Layout is a critical portion of good power supply
design. The following guidelines help users design a PCB with the best power
conversion performance, thermal performance, and minimized generation of unwanted
EMI.
- The feedback network, resistor RFBT and RFBB, must be kept close to the FB pin. Keep the VOUT sense path away from noisy nodes and preferably through a layer on the other side of a shielding layer.
- The input bypass capacitor CIN must be placed as close as possible to the VIN pin and ground. Grounding for both the input and output capacitors must consist of localized top side planes that connect to the GND pin and PAD.
- The inductor L must be placed close to the SW pin to reduce magnetic and electrostatic noise.
- The output capacitor, COUT, must be placed close to the junction of L and the diode D. The L, D, and COUT trace must be as short as possible to reduce conducted and radiated noise and increase overall efficiency.
- The ground connection for the diode, CIN, and COUT must be as small as possible and tied to the system ground plane in only one spot (preferably at the COUT ground point) to minimize conducted noise in the system ground plane.
For more details on switching power supply layout considerations see the AN-1149 Layout Guidelines for Switching Power Supplies Application Report.