C10-12 are capacitors required by the gate driver
IC.
- CVDD_GD and
CVEE_GD must be placed next to the gate driver IC for
best decoupling and gate driver switching performance.
- For optimal voltage
regulation, the feedback trace from VEE (FBVEE) and VDD (FBVDD) must be
as direct as possible so that the voltage feedback is being sensed
directly at the VDD and VEE capacitors near the gate driver IC.
- Power good pins decoupling
capacitor: The decoupling capacitor must be placed close to pin 2 (power good
pin) and on the same side of the PCB as the UCC34141. Refer to C13 placement shown in Figure 8-5.