Combined with ST PWM controllers, the driver
allows implementing complete voltage regulator
solutions for modern high-current CPUs and
DC-DC conversion in general. L6743B embeds
high-current drivers for both high-side and
low-side MOSFETs. The device accepts flexible
power supply (5 V to 12 V) to optimize the
gate-drive voltage for high-side and low-side
maximizing the system efficiency.
Applications
■ High current VRM / VRD for desktop / server /
workstation CPUs
■ High current and high efficiency DC / DC
converters
Description
L6743B is a flexible, high-frequency dual-driver
specifically designed to drive N-channel
MOSFETs connected in synchronous-rectified
buck topology.
Table 1.Device summary
Order codePackagePacking
L6743B
VFDFPN8
L6743BTRTape and reel
The bootstrap diode is embedded saving the use
of external diodes. Anti shoot-through
management avoids high-side and low-side
MOSFET to conduct simultaneously and,
combined with adaptive dead-time control,
minimizes the LS body diode conduction time.
L6743B embeds preliminary OV protection: after
Vcc overcomes the UVLO and while the device is
in HiZ, the LS MOSFET is turned ON to protect
the load in case the output voltage overcomes a
warning threshold protecting the output against
HS failures.
The driver is available is VFDFPN8 3 x 3 mm
packages.
L6743BTypical application circuit and block diagram
1 Typical application circuit and block diagram
1.1 Application circuit
Figure 1.Typical application circuit
VCC = 5V to 12V
C
PWM Input
DEC
PWM
VCC
BOOT
UGATE
HS
HF
C
VIN = 5V to 12V
C
BULK
EN Input
L6743B Reference Schematic
EN
GND
1.2 Block diagram
Figure 2.Block diagram
VCC
EN
15k
GND
PWM
PHASE
L6743B
LGATE
CONTROL LOGIC
& PROTECTIONS
L6743B
PWM
L
LS
CROSS CONDUCTION
ADAPTIVE ANTI
HS
VCC
LS
Vout
C
OUT
BOOT
UGATE
PHASE
LGATE
GND
3/16
Page 4
Pins description and connection diagramsL6743B
2 Pins description and connection diagrams
Figure 3.Pins connection (top view)
2.1 Pin description
Table 1.Pin description
Pin #NameFunction
High-side driver supply.
This pin supplies the high-side floating driver. Connect through a
1BOOT
2PWM
3EN
R
BOOT
- C
capacitor to the PHASE pin.
BOOT
Internally connected to the cathode of the integrated bootstrap diode. See
Section 5.3 for guidance in designing the capacitor value.
Control input for the driver, 5 V compatible.
This pin controls the state of the driver and which external MOSFET have to
be turned-ON according to EN status. If left floating and in conjunction with EN
asserted, it causes the driver to enter the high-impedance (HiZ) state which
causes all MOSFETs to be OFF. See Section 5.1 for details about HiZ.
Enable input for the driver. Internally pulled low by 15 kΩ.
Pull high to enable the driver according to the PWM status. If pulled low will
cause the drive to enter HiZ state with all MOSFET OFF regardless of the
PWM status.
See Section 5.1 for details about HiZ.
4VCC
Device and LS driver power supply. Connect to any voltage between 5 V and
12 V. Bypass with low-ESR MLCC capacitor to GND.
Low-side driver output.
5LGATE
Connect directly to the low-side MOSFET gate. A small series resistor can be
useful to reduce dissipated power especially in high frequency applications.
6GND
All internal references, logic and drivers are referenced to this pin. Connect to
the PCB ground plane.
high-side driver return path. Connect to the high-side MOSFET source.
7PHASE
This pin is also monitored for the adaptive dead-time management and preOV protection.
8UGATE
-TH. PAD
high-side driver output.
Connect to high-side MOSFET gate.
Thermal pad connects the silicon substrate and makes good thermal contact
with the PCB. Connect to the PGND plane.
4/16
Page 5
L6743BMaximum ratings
3 Maximum ratings
3.1 Absolute maximum ratings
Table 2.Absolute maximum ratings
SymbolParameterValueUnit
V
CC,VPVCC
V
BOOT
V
V
V
PWM, VEN
V
CC,VPVCC
, V
UGATE
PHASE
LGATE
to GND-0.3 to 15V
to GND
to PHASE
to GND-8 to 26V
to GND-0.3 to VCC + 0.3V
to GND -0.3 to 7V
to GND-0.3 to 15V
3.2 Thermal data
Table 3.Thermal data
SymbolParameterValueUnit
R
R
T
T
P
THJA
THJC
MAX
STG
T
J
TOT
Thermal resistance junction to ambient
(Device soldered on 2s2p, 67 mm x 69 mm board)
Thermal resistance junction to case5°C/W
Maximum junction temperature150°C
Storage temperature range0 to 150°C
Junction temperature range0 to 125°C
Maximum power dissipation at 25 °C
(Device soldered on 2s2p PC board)
41
15
45°C/W
2.25W
V
5/16
Page 6
Electrical specificationsL6743B
4 Electrical specifications
4.1 Electrical characteristics
Table 4.Electrical characteristics
(V
= 12 V±15 %, TJ = 0 °C to 70 °C unless otherwise specified)
1. Parameter(s) guaranteed by designed, not fully tested in production
Pre-OV thresholdPHASE rising1.8V
6/16
2A
Page 7
L6743BDevice description and operation
5 Device description and operation
L6743B provides high-current driving control for both high-side and low-side N-channel
MOSFETS connected as step-down DC-DC converter driven by an external PWM signal.
The integrated high-current drivers allow using different types of power MOSFETs (also
multiple MOS to reduce the equivalent R
The driver for the high-side MOSFET use BOOT pin for supply and PHASE pin for return.
The driver for the low-side MOSFET use the VCC pin for supply and PGND pin for return.
The driver embodies a anti-shoot-through and adaptive dead-time control to minimize lowside body diode conduction time maintaining good efficiency saving the use of Schottky
diodes: when the high-side MOSFET turns off, the voltage on its source begins to fall; when
the voltage reaches about 2 V, the low-side MOSFET gate drive voltage is suddenly applied.
When the low-side MOSFET turns off, the voltage at LGATE pin is sensed. When it drops
below about 1 V, the high-side MOSFET gate drive voltage is suddenly applied. If the
current flowing in the inductor is negative, the source of high-side MOSFET will never drop.
To allow the low-side MOSFET to turn-on even in this case, a watchdog controller is
enabled: if the source of the high-side MOSFET doesn't drop, the low-side MOSFET is
switched on so allowing the negative current of the inductor to recirculate. This mechanism
allows the system to regulate even if the current is negative.
, maintaining fast switching transition.
DS(on)
Before VCC to overcome the UVLO threshold, L6743B keeps firmly-OFF both high-side and
low-side MOSFETS then, after the UVLO has been crossed, the EN and PWM inputs take
the control over driver’s operations. EN pin enables the driver: if low will keep all MOSFET
OFF (HiZ) regardless of the status of PWM. When EN is high, the PWM input takes the
control: if left floating, the internal resistor divider sets the HiZ State: both MOSFETS are
kept in the OFF state until PWM transition.
After UVLO crossing and while in HiZ, the preliminary-OV protection is activated: if the
voltage senses through the PHASE pin overcomes about 1.8 V, the low-side MOSFET is
latched ON in order to protect the load from dangerous over-voltage. The Driver status is
reset from a PWM transition.
Driver power supply as well as power conversion input are flexible: 5 V and 12 V can be
chosen for high-side and low-side MOSFET voltage drive.
Figure 4.Timing diagram (EN = high)
PWM
HiZ Window
HS Gate
LS Gate
HiZ
HiZ Window
HiZ
prop_L
t
dead_LH
t
prop_H
t
dead_HL
t
t
hold-off
prop_ L
t
t
hold-off
7/16
Page 8
Device description and operationL6743B
5.1 High-impedance (HiZ) management
The driver is able to manage high-impedance state by keeping all MOSFETs in off state in
two different ways.
●If the EN signal is pulled low, the device will keep all MOSFETs OFF careless of the
PWM status.
●When EN is asserted, if the PWM signal remains in the HiZ window for a time longer
than the hold-off time, the device detects the HiZ condition so turning off all the
MOSFETs. The HiZ window is defined as the PWM voltage range comprised between
V
PWM_IL
The device exits from the HiZ state only after a PWM transition to logic zero (V
V
PWM_IL
and V
).
PWM_IH
.
<
PWM
See Figure 4 for details about HiZ timings.
The implementation of the high-impedance state allows the controller that will be connected
to the driver to manage high-impedance state of its output, avoiding to produce negative
undershoot on the regulated voltage during the shut-down stage. Furthermore, different
power management states may be managed such as pre-bias start-up.
5.2 Preliminary OV protection
After VCC has overcome its UVLO threshold and while in HiZ, L6743B activates the preliminary-OV protection.
The intent of this protection is to protect the load especially from high-side MOSFET failures
during the system start-up. In fact, VRM, and more in general PWM controllers, have a 12 V
bus compatible turn-on threshold and results to be non-operative if VCC is below that turnon thresholds (that results being in the range of about 10 V). In case of a high-side MOSFET
failure, the controller won’t recognize the over voltage until VCC = ~10 V (unless other special features are implemented): but in that case the output voltage is already at the same
voltage (~10 V) and the load (CPU in most cases) already burnt.
L6743B by-pass the PWM controller by latching on the low-side MOSFET in case the
PHASE pin voltage overcome
2 V during the HiZ state. When the PWM input exits form the
HiZ window, the protection is reset and the control of the output voltage is transferred to the
controller connected to the PWM input.
Since the driver has its own UVLO threshold, a simple way to provide protection to the output in all conditions when the device is OFF consists in supplying the controller through the
5 V
bus: 5 VSB is always present before any other voltage and, in case of high-side short,
SB
the low-side MOSFET is driven with 5 V assuring a reliable protection of the load.
Preliminary OV is active after UVLO and while the driver is in HiZ state and it is disabled
after the first PWM transition. The controller will have to manage its output voltage from that
time on.
8/16
Page 9
L6743BDevice description and operation
5.3 Internal BOOT diode
L6743B embeds a boot diode to supply the high-side driver saving the use of an external
component. Simply connecting an external capacitor between BOOT and PHASE complete
the high-side supply connections.
To prevent bootstrap capacitor to extra-charge as a consequence of large negative spikes,
an external series resistance R
BOOT pin.
Bootstrap capacitor needs to be designed in order to show a negligible discharge due to the
high-side MOSFET turn-on. In fact it must give a stable voltage supply to the high-side driver
during the MOSFET turn-on also minimizing the power dissipated by the embedded Boot
Diode. Figure 5 gives some guidelines on how to select the capacitance value for the
bootstrap according to the desired discharge and depending on the selected MOSFET.
Figure 5.Bootstrap capacitance design
(in the range of few ohms) may be required in series to
BOOT
5.4 Power dissipation
L6743B embeds high current drivers for both high-side and low-side MOSFETs: it is then
important to consider the power that the device is going to dissipate in driving them in order
to avoid overcoming the maximum junction operative temperature.
Two main terms contribute in the device power dissipation: bias power and drivers' power.
●Device power (P
supply pins and it is simply quantifiable as follow:
P
●Drivers' power is the power needed by the driver to continuously switch ON and OFF
DC
VCCI
the external MOSFETs; it is a function of the switching frequency and total gate charge
of the selected MOSFETs. It can be quantified considering that the total power P
dissipated to switch the MOSFETs dissipated by three main factors: external gate
resistance (when present), intrinsic MOSFET resistance and intrinsic driver resistance.
This last term is the important one to be determined to calculate the device power
dissipation.
The total power dissipated to switch the MOSFETs results:
P
SWFSWQGHS
) depends on the static consumption of the device through the
DC
CCVPVCCIPVCC
⋅+⋅=
PVCC⋅Q
GLS
SW
VCC⋅+()⋅=
9/16
Page 10
Device description and operationL6743B
When designing an application based on L6743B it is recommended to take into
consideration the effect of external gate resistors on the power dissipated by the driver.
External gate resistors helps the device to dissipate the switching power since the same
power P
will be shared between the internal driver impedance and the external resistor
SW
resulting in a general cooling of the device.
Referring to Figure 6, classical MOSFET driver can be represented by a push-pull output
stage with two different MOSFETs: P-MOSFET to drive the external gate high and NMOSFET to drive the external gate low (with their own R
R
). The external power MOSFET can be represented in this case as a capacitance
lo_LS
(C
G_HS
, C
) that stores the gate-charge (Q
G_LS
G_HS
, Q
: R
dsON
G_LS
hi_HS, Rlo_HS
) required by the external power
, R
hi_LS,
MOSFET to reach the driving voltage (PVCC for HS and VCC for LS). This capacitance is
charged and discharged at the driver switching frequency F
SW
.
The total power Psw is dissipated among the resistive components distributed along the
driving path. According to the external gate resistance and the power-MOSFET intrinsic
gate resistance, the driver dissipates only a portion of Psw as follow:
The total power dissipated from the driver can then be determined as follow:
PP
DCPSW HS–
++=
P
SW LS–
Figure 6.Equivalent circuit for MOSFET drive
VCC
VCC
RhiLSRloLS
LGATE
LS DRIVERLS MOSFET
GND
RGATELSRILS
CGLS
RhiHSRloHS
HS DRIVERHS MOSFET
BOOT
RGATEHS
HGATE
PHASE
RIHS
CGHS
10/16
Page 11
L6743BDevice description and operation
5.5 Layout guidelines
L6743B provides driving capability to implement high-current step-down DC-DC converters.
The first priority when placing components for these applications has to be reserved to the
power section, minimizing the length of each connection and loop as much as possible. To
minimize noise and voltage spikes (also EMI and losses) power connections must be a part
of a power plane and anyway realized by wide and thick copper traces: loop must be anyway
minimized. The critical components, such as the power MOSFETs, must be close one to the
other. However, some space between the power MOSFET is still required to assure good
thermal cooling and airflow.
Traces between the driver and the MOSFETS should be short and wide to minimize the
inductance of the trace so minimizing ringing in the driving signals. Moreover, VIAs count
needs to be minimized to reduce the related parasitic effect.
The use of multi-layer printed circuit board is recommended.
Small signal components and connections to critical nodes of the application as well as
bypass capacitors for the device supply are also important. Locate the bypass capacitor
(VCC, PVCC and BOOT capacitors) close to the device with the shortest possible loop and
use wide copper traces to minimize parasitic inductance.
Systems that do not use Schottky diodes in parallel to the low-side MOSFET might show big
negative spikes on the phase pin. This spike can be limited as well as the positive spike but
has an additional consequence: it causes the bootstrap capacitor to be over-charged. This
extra-charge can cause, in the worst case condition of maximum input voltage and during
particular transients, that boot-to-phase voltage overcomes the abs.max.ratings also
causing device failures. It is then suggested in this cases to limit this extra-charge by adding
a small resistor R
the limitation of the spike present on the BOOT pin.
in series to the boot capacitor. The use of R
BOOT
also contributes in
BOOT
For heat dissipation, place copper area under the IC. This copper area may be connected
with internal copper layers through several VIAs to improve the thermal conductivity. The
combination of copper pad, copper plane and VIAs under the driver allows the device to
reach its best thermal performances.
Figure 7.Driver turn-on and turn-off paths
VCC
VCC
C
R
BOOT
R
GATERINT
LGATE
C
BOOT
LS DRIVERLS MOSFET
GND
GD
C
GS
C
DS
HS DRIVERHS MOSFET
BOOT
R
BOOT
HGATE
C
BOOT
PHASE
R
GATERINT
C
GD
C
GS
C
DS
11/16
Page 12
Device description and operationL6743B
Figure 8.External components placement example
RbootCboot
BOOT
PWM
EN
VCC
1
2
3
4
L6743B
8
7
6
5
UGATE
PHASE
GND
LGATE
12/16
Page 13
L6743BPackage mechanical data
6 Package mechanical data
In order to meet environmental requirements, ST offers these devices in ECOPACK®
packages. These packages have a lead-free second level interconnect. The category of
second level interconnect is marked on the package and on the inner box label, in
compliance with JEDEC Standard JESD97. The maximum ratings related to soldering
conditions are also marked on the inner box label. ECOPACK is an ST trademark.
ECOPACK specifications are available at: www.st.com
13/16
Page 14
Package mechanical dataL6743B
Figure 9.VFDFPN8 mechanical data and package dimensions
DIMENSIONS
REF.
A0.800.901.00 31.49 35.43 39.37
mmmils
MIN. TYP. MAX. MIN. TYP. MAX.
PACKING INFORMATION
PACKAGE AND
A10.020.050.787 1.968
A2
0.550.80
0.65
A30.207.874
b0.180.250.30 7.086 9.842 11.81
D
D22.202.70 86.61106.3
E
E21.401.75 55.1168.89
e0.50
L0.300.400.50 11.81 15.74 19.68
ddd0.083.149
3.00
2.853.15
2.853.15
3.00
21.6531.49
25.59
112.2124.0
118.1
118.1112.2124.0
19.68
Very thin Fine pitch Dual
Flat Package no Lead
Weight: not available
VFDFPN8 (3x3)
14/16
Page 15
L6743BRevision history
7 Revision history
Table 5.Document revision history
DateRevisionChanges
17-Jun-20081Initial release
15/16
Page 16
L6743B
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