DESIGN FEATURES

60V/3A Step-Down DC/DC Converter

Maintains High Efficiency over a Wide
Range of Input Voltages by Mark W. Marosek

Introduction
The LT3430 is a monolithic step-down sients as high as 60V). It is designed
DC/DC converter that features a 3A to maintain excellent efficiencies at LT3430 Features
peak switch current limit and the both high and low input-to-output ❏ Wide input range 5.5V to 60V
ability to operate with up to 60V in- voltage differentials over a wide input ❏ 3A peak switch current
put. The LT3430 runs at a fixed voltage range. Its current mode archi- ❏ Small thermally enhanced
frequency of 200kHz and is packaged tecture adds flexible frequency 16-pin TSSOP Package
in a small thermally enhanced 16-pin compensation with no restriction on ❏ Constant 200kHz switching
TSSOP package to save space and the use of a ceramic output capaci- frequency
simplify thermal management. The tor—resulting in small solutions with ❏ 100mΩ saturating switch
5.5V to 60V input range makes the extremely low output ripple voltage. ❏ Current mode architecture
LT3430 ideal for FireWire® Peripher- The LT3430 is pin compatible with ❏ Peak switch current maintained
als (typically 8V to 40V input), as well the LT1766 (60V, 1.5A, 200kHz) and over full duty cycle range
as automotive systems requiring 12V, LT1956 (60V transient, 1.5A, 500kHz) ❏ 30µA shutdown current
24V and 42V input voltages (with the step down DC/DC converters.1 ❏ 1.2V feedback reference
ability to survive load dump tran- ❏ Easily synchronizable

VIN
3, 4 RLIMIT RSENSE

2.9V BIAS INTERNAL + –

BIAS 10 REGULATOR VCC
CURRENT
COMPARATOR
SLOPE COMP Σ
SYNC 14
ANTI-SLOPE COMP BOOST
6
SHUTDOWN
COMPARATOR
200kHz
+ – OSCILLATOR S Q1
RS DRIVER
POWER
FLIP-FLOP CIRCUITRY
SWITCH
R
0.4V

5.5µA SW
SHDN 15 + 2, 5

FREQUENCY
– FOLDBACK
LOCKOUT
COMPARATOR
×1

Q2
VC(MAX) FOLDBACK
CLAMP Q3 CURRENT
LIMIT ERROR
CLAMP AMPLIFIER –
gm = 2000µMho 12 FB

+
11
2.38V 1.22V
VC
GND
1, 8, 9, 16
1766 F01

Figure 1. Simplified block diagram

Linear Technology Magazine • August 2002 7

 DESIGN FEATURES
VIN D2 100
7.5V–60V MMSD914T1
VOUT VIN = 12V
C3 5V AT 2A 90
C2 L1
4.7µF VIN BOOST 0.68µF 22µH
100V

EFFICIENCY (%)
CER SW
80
LT3430EFE R1 VIN = 42V
OFF ON SHDN BIAS VOUT 15.4k C1
VC FB
+ 100µF
70
R3 10V
GND SYNC R2
3.3k C4 SOLID
D1 4.99k
220pF TANTALUM
C5 60
30BQ060
0.022µF VOUT = 5V
DN302 F01

50
C1: AVX D CASE 100µF 10V TPSD107M010R0100 (207) 282-5111 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
C2: AVX 0.68µF X7R 16V 0805YC684KAT1A LOAD CURRENT (A)
C3: UNITED CHEMI-CON 4.7µF 100V TCCR70E2A475M (847) 696-2000
C4: AVX 220pF X7R 50V 08055A221KAT Figure 3. Efficiency of the circuit
C5: AVX .022µF X7R 16V 0805YC223KAT
D1: INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER 60V 3A SCHOTTKY 30BQ060 (310) 322-3331 shown in Figure 2
L1: SUMIDA 22µH CDRH104R (847) 956-0667

Figure 2. Efficient 42V to 5V step-down converter The LT3430 is also capable of ex-
cellent efficiencies at lower input
Circuit Description voltages. The peak efficiency for a
The block diagram in Figure 1 shows switch current does not fall off at high 12V to 5V converter is greater than
all of the key functions of the LT3430 duty cycles, unlike most current mode 90% as is also shown in Figure 3. One
step-down DC/DC converter. Its cur- converters. This typical reduction of important factor in achieving high
rent mode architecture uses two peak switch current is a result of the efficiency for low input-to-output volt-
feedback loops to control the duty necessary slope compensation in the age conversions is to use a low
cycle of the internal power switch—a current sensing loop, which exists to resistance saturating switch. A pre-
transconductance error amplifier prevent sub-harmonic oscillations for biased capacitor, connected between
monitors the error between output duty cycles above 50%. The LT3430 the BOOST and SW pins, generates a
voltage (via the FB pin) and an inter- uses a patented process to cancel the boost voltage above the input supply
nal 1.22V reference, and a current effect of slope compensation on peak during switching. Driving the switch
sense comparator monitors switch switch current without affecting from this boost voltage allows the
current on a cycle-by-cycle basis. The frequency compensation. For appli- 100mΩ power switch to fully satu-
LT3430 runs at a fixed frequency of cations that require high duty cycles, rate. Any output voltage of at least
200kHz or can be externally synchro- this offers significant advantages— 3.3V is enough to generate the re-
nized up to 700kHz using the SYNC including a lower inductor value, lower quired boost supply.
pin. The LT3430 includes a shut- minimum VIN and/or higher output
down pin with an accurate 2.38V current capability—over typical cur- Space Saving and Low
threshold for undervoltage lockout, rent mode converters with similar Output Ripple Voltage
and a 0.4V threshold for micropower peak switch current limits. Solutions
shutdown (IQ = 30µA). The BIAS pin The high switching frequency and
provides power savings by allowing Efficiency current mode architecture of the
control circuitry to be supplied from The LT3430 is designed to provide LT3430 combine to make it possible
the output. The LT3430 also uses efficient solutions at both high and to design space-saving solutions with
frequency foldback and current limit low input-to-output voltage differen- low output ripple voltage. The 200kHz
foldback to control power dissipation tials, over a wide input voltage range. switching frequency of the LT3430
in the IC, external catch diode and A typical high input voltage applica- reduces the inductor value required
inductor in the event of an output tion with a large input-to-output to achieve low inductor ripple cur-
short circuit to ground. differential, a 42V to 5V converter, is rent, allowing for the use of a
shown in Figure 2. To obtain high physically smaller inductor. The cur-
Peak Switch Current over the efficiency at high input voltages re- rent mode architecture of the LT3430
Full Duty Cycle Range (Not quires fast output-switch edge rates, allows for flexible frequency compen-
Your Average Current Mode and minimal quiescent current drawn sation to accommodate various output
Converter) from the input at light loads. The voltages, load currents and output
The LT3430 maintains peak switch BIAS pin allows power for the internal capacitor types. This flexibility allows
current over the full duty cycle range control circuitry to be supplied from for a small, low ESR ceramic capaci-
(wide input voltage range). Although the regulated output if it is greater tor to be used at the output—making
the LT3430 uses a current mode ar- than 3V. The peak efficiency for a 42V for an extremely low output ripple
chitecture—to allow small, low noise to 5V conversion is greater than 82% voltage solution in a small space.
power supply solutions—its peak as shown in Figure 3. continued on page 19

8 Linear Technology Magazine • August 2002

 DESIGN FEATURES
measure, such as one supply failing conditions, and monitors the supply for power supplies. They monitor sup-
or one fuse damaged. The supply voltage provided to the load. The plies for early warnings of impending
measurement is also more accurate, PWRGD output of the LT4250 drives failure, often using complicated cir-
since the voltage drop across the fuses an optoisolator, providing a supply cuitry that can include a voltage
or diodes does not affect it. Resistors status signal to the DC/DC converter. reference, comparators, an LDO and
R9 and R10 pull up the fuse pins so This signal may also be used to moni- several precision resistor dividers.
that damaged fuses can be detected. tor the condition of the ORing diodes Designers may also use discrete com-
The status signals may be wired off by comparing it to the supply status ponents to indicate the state of power
the card, with optoisolators, to an signals from the LTC1921. supply fuses. The resulting circuits
isolated microprocessor or micro- can be expensive in terms of com-
controller that controls system Conclusion ponent cost, board space and
performance and warning functions. Reliability is top priority for the de- engineering time. The LTC1921 re-
This allows an automated system signers of modern telephone and places this complicated monitoring
supervisor to issue a warning or record communication equipment. Design- circuitry with a simple integrated pre-
the event, despite operating from an ers take extra care to protect circuitry cision monitoring system contained
isolated supply. The L T4250L from failure-causing temperature and entirely in an MSOP-8 or SO-8
switches the –48V supply via Q1 dur- voltage changes, employing redun- package.
ing hot swapping and low supply dancy whenever possible, especially

LT3430, continued from page 8

VIN D2
8V TO 40V MMSD914T1
VOUT
C3 5V AT 2A
C4 L1
4.7µF VIN BOOST 0.68µF 22µH IL1
CER
50V SYNC SW 1A/DIV
LT3430EFE R2
OFF ON SHDN BIAS VOUT 15.4k
C5
VC FB 100µF
R1 R3 CER OUTPUT
GND
3.3k C1 4.99k RIPPLE
D1
C2 220pF VOLTAGE
30BQ060
0.022µF 20mV/DIV
DN302 F03

C3: TDK C5750X7R1H475K (408) 392-1400 VIN = 24V 2µs/DIV

C5: TDK C4532X5R0J107M VOUT = 5V
L1: SUMIDA CEI-122 220 (847) 956-0667 IOUT = 2A
Figure 4. Low profile (max height of 3.0mm) FireWire Figure 5. Output ripple voltage for
peripheral supply with low output ripple voltage the circuit shown in Figure 4

Figure 4 shows a 5V/2A solution for Conclusion

FireWire peripherals which takes ad- The LT3430 features a 3A peak switch architecture and availability in a small
vantage of the LT3430 current mode current limit, 100mΩ internal power thermally enhanced 16-pin TSSOP
architecture by using a low ESR ce- switch and a 5.5V to 60V operating package.
ramic capacitor at the output. The range, making it well suited to auto-
Notes
circuit provides a low profile (all com- motive, industrial and FireWire 1 The ‘no connect’ pins 3 and 5 of the LT1766 and
ponents less than 3.0mm height), low peripheral applications. It is highly LT1956 must be connected for the LT3430 to
output ripple voltage solution. Out- efficient over the entire operating handle the increased current in the SW output
put ripple voltage is only 26mVP–P, as range, and it includes important fea- (pins 2 and 5) and the VIN input (pins 3 and 4).
shown in Figure 5, using a 22µH tures to save space and reduce output
inductor, with VIN = 24V and VOUT = ripple—including a 200kHz fixed op-
5V at 2A. erating frequency, a current mode

For more information on parts featured in this issue, see

http://www.linear.com/go/ltmag

Linear Technology Magazine • August 2002 19