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© 2007 Semtech Corp. www.semtech.com
POWER MANAGEMENT
SC2608B
Synchronous Buck ConverterSynchronous Buck Converter
Synchronous Buck ConverterSynchronous Buck Converter
Synchronous Buck Converter
The output voltage of the synchronous converter is set
and controlled by the output of the error amplifier. The
inverting input of the error amplifier receives its voltage
from the SENSE pin. The non-inverting input of the error
amplifier is connected to an internal 0.8V reference. The
error amplifier output is connected to the compensation
pin. The error amplifier generates a current proportional
to (0.8V-Vsense), which is the COMP pin output current
(Transconductance ~ 7mS). The voltage on the COMP
pin is the integral of the error amplifier current. The COMP
voltage is the non-inverting input of the PWM compara-
tor and controls the duty cycle of the MOSFET drivers.
The compensation network controls the stability and tran-
sient response of the regulator. The larger capacitor,
the slower COMP voltage changes, and slower the duty
cycle changes.
The non-inverting input voltage of the PWM comparator
is the triangular ramp signal generated from the oscilla-
tor. The peak-to-peak voltage of the ramp is 1V, this is a
parameter used in control loop calculation. When the
oscillator ramp signal rises above the COMP voltage, the
comparator output goes high and the PWM latch is re-
set. This pulls DH low, turning off the high-side MOSFET.
After a short delay (dead time), DL is pulled high, turning
on the low-side MOSFET. The oscillator also produces a
set pulse for the PWM latch to turn off the low-side
MOSFET, After a delay time, DH is pulled high to turn on
the high-side MOSFET. The delay time is determined by a
monostable on the chip.
The triangle wave minimum is about 0.8V, and the maxi-
mum is about 1.8V. Thus, if Vcomp = 0.7V, high side duty
cycle is the minimum (~0%) , but if Vcomp is 1.8V, duty
cycle is at maximum ( ~90%).The internal oscillator uses an
on-chip capacitor and trimmed precision current sources
to set the oscillation frequency to 250kHz. Figure 1 shows
a 2.5V output converter. If the Vout <2.5V, then the SENSE
voltage < 0.8V. In this case the error amplifier will be sourc-
ing current into the COMP pin so that COMP voltage and
duty cycle will gradually increase.If Vout > 2.5V, the error
amplifier will sink current and reduce the COMP voltage, so
that duty cycle will decrease.The circuit will be in steady
state when Vout =2.5V , Vsense = 0.8V, Icomp = 0. The
COMP voltage and duty cycle depend on Vin.
UU
UU
Under Vnder V
nder Vnder V
nder Voltage Lockoltage Lock
oltage Lockoltage Lock
oltage Lockoutout
outout
out
The under voltage lockout circuit of the SC2608B as-
sures that both high-side and low-side MOSFET driver
outputs remain in the off state whenever the supply volt-
age drops below the set threshold. Lockout occurs if VCC
falls below 3.6V typ.
Soft StartSoft Start
Soft StartSoft Start
Soft Start
The SC2608B provides a soft start function to prevent large
inrush currents upon power-up or hiccup retry. If both COMP
and SENSE pins are low (<300mV), the device enters soft
start mode, and the compensation capacitor is slowly
charged by an internal 4uA current source. When the COMP
pin reaches 300mV, the low side FET is switched on in order
to refresh the bootstrap capacitor, and begin PWM from a
known state. As the COMP pin rises above 800mV, PWM
begins at minimum duty cycle.
COMP continues to charge, slowly sweeping the device
through the duty cycle range until FB reaches the regulation
point of 800mV. Once FB reaches the regulation point, the
soft start current is switched off, and the strong error amp
is enabled, providing a glitch-free entrance into closed loop
operation. The overcurrent comparator is still active during
soft start mode, and will override soft start in the event
that an overcurrent is detected, such as startup into a
dead short.
RR
RR
RDS(ON)DS(ON)
DS(ON)DS(ON)
DS(ON) Current Limiting Current Limiting
Current Limiting Current Limiting
Current Limiting
In case of a short circuit or overload, the low-side (LS) FET
will conduct large currents. To protect the regulator in this
situation, the controller will shut down the regulator and
begin a soft start cycle later. While the LS driver is on,the
Phase voltage is compared to the OCP trip voltage. If the
phase voltage is lower than OCP trip voltage, an over cur-
rent condition is detected. The low-side Rdson sense is imple-
mented at end of each LS-FET turn-on duration. The mini-
mum turn-on time of the LS-FET is set to be 400nS. This
will ensure the sampled signal is noise free by giving enough
time for the switching noise to die down.
Theory of Operation
OCP HiccupOCP Hiccup
OCP HiccupOCP Hiccup
OCP Hiccup
In the event that an overcurrent is detected, the SC2608B
latches the fault and begins a hiccup cycle. Switching is
immediately stopped, and the drivers are set to a tristate
condition (Both DH and DL are low). COMP is slowly
discharged to 300mV with an internal 4uA current source,
providing a long cooldown time to keep power dissipation
low in the event of a continuous dead short. Once COMP
and SENSE both fall below the 300mV threshold, the part
re-enables the 4uA soft start current , and the device begins
a normal startup cycle again.